Disclaimer: This is a my perspective on characters who belong to DC comics. So all rights and stuff go to them except for the character(s) that I make up.
Chapter 3: Fuel for the Freeze
It had been almost two weeks since the Joker had attack me and my employees and I still wasn't over it. I had guards and security cameras and giant locks. I was a little shaken by the events, as anyone would be...right? My mind was also on Nightwing. I had kissed him before. He was someone I knew. I mean, I haven't kissed a lot of people, so there wasn't a multitude of people it could be, but I was kind of mad that they'd shoot me in the face with gas. Regardless, I was at work again and doing a great job. I had the leading story! Duh, because it happened to us.
"Boss." Shawn said, snapping me out of my thoughts.
"Huh." I said.
"I got the story...are you okay?" Shawn asked, moving to me.
"What'd you mean?" I asked.
Shawn sat the story on my desk, " I'm not sure. Lately, since the...ummm, attack, you've been different. Are you scared." he asked.
I scoffed, " Only in the way that means hell yeah. Aren't you?" I asked.
"Trying not to think about it." Shawn chuckled, " It's not something neither one of us should dwell on."
I smiled, " Yeah. Maybe you're right. I just keep thinking someone is gonna come and get me. Or pull me from the streets. Or worse, my dad." I said quickly.
"I'm always here for you, boss." Shawn smiled.
"Thanks, but I need you to be out there for me. Since I'm not gonna be here tonight, I need things to run smoothly." I said, moving to the window.
"What? You got some major hiding under the cover to do?" Shawn joked.
I chuckled and shook my head, " Nothing so serious. Just another fundraiser for...ummm...cereal?" I asked.
"Try Gotham Rich People's Party." Shawn joked.
"Do I hear a little bitterness? Besides, do I remind you of a ruch guy?" I asked.
"No, you're more of a Jean Grey, Phoenix." Shawn said lamely.
"Yeah. I'm sure you saw that joke going better in your head." I chuckled, " Now go. Be productive." I said quickly.
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"I'm fine." I said as I walked through the hall of my house. Apparently, Dick had lost his mind lately. He was seriously turning me on and he hadn't done anything but stand there. He was wearing jeans and a regular white t-shirt with a black leather coat with stripes down the side. His hair was pulled messily down across his face and not in the normal pony tail.
"I'll stay here if you want." Dick said, " Are you sure you're okay?"
I sighed, " Rich. No." I smirked, " What are you doing?" I asked.
"What?" he asked.
"Are you trying to be my boyfriend again?" I asked.
"Are you offering?" he smirked.
"No." I said, " I'm asking. I mean, I wouldn't opposed to it, but the first time you weren't 'ready'."
Dick sighed, " Look, I just want you to be safe." he said.
"Is that all?" I asked.
Dick sighed, " What?! What are you trying to get me to say? That I love you? That we just had sex on my chair?" he said.
"Say something and quit avoiding my questions!" I said loudly.
"I don't avoid your questions, I..." Dick said.
"...just never answer them." I said, " Do you want to be with me? Do you love me?"
"Can't we just start over?" Dick sighed, " Can't we just start all over?"
I looked down, " Let's start with not knowing each other." I said angrily.
"Fine." Dick said, leaving my room.
I sighed and looked over at my tux, hanging on the door. My mind ran back to what I had just said to him. Was it cruel? But he had just left me and it still hurt. It had been intense when I had seen him again, but what would happen when he felt the need to leave again? And where would he go? Would he go back to Bludhaven trying to catch up with whatever he was chasing? Or was he running? I heard his bike start up and speed off and I wondered was he thinking about me too. And if he wasn't, what could he be thinking about? I couldn't do this right now, I need to be on top of my game at the banquet tonight.
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I walked through the party, trying to find a safe place to hide from all the pompus, arrogant jerks. Some of them were good people, but most of them were just here to network, not much actual interaction. I found myself sitting at the bar and swallowing a shot.
"You do know you're not supposed to be drinking, right?" Bruce said, smiling down at me.
I chuckled, " It was just a shot." I said, looking past him at his obvious model date. I smirked, " So, who's the chick without the brain cells?"
"My date?" Bruce said, looking back at her, " She's an old friend."
"Oh, okay." I smirked, " So, where's..."
"I'm not sure he's coming." Bruce smiled.
"Oh. Well..." I said slowly.
"Maybe he'll come." Bruce said and I could tell there was something behind it.
"What was that? Was that sad?" I asked.
"Sad?" Bruce asked, " No, so, did you have the meeting with Clark Kent and Lois Lane?"
"Nope. I got to go home." I smiled.
"Were you happy?" Bruce asked.
"Sorta." I shrugged.
"Only in the way that means hell yeah?" he chuckled, then I looked at him and he stopped talking.
"What'd you say?" I asked.
"I...um..." Bruce stammered.
"Have you been following me?" I asked.
"No." Bruce said, " Bugged."
I stood cautiously.
"I know you're trying to pretend you're not scared, but I'm not letting that happen again!" Bruce whispered.
"AND WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO?!" I asked, " You're not Superman, Bruce, you can't save everyone."
"Maybe I can." Bruce said quickly.
"Bruce." I said quietly, " I'm good. I guess, I just need time. Time to adjust. Time to figure out that things are gonna be safe now."
"Nowhere is safe, especially not Gotham." Bruce said darkly.
"Well, maybe it should be." I said, walking in the opposite direction. Across the room, I found myself face to face with Dick, " Didn't think you were gonna show."
"Why not?" he asked, looking at the floor.
"I'm sorry." I said carefully and he looked at me, shocked, " What? It's not like I have never said it."
"Actually it is like that." Dick smiled, " I'm sorry too. I shouldn't have expected us to be able to start over."
"We can." I said quickly.
For a minute, we just stared at each other, then there was a loud explosion and people flew across the room! Dick grabbed me and ushered me to the corner. I watched in horror as a man, and I call it that loosely, stormed through the hall on the stage with polar bears and men in parkas. I frowned and looked over at Dick, who seemed to be sizing up the guy.
"No!" I whispered quickly.
"What?" I asked.
"Batman can handle this..." I said, looking back to the guy on stage. Mr. Freeze.
"We've gotta get you out of here." Dick said, looking around.
"I'm not leaving without you, Bruce, and my dad." I said angrily.
"Stay right here!" Dick said, running off into the next room.
I looked back in shock. I watched the man grab my father and throw him a little.
"Where is your son." he said, his voice echoing through the hall.
"I don't know and I wouldn't tell you if I did." Dad spat.
Mr. Freeze kicked him back and pulled his gun up to eye level, " Then you shall freeze in he..."
"I'm right here." I said, walking towards the stage, " Don't hurt him."
"GET BACK!" Dad shouted, gaining a punch from one of the henchmen.
"STOP!" I said, running to check on my dad. I looked back at Freeze, " Whaddya want?"
"Leverage." he smiled.
"Oscuridad!" I whispered, causing the lights go out, " Grant me the gift of sight." I said, causing my eyes to glow lightly. I could see now! I hurried to one of the henchmen and kicked him in the stomach and took his gun as he fell, then began freezing the henchmen. I stopped when I noticed I wasn't the only one kicking frozen ass. The lights flickered on and I held the gun to Freeze in the same manner he held it at me. I looked over to see Nightwing take down a thug with a jujitzu move and smirked. There was a sweep and with a rush, the gun jutted from Mr. Freeze's hands and Batman stood a few yards away.
"BATMAN!" Freeze said angrily, " YOU'LL RUIN EVERYTHING!"
"I have help, I guess." Batman said, swooping upon him.
I felt familiar hands grab me and pull me off the stage, but when I looked back, it was Nightwing, " Your hands...familiar." I said, looking into his eyes.
He didn't smile.
"You could smile, you know...or you could kiss me again." I said, leaning forward and kissing him. We broke and he looked at me oddly, " Sorry, I didn't ask you if you liked it."
"I did." he said in a low voice, running off to join the fight.
I just smiled and watched him and Batman take on a group of thugs.
= = = = = = = = =
I stood above the streets, looking down. I was in shock. For the second time in the last few weeks, I had been attacked.
"Careful, you could fall." A deep voice said behind me.
I smiled to myself, " I'm not Gwen Stacy. I can handle myself." I said, turning to see Nightwing, " Where the entourage?"
"I gave 'em the night off." Nightwing said.
"Thanks for the save. I mean, being frozen isn't my idea of a good night." I said carefully.
"It's my job." Nightwing said.
"Job? I don't think you get paid." I said softly, " This is like the second day you've saved me."
"Right place at the right time." he said quickly.
"Well," I said, wrapping my arms around his neck, " I'm really lucky." I said, kissing him, " but one thing you should know, I'm never really in distress." I said, walking away.