Who: Barbara and Dick What: Competition is good for the soul. When: Some point during the plot [Backdated!] Where: Woods Rating: low
Richard enjoyed the forest life. It was simple and the fresh air compared to the density of the town was something he much preferred. Working for Robin was fulfilling work too since they were helping the poor and making the rich a little less rich which meant a little less powerful and Richard could get behind that.
They had a plan to ambush a carriage that would pass with taxes being carried by a Queen’s man. Richard found himself a position in one of the trees only to look over and see Barbara. He grinned. “Careful. Wouldn’t want to fall out and break something, now would we?” They weren’t enemies, per say, but somehow Richard had always felt the need to show Barbara up. Rivalry, perhaps, though their goals were usually aligned.
–
Barbara knew this wasn’t exactly the work her family pictured for her, but Barbara had no interest in following in the footsteps of her family. Or the whole idea of getting married, because the idea of that was not of any interest to her. Even though she ended up probably a bit of a disappointment to her parents, she didn’t think twice about the choice she made to join Robin and his Merry Men, agreeing with the cause more than what was expected of her back home. Aside from having to deal with Richard, who she found irritating, the man had a way of getting under her skin that no one else could. Rolling her eyes, she glared at him only for a moment before flashing him a small little grin, "I’m not the one who is taken down more often than not by a girl, and by girl, I mean me, of course. So maybe you should be the careful one." Her attention left him to focus back on watching for the carriage. —
“Oh now, you keep talking like that and I’m likely to get excited.” He winked at her, intent more on poking her buttons than actually flirting. He brought his attention back to the road as well, but his mouth had a tendency to continue to work even when everything else was on another task. “We should make this a contest. Who takes out the most guards.” Which what was being transported, there were bound to be enough of them for both he and Barbara. “If you’re feeling up to it, that is. Wouldn’t want you to push yourself now.” He taunted good-naturedly.
–
Barbara rolled her eyes, a look of disgust appearing on her face at his wink. "I’d rather find myself a prince and wear dresses than do anything that involves you," she fired right back at him. She knew exactly what he was doing, and there was no way she’d give him the satisfaction of pushing any buttons on her. For a brief moment, Barbara thought he’d pay attention to the road and shut up; however, she should’ve known better. She didn't even try to hide the annoyed sigh when his mouth opened up again. A look that could kill was fired from Barbara to Richard on the offer of a contest. He knew she had never walked away from a challenge, and that was probably the reason he was coming up with the idea. "Not much of a contest when I already know I’ll win," she gave an innocent shrug of the shoulders as if it was fact what she was saying before continuing on, "And I’d hate to show you up in front of your buddies. Oh wait, I lied, I love embarrassing you in front of the others. The real question for you is whether that bruised ego can take any more bruises?" Her tone was filled annoyance, but Barbara had to admit she did enjoy the back and forth, even if she’d never admit it.
—
“You’re conveniently forgetting all the times that I’ve won. From what I recall, we might even be at a draw right now.” They were evenly matched which was one of the reasons why Richard found poking Barbara to be more fun than some of the others. It was no fun to be a rival to someone who could never truly compete.
“Sounds to me like you’re really just scared to have me best you, is what I think.” He smirked.
–
Barbara faked an expression as if trying to remember the times that he was talking about. Not completely sure if he could see or not from the distance, but Barbara did enjoy giving him a hard time. "Oh, wait," she pretended, as if she had only recently remembered the times he was referring to, "you mean when I let you win so as not to hurt that ego?" Yes, she knew she was lying and that he had won a few times, but that didn’t mean she couldn’t get on his case just a bit. Though she could admit, she did enjoy the fact that they were evenly matched and it always kept her on her toes, even if he did annoy her more often than not. If Barbara was being honest, she just might have enjoyed their banter, not that she’d ever voice it aloud and give him that satisfaction.
A small laugh came before she could stop it at the idea of being scared, covering her mouth for a moment. "Scared? Of you? This really isn’t the time or place to be making absurd claims," she retorted back to him. "Fine, you’re on, and you can see another victory in my column," she told him, knowing now she had more depending on this going right than just what they were here for since now she had to beat Richard in taking out more people than he did. –
“If that makes you sleep better at night.” Which was his retort to the ‘let him win’ comment. Richard just took it as a sign he was capable of getting under her skin. It made him grin. The only thing he was truly jealous about was her hair - he wished he had scarlet hair like she did . He’d never say so though.
Off in the distance, a carriage started to appear. It was being flanked by several soldiers who were walking. At least two dozen which gave them plenty of people to have fun with. He glanced at Barbara, flashing him a grin. “Do try to keep up now, luv.” Then he winked and he jumped down from the tree.
Despite his banter, he also wanted to make sure this was a successful mission so he didn’t hold back as he started to fight with his weapon of choice - a staff.
– “I have plenty of ways to help me when I am unable to sleep, and not one of them involves you. I know the truth. The real question is can your ego handle what may or may not be the truth?” She asked, toying with him and enjoying it more than she probably should. Hey, if she could get into his head and let him wander, then she’d say it was a win. Barbara would also consider it a little payback for getting under her skin, hating how he managed to do it, and she was pretty sure he knew it, making her hate it even more.
Noticing the carriage and guards approaching, she brought her hands near where her weapon of choice was on her body. A glare came without even thinking about it when he said about keeping up. Annoyed, he vanished before she could fire anything back. Richard knew she hated that luv, and it almost had her tempted to “accidentally” hit him. If it wasn’t for the mission, she’d probably do it, but she wasn’t going to have that be the reason they failed.
Not even a moment later, she dropped down and joined the fight with her baton. Though in this time, it was more a wooden sword than anything. Not a weapon most would use, but Barbara knew how to use it well. With Richard near the front, she moved towards the back and worked her way down on taking out the ones she came across, not holding back when the guards came at her.
—
Richard enjoyed fighting like this. It was the sort of fight that got your adrenaline pumping while you actually managed to do some good in the world. Before he met Robin he hadn’t had a clear path in life, but now he did and he was grateful for it.
At some point he found himself back to back with Barbara. While they might ‘fight’ one another, they worked as a team when they needed to. Of course, that didn’t stop him from talking. “I’m at twelve.” A guard came at him and he knocked that one out. “Thirteen, actually.”
–
When she first hit into Richard’s back, Barbara had been ready to react until she saw who it was. As much as he drove her nuts, and half the time she wanted to kill him, she also knew he had her back. They were a good team even if she’d never say that aloud, especially to him since he didn’t need to get all high and mighty from the compliment. Elbowing one in the face who came up on her side, shaking her head.
“Typical guy having to brag about your numbers. Do you want a slap on the back and a good job?” Her tone teasing, but she was slightly annoyed because he was now one ahead of her. Not that she was going to say it at that moment because she did not need the comment from him. Holding out hope as they finished up that a surprise guard would pop up for her to even the numbers out. “I’ll go grab what we came for unless you want to keep talking about your numbers?” She offered, but still started to walk back to grab what they were here for.
—
“Why can’t we do both?” He grinned, taking care of another one as he silently took the task of distracting those who were left over so Barbara could do her job. Rivals or not, he wasn’t going to ruin the job today.
He was getting tired, though. While not willing to admit it, he did shout. “Any time time luv!”
–
Barbara only rolled her eyes at the stupid question, shaking her head. Such a smug bastard and he knew it, which only irked her more. Even though he was a bastard, Barbara had no doubt in her mind that he’d have her back. So she didn’t question it or worry at all when going to do her part of the job.
“Don’t make it so tempting to relax in here a bit and let you do the heavy lifting,” she yelled right back, snagging what they came for. Barbara would make comments, but at the end of the day, she’d never do anything to put someone even Richard in danger or a mission. “Is someone in need of a little help?” Her question starting off in a yell and getting softer as she came back. Kicking someone who tried to come up behind her before helping Richard knock out the remaining few. “How many?” She asked with a sigh, knowing he was going to win and she hated it so much.
—
“Twenty-one.” He grinned. “Normally I’d be upset with the uneven number,, but there doesn’t seem to be anyone else volunteering to even the number out. Oh well.” Richard wasn’t actually heartbroken. He just liked the chance to show off and he knew from the sigh Barbara gave that she had already accepted her fate of losing this time. Plus they were successful! This was turning out to be a great day.
“Shall we go apprise Robin then?”
–
Barbara was sure it was written all over her face how much she wanted to deck him, especially when he was going on about no one volunteering to make his number even. Yes, she was a bit of a sore loser when it came to him cause now she’d have to hear about it from Richard until he got bored. “Fine, you won. You have until tonight to decide what you win for beating me, and if you think of nothing, then your win expires.” Barbara did not care if it didn’t work that way, it was right now. Hoping he’d forget and she wouldn’t have to honor whatever he came up with as winner.
“Come on. The sooner we do this, the sooner I don’t need to be around you anymore.” And she definitely was all for that.