InsaneJournal

Tweak says, "I have misplaced my pants."

Barbara Gordon (alwaysabat) wrote in wariscoming,
@ 2010-10-03 02:23:00

Entry tags:

barbara gordon/oracle, dick grayson/nightwing

Who: Babs and Dick
What: Even Bats need to be looked after from time to time
When: This evening
Where: Dick's apartment
Why: See 'What'
Status: Incomplete.

Over last few weeks had been extremely hard on the residents. All of them. There were really no exceptions. Usually it didn't extend that far but the whole town had been involved, and as much rampant confusion as there was, there were explanations that generally made no sense that the minds of the locals were latching onto in an attempt to rationalize what had happened...

But it wasn't the populous that she was worried about at that moment. No. Dick had been stressed. They'd all been stressed, but him... he'd needed sleep something awful. It was times like these, she realized as she put her copy of his key into the lock of his apartment, that they really needed Alfred. It was what he did. He took care of them, and she knew that he'd been looking in on Dick all these years, despite the distance. But now he wasn't there. And Dick was horrible at taking care of himself. Even if he was sleeping he wasn't working on the other aspects, and just being here was strain enough.

Closing the door behind her, she moved to the kitchen, not stopping to see if he was there - and put up some water for tea. She had had enough coffee to last her a lifetime. ...well maybe not. But she would check on him in a few minutes. He'd spent enough hours and done enough random appearances at the clocktower and her apartment over the years that she felt no problems in just coming into his unannounced. That was what family did. If you were a bat.

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alwaysabat
2010-10-04 03:59 am UTC (link)

She had to admit that it was a very nice view. One that she had seen before and she wouldn't say aloud, but she never got tired of. She could remember most of the instances where those scars had been gained, either from first hand experience or hearing about it shortly after the fact. There were others that he'd told her about, and new ones that she didn't, but she knew where they were and some of them... Well looking at him she didn't really want to think about that right now.

Barbara hadn't announced herself, and when he was surprised that she was there, she really wasn't surprised. The truth was that this was something of a social and something of a check up visit. He didn't sound good. From what she heard she could tell that he had a stuffed nose and that indicated a few things. She wheeled herself around with a smile. "Yeah. Thought that I'd stop in and see how you were doing." She didn't mention that she'd seen his last entry, but it was part of the reason for her visit.

She left the kettle on the stove, moving to get two mugs out of a lower cabinet, where she had stored them after a previous visit. Cabinets were one of her greatest enemies - it was interesting how the lack of height could do that. She had problems with it at her own apartment too. Clearly these apartments hadn't been made for someone with her condition, but she made due.

She managed a small smile, tilting her head to the side. "How are you feeling?" She really wanted to know. And it was no secret that Bats really didn't take care of themselves. Her included... although she never would admit it.

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onatightrope
2010-10-04 04:23 am UTC (link)

Dick had scars, but very few of them he regretted. Bruce often told him scars defined the man. Both he and Bruce were nearly a perfect match when it came to wounds and recklessness. Hey he had to gain some things from him, he was kind of raised by the bat. Emphasis on kind of. "My heads a wreck." He stated as he crossed the distance between them and into the kitchen. It was time to take more decongestants so he could talk like a normal person and not a stuffed up six year old. He couldn't help but feel a hint of that old familiar spark when she looked at him, much like they'd had in the past, standing there in nothing but his skivvies. But he didn't give her any indication of it, or at least he tried not too.

Pouring a glass of water from the tap and reaching into his manly bare cupboards, he took out the pills and rolled his eyes as he read the package. It would take a half an hour to kick in. Brilliant. He took two anyway and put the glass back down on the counter half empty before looking over at her and leading against said counter. He pushed some of his hair out of his face, but it was an unruly pain. It fell right back where it was and Dick sighed in slight frustration. "You're gonna get sick too if you stay here with me." He was quarantining himself. Keeping away from human contact. Clark had volunteered to do the medical runs if he needed them, but even then he was hesitant. "You really don't want this."

He was a little more pale then normal. Dick was so stuffed up that some of what he was saying was basically impossible to understand. "I feel like a brick. If I sit back down theirs no getting up." He stated with an annoyed sound as he looked over across from Babs at the window. He should have been out there with Clark. Doing his job. But even he knew when to throw in the towel and admit defeat.

There were a few dvds he'd tried to watch earlier in the daytime stacked up on his coffee table. But through all of them he hadn't managed more then fifteen minutes. They were your basic action selection. Mindless drabble, really.

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alwaysabat
2010-10-04 07:30 am UTC (link)

She finally looked away from him, needing to do that, and decided that checking the food situation was an effective use of time. He didn't have much in the cupboards or the refrigerator. It was something that didn't surprise her, but it didn't make her happy either. On the other hand with what they'd been through in the last couple of weeks, who had time to shop? But before too long she was looking at him again over her shoulder. He didn't look good and he sounded even worse. She could only imagine how he felt...

She turned around in the chair again and shook her head as if to disagree. "I really don't care if I get sick," she said it like she had so many times before. "If it happens, it happens. Not like I really go anywhere anyway." She could still do her thing if she got it. Right now he was her concern. Him and his fuzzy and very much stuffed up head.

The kettle started to go off, and Barbara moved to switch off the stove. Putting a teabag in each of the mugs waiting, she poured the water before replacing the kettle and letting the tea sit. She saw that he was looking out the window, and she knew where his mind was. It wasn't uncommon. When she was starting out she'd gotten the flu and had been out for two whole weeks, every minute her mind had been out there, where she thought she should be, instead of on he recovery... Alfred had given her what for for that one. But he wasn't here. She didn't have to tell him anything, he was here, inside, and he knew that he was grounded - metaphorically.

She was worried. But to say that would seem a nag, and that wasn't what she wanted. It wouldn't help things. "When I was sick, mom used to make me hold the tea under my nose to help clear it out," she said with a small smile. This was her birth mother, not her aunt/adopted mother. It explained the tea. "Have you been able to get anything down today?" She was worried about his well being and had seen the bread next to the fridge. Toast might be at hand.

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onatightrope
2010-10-04 07:57 am UTC (link)

"I do." He stated miserably as he frowned at her. He'd been sleeping most of the day away, but it didn't seem to matter. He was still tired, and could probably sleep through the night. He didn't get sick often, being in peak physical shape and healthy working order most of the time at least. However when he did it wasn't pretty. It was physically and mentally draining on him. Part of the reason he'd bat-tied Dawn and dragged her home kicking and screaming was he had been on the edge of the illness he was currently trying to fight off and failing. Dawn hated him, but frankly he didn't care much. He was more worried about keeping her away from Jason then making her happy.

"I coulda just sent Clark out, he volunteered.." His words got lost to a yawn and he rubbed at his eyes. "Feels like everything's moving in slow motion." For a minute his vision blurred and he tried to rub them again, of course it failed. The irrational part of him wondered if he'd ever be healthy again. The last few days the only place he'd seen was the inside of his place. It was nice and big enough to be comfortable in, but he didn't ike staying home. He was uncomfortable with even the notion of it. He knew Clark could handle himself, but he didn't like to just leave him alone out there. It wasn't how it was supposed to go. But being out there would only put them both at risk, and whoever they were saving at the time, Dick knew that. he wasn't nearly at one hundred percent, infact it was probably down to about thirty.

If the apocalypse came while he was sick, he was going to be severely unhappy. And then Babs was talking, it took him a minute to take everything in, but when everything connected he raised an eyebrow. "Tea in your nose?" he asked, uncertain if he heard that right. His brows furrowed trying to figure out how that would help and not drown him. He came up blank. He was so out there he didn't really understand and misunderstood her.

"Not yet, I've been to tired to eat." Anything that really took chewing was out, Dick just didn't have the energy for it. A few days ago it'd just been a cold. Stuffy nose of unpleasantness, sore muscles, exhaustion, but then there were signs of fever. He could no longer stand, even half way at his counter. He moved toward his kitchen table and slumped into a chair.

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alwaysabat
2010-10-04 08:32 am UTC (link)

She was actually relieved when he sat down. She'd been worried that he wouldn't be able to stay on his feet for long. And if he fell over or stumbled... well these days she could catch people, it was helping them back up that was a problem. It was rare that one of them got this sick. Well... there were some exceptions, but there had been that time she'd been knocked off her feet by a common cold, but still. (It had been her own fault for staying out in the rain in civilian form.) When Dick got sick it was usually bad. Not because what he had was bad (though sometimes it was) but because it wasn't necessarily something he was used to. She remembered only a few instance wherein Alfred had forced the man into an undisclosed location (his room) for special attention or treatment.

He hadn't eaten. He was drained, stuffy and clearly very groggy... When he sat down she carefully rolled over with one of the mugs of tea and set it in front of him. "Drink it, alright? It will help." She placed it on the table before turning around and moving to grab the bread from the counter. If nothing else he needed to get something into his stomach. Years of looking after her siblings had taught her that. Little kids got sick all the time. Putting the toast into the toaster, she moved her own mug over to the table and sat at its side, putting a hand on Dick's arm for a moment, realizing just how warm he really was. Was he running a fever? "It will be over before you know it," she was trying to make him feel better, but given that he'd had this for a few days? The odds of it helping were minimal. "Have you thought about calling one of the doctors?" She took a sip of her own tea and watched him, making certain he wasn't going to do anything that might make him more hurt...

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onatightrope
2010-10-04 08:54 am UTC (link)

He wasn't burning hot at least, but there was a little warmth. It was depressing. He rarely had to deal with illness. He wasn't entirely sure how except to sit and keep his eyes closed. When she offered him tea he looked up at her with a strained frown that looked more childish then anything. Substance didn't seem like the best idea, His stomach was queasy. He took the cup though with out argument. Dick for once didn't have the energy to complain or be stubborn. Carefully and slowly he sipped at it. His hand was having difficulty holding onto the cup. After a few sips he put it down and rested his forehead on the back of the chair heavily. His eyes were barely open, but it was comforting to have Babs there. Her hand on his arm made him look up curiously. "No dinner or movie first?" He asked her with a lopsided smirk, attempting to be his cocky self.

He wished Alfred was there, the man had always been kinda like his father, more so then Bruce ever had anyway. When Alfred was near by he knew things weren't all bad. In this city sometimes he lost sight of that. In the middle of his sick delusions he had again. Everything was so overwhelming. Jason blamed him for his death, the apocalypse was breathing down their necks, and Clark still didn't believe a man could fly. He had too much on his plate. That was just the way he worked best though. Under pressure. This time unfortunately the pressure overpowered him in the end.

"When was the last time we were alone like this? " He couldn't help but think aloud. His brain wasn't separating things like it normally did of appropriate and inappropriate. It was in a fog.

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alwaysabat
2010-10-06 06:12 am UTC (link)

She couldn't help but roll her eyes at him, but at the same tile she smirked shaking her head. He would never change. Part of her hoped he didn't. She knew the stresses that came along with their jobs and it was enough to change a person. Completely and totally. It was a fight to remain, and even more a fight not to let it consume you... and that was something that Bruce failed in that regard. And had some time ago. It was something they all knew but the only ones who really brought it up, ever, were her, Dick and Alfred, and then only when it was necessary.

His question caused a small smile to form on her lips. Barbara actually had to think about that. How long had it really been? She'd been so busy with everything... She really wasn't sure. "I think it was some time between Dinah and Ollie's wedding and the move to Metropolis," she sighed. Yeah... that hadn't turned out well...

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onatightrope
2010-10-06 06:37 pm UTC (link)

"Ollie and Dinahs wedding?" He glanced up at her in surprise. For him that was years ago. He frowned a little through his sick haze. "..Babs, that was almost five years ago for me." But it didn't add up, and the temporal thingy was hurting his head again the more he tried to analyze it.

And when he caught her rolling her eyes it only earned her a cocky grin. like he was a kid all over again, and she was the new Batgirl. He'd been so focused lately on being Nightwing, avoiding Batman, and trying to take care of Jason that he'd been neglecting Dick Grayson. He'd almost gotten so wrapped up in things that he'd forgotten how to be himself out of the mask. He was almost his old self, save for a little slow on the up take. He leaned forward on the couch slightly to pick up the mug of hot tea and raised an eyebrow as the heat stung his hand at first. he was no good at tea drinking. He always got burned. But finally he got used to it and closed his eyes half way, sipping at the warm liquid. It was soothing. He didn't even notice a simple gold band slip out of his pocket attached to a silver chain.

He was exhausted. When he finally put the tea cup back down he noticed his sinus' did feel a little better. But his stomach churned unhappily as he eyed the burnt toast. He forced a strained grin and looked up at Babs for a second, then back down at the toast. She had made it with all the best intention..So he reached for it and took a tiny bite. Fortunately his gag reflex was way too bogged down by decongestants to taste the burnt crumbs, so he was able to refrain from making a face at it. However he did look over at her after taking a second bite and smirked. "It's a good thing you're a computer genius." He stated teasingly while trying not to chip a tooth on his food. If one could even call it food.

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alwaysabat
2010-10-08 05:15 am UTC (link)

"Five years?" That made her sit up a bit straighter. It couldn't be. The time couldn't possibly be that far between the two of them. He looked... she had to admit that he did look older. A bit. But it explained so much... about the changes, the differences and why some things she didn't recognize. And she didn't. He was so much more serious, he seemed to forget himself, and that worried her. For all her trying, this was the most relaxed she'd seen him, and when he shot her that cocky grin, she couldn't help but chuckle. It was just like old times.

She reached over and squeezed his arm, getting go as he worked on the tea. There was comfort here. The familiarity of it all. There was no war outside and it was almost like they were back in her apartment after one of their patrol sessions. Before she was in the chair and after. She noticed the chain literally hanging from his pocket and was about to say something when he started teasing her. "Don't blame me," she said with a somewhat fake frown. "Your toaster is screwed up. I know how to cook. After all I learned from the very best." Alfred had taught her.

She was quiet for a moment, reaching down and cupping the ring in her hand, with a small smile. "Its beautiful," she looked up at him. She thought about it and wondered if this wasn't the ring he'd tried to give Kory when they'd tried it the second time. But it didn't make sense as to why he'd be carrying it around.

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onatightrope
2010-10-08 05:30 am UTC (link)

"Give or take a few days." Go figure it took him being too sick to move physically to finally get some relaxing in. " Everything going on, I didn't even notice how far apart we were.." He sighed in frustration and put down his tea cup with a slight shake of his unsteady hand. He was tired again. He rested his chin against his chair and smiled a little, though it was a bit more strained then before. The time warp thing was doing a number on his head as he tried to mentally figured out how old that made her. Then she laughed and he perked up slightly.

At her touch there was a warmth to his eyes that rarely touched his face these days. He'd been so stressed out. "Are you sure you didn't fall asleep in those lessons? I did once. i think that was why he never let me back in the kitchen again after the blender incident. There was only a little on the ceiling." dick shrugged. He must have been about eight when he tried to help out and everything backfired-literally. "Alfie didn't appreciate my culinary expertise. Everyone's a critic. " He tried for exasperated but he was drained so he didn't know what his expressions were panning out to be.

The tiny ring slipped out of his boxer short pocket when she touched it. It was gold and simple, and for a half second Dick had no idea what she was talking about until he turned to face her and saw the glittering item. "..That's what you should have said when I tried to give it to you." He didn't make a move to take it back, but there was a certain pain in his eyes. He looked down at his feet and stood up. It took effort, but he was too worried to stay seated now that the cat was out of the bag.

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alwaysabat
2010-10-08 06:03 am UTC (link)

He was relaxing. Relaxed was probably the right word. "Unlike some of us, I paid attention during lessons," she said with a wink, tapping her forehead with her index finger. "It helps that you can remember every recipe you've read." And it was true. but that didn't necessarily help with the carrying out of said recipes. She would never admit it. She was a good cook! These days, however the problem lay in actually getting access to the stove, given how the apartments were laid out. "and I think that Alfred, of all people, is the height of opinions in this area." She stuck her tongue out at him, yes acting childish, but for that moment it was fun. He was trying hard, and she understood from his look just how tired he really was.

Despite all the banter and the seemingly light feeling, it all sort of fell short when she heard his words about the ring. When he'd given it to her? No. When he'd tried to give it to her? The implication took a moment to sink in... sometime in the next five years, Dick had... proposed to her? Really? It was a shock, beyond the others.

His eyes changed and while he didn't move to take it from her, he stood up and she quickly reached up to grab his hand. Not certain at all what to say. He'd proposed to her... but he had the ring... Something must have happened! But... was it him or her? She couldn't be dead. He'd have said something... or not, but he'd have reacted differently to her than he had. When it came to Dick the two of them had always had an... interesting relationship. Colleges to friends to lovers to nothing and then... well when she was from they'd started talking. But it was odd. But she could not think of what could have happened... was it her?

She was staring from it to him, trying to make heads or tails out of this. He'd proposed to her? Her eyes softened looking up at him, not knowing at all what to say...

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onatightrope
2010-10-10 03:38 am UTC (link)

"Yeah yeah. "He hand waved her comment with a yawn and smirked tiredly. "Bragger." it was obvious he was trying to force himself to stay awake. This was the longest they'd spoken in awhile and he didn't want to ruin it by falling asleep just yet. Then there was the ring and it seemed like the tiredness just sifted away. Like it didn't matter anymore. She knew about the proposal and how badly it failed. It was all out in the open and an awkward silence took over. One that made him even more uncomfortable then the truth had. "Yeah, that's pretty much what happened the first time too." Dick sighed and ran a hand through his dark hair in frustration.

"I shouldn't have said anything." He stated and looked over at her again with a smirk. "It's just this cold talking, don't worry about me." It was obvious he felt stupid. He tried to blow it off like it was nothing and avoid more awkward conversation. He'd already had more then enough for his liking. It wasn't the way things were supposed to go. He sat back down, only this time his movements were a bit heavier then before. His eyes closed half way as he rested his forehead against his hand as if he were trying to block out what he'd just confessed, and pretend it didn't happen.

She'd told him to grow up and try again later. Dick wasn't sure if he'd be able to. It'd wounded his pride a little too badly to try it a second time. Since then he'd been alone. He'd had on again off again flings, but nothing had ever been the same.

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alwaysabat
2010-10-10 07:29 am UTC (link)

The smirk was forced. She could tell. Maybe it was the cold, the reason he was being so open, but if he was cutting off - which he was - it meant that it was a very sore subject. It was something that she was racing through in her head. What could have made her say no. It had to be something. But he... She didn't know if she should feel guilty for something that hadn't happened yet. Whatever it was she knew it had to be a good reason. Still... Babs had had three real 'relationships' in her adult life. Dick, Jason Bard and Ted Kord. The last had ended in friendship - even though she loved him, it was better that way... and then Ted had died. With Jason, the only time she'd been engaged, and that had ended because she was too cowardly to let him see her in the chair - something Dick had mostly been away for, he might not even have known about that one. And Dick... the most complicated of all.

He might have been able to fool other people, but not her. She and Dick had just been through too much. Breakups and make ups aside, she knew him. And something like this, she wasn't going to just let go. But it seemed that verbally would be the entirely wrong way to deal with this. It didn't make it better that she didn't know at all what to say.

Dick's eyes were closed and she took the opportunity to wheel herself around to the other side of the couch, before putting a hand on his arm, gently. The look on her face softened and she squeezed it slightly before carefully moving herself from the chair to the couch, sitting next to him (never an easy task), and hugging him.

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onatightrope
2010-10-12 09:00 am UTC (link)

Dick had only ever had a few relationships. None of them had worked out. Some tried to kill him, but apparently it ran in the family. Like father, like son. Since his break up with Babs and even Kory, Dick had been a little less of a playboy. Less of a show off. He just stopped trying to be happy and it showed. He tried to hide it with a cool exterior of strictly business and jokes, but in a private room it was impossible to hide. Dick had many regrets in his short life time, but the main one had always been not being there when Babs needed him the most. Being off on Tamaran for Kory and away from home where he was supposed to be. In the first couple years of his "freedom" he had been angry. A whirlwind of selfish emotion, and it did nothing but complicate things further to the point where they stood.

He rubbed a hand awkwardly through his dark hair against the back of his neck and just gave her a sheepish look as she moved closer. He thought it was going to end poorly. But then there were arms around him and a familiar warmth he forgot he was capable of feeling. His eyes slid shut. They were so tired of seeing nothing but pain. Part of him wanted to fight. The other was too tired to keep up the charade. The tension in his body slipped away and he rested his cheek in the crook of her neck. He was for once at a loss for words.

It'd been so long since he felt warmth and kindness. The last time was what?..he didn't even remember her name.. He managed finally to straighten slightly in the embrace as he tried to regain his bearings and not sink into a sea of memory. "I can't." He couldn't let himself get comfortable just to be rejected again.

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alwaysabat
2010-10-18 05:50 am UTC (link)

Arriving here had been an ordeal by itself. She'd met people, made friends and allies whom she cared about. She had a team here and a group that helped keep her sane. She'd had support, Xander and Rory, but now Rory was gone. She'd tried to rebuild, but that was a long and difficult process - one that she was familiar with. But Dick was here; and in more ways than she'd admit, he helped, filling a void she had barely been aware was there. He was different. She could see it in every step he took and hear it in every word he said. She couldn't imagine what had caused it - given that he had been this way when he'd arrived. This place, it only made it worse.

Barbara held him tightly, closing her eyes, finding it familiar, comforting, and in many ways - it was something she had missed. So much. And they sat there for several minutes until he moved away from her - Babs' eyes slanting a bit in confusion. Was something wrong?

When he spoke she closed her eyes momentarily and let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding. She instead put her hand back on his arm and squeezed lightly, trying to comfort him in some way. She pulled her legs up onto the couch and made herself comfortable, lying her head on the cushioned back of the seat. "Its okay," she whispered. The last thing she wanted was for him to be uncomfortable. ...she'd hurt him. Above all else, the one thing she didn't want, she'd done. And this one was different... And there wasn't anything to fix it, because she hadn't done it yet.

She leaned her head over more, getting comfortable on the couch where she was, her breathing becoming more relaxed. She was a fixer. And he was hurting...

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