Three منٹ later Dick abruptly stopped at a vent cover; almost making me run into is butt.
“Next time give me a warning when you’re about to stop,” I whispered to him. He nodded saying, “We can’t drop down to talk to Artemis, so we’re going to have to do this the hard way.”
“Hard way, you’re kidding, right?” I asked as Dick looked back at me confused. “For a detective آپ sure are stupid sometimes. Give me your phone.” My hand was outstretched waiting for his latest model of the Wayne Tech phone. He hesitantly handed over his phone until it hit him, “You’re going to text her aren’t you?”
“Yes, and I can’t believe that it took آپ that long to figure that out. Aren’t آپ supposed to be a detective یا justice bringer?”
“Yes, but I don’t think that ‘bringer’ is a word,” he corrected me texting Artemis and a few منٹ later a girl that looked to be three years older than Dick and I was looking up into the vent. Soon Dick’s phone lit up with a text saying ‘How the hell am I going to get out of here?’ Snatching the phone I texted back ‘Go to the girls’ bathroom ASAP air duct there:)’
“A smiley face really? Do آپ know what she will think of me now?” Dick glared at me.
“Sensitive,” I suggested.
“Not a good time to joke around Babs.”
“Sorry, I am just a little overwhelmed.”
“Get whelmed یا end up like Madeline and don’t say you’re sorry; it’s a sign of weakness,” he کہا oh so calmly and what could I do but nod like Artemis when she received the text.
Slowly the three of us made our way to the girls’ bathroom until Dick paused before he was officially in the restroom.
“What are آپ doing?” I asked looking back at him.
“I am a guy not a girl and آپ know girls’ bathroom,” he explained.
“This is life یا death and you’re scared of going into the girls’ bathroom?” I looked at him with disbelief.
“No,” he کہا slowly starting to اقدام again. Finally, we made it to the vent cover in the downstairs bathroom.
“Nail filer,” Dick کہا holding out his hand. In moments the cover was off and Dick dropped down.
“Come on Barbara. آپ scared?” He taunted as I dropped down holding my uniform skirt.
“Who are you?” Artemis nearly screamed as I dropped down.
“Barbara Gordon. Dick Grayson – Robin,” Dick explained as her face went into a full-fledged surprised and confused look.
“Okay,” she slowly nodded. “What’s going on? Why are we in lockdown? And, no offense Barbara, but what are آپ doing here?”
“What’s going on? I don’t know. Why were in lockdown? I don’t know. Why Barbara’s here? She’s stubborn,” Dick answered. I have never seen him like this. He was so serious and had مزید wheels turning in his head than I ever thought was possible. Also, he called me stubborn, but he is true although he will pay with a slap.
“Ow,” Dick کہا rubbing his arm where there was a red hand print.
“Um, well, my quiver and bow is in my locker,” Artemis said.
“My بیلٹ, پٹی and gloves are in mine, so let’s go,” Dick said.
“I’ve my binder in mine,” I piped in as a joke, but I just got the ‘really’ stare. “Too soon?” With that we all went to our lockers.
“Tell me again why I have to be in a dusty air vent?” I asked into my earwig, earpiece communicator.
“You don’t need to have a wardrobe change,” Dick blandly said.
“Well maybe I don’t want to kick some پچھواڑے, گدا in a skirt,” I tested his boundaries like we always do to each other.
“She has a point,” Artemis piped in, thankfully on my side.
“You always wear short shorts under the uniform skirts,” he کہا in that know-it-all voice.
“Okay, so yeah I do. Wait how did آپ know that?” I asked confused. All he did was his signature laugh. “Richard Grayson!”
“Welcome to the superhero biz,” Artemis sarcastically announced.
“Hey Babs,” Dick whispered right behind me making me jump and almost hit my head on the سب, سب سے اوپر of the air vent.
“Hey guys,” Artemis کہا making me jump again, but this time I hit the سب, سب سے اوپر of the air vent. Rubbing the سب, سب سے اوپر of my head Dick joked, “Babs I know آپ like frogs, but do آپ really have to act like one right now?”
“Ribit,” I sarcastically played along and we proceed through the vents to the threat. The only thing that we heard on our way was the periodic ‘right’ and ‘left’ from Dick behind Artemis and I with his holographic computer.
“Stop,” Dick harshly whispered. “We are right above him.”
“Him?” Artemis and I both asked the Boy Wonder.
“Babs your going to hate me if I say,” Dick turned his head off to the side dodging my questioning look.
“Like I کہا before, I could never hate you,” I pressed. With a sigh he complied, “He is Jim Junior Gordon.” My eyes grew ten times bigger than their original size. Junior is supposed to be locked up in an institution getting professional help for his violent ways. It all started a few weeks after my mother left the three of us, Dad, Junior and I, for who knows what. Her leaving has been extremely hard on the family and to سب, سب سے اوپر it off Junior became psychotic. Worse, from psychotic to murderous.
“Look, just stay here Artemis and I will take care of him,” Dick cautiously کہا resting a hand on my shoulder and the two of them slid down to the ground.
“Junior broke into the school. Junior was the threat. Junior killed Madeline. Junior is here for me,” looked up from the dusty bottom of the air vent. “That bullet was for me.” I looked down at my best friend and a girl that I barely know. They’re fighting my fight. They shouldn’t be fighting my fight, I thought, so I jumped.
My feet hit the floor harshly. I soon became the vocal point of the room.
“What are آپ doing? I told آپ to wait up in the vent,” Dick yelled at me.
“Yes, sister what are آپ doing here?” Junior replied with a sly smile creeping up on his mouth.
“Fighting my fight.”
“Are آپ crazy? Robin, آپ agree that she’s crazy, right?” Artemis asked still pointing a loaded bow at Jimmy Junior.
“No, she’s perfectly sane,” Dick کہا while stepping aside.
“Ask a stupid question, get a stupid answer,” Artemis grumbled putting her armed arrow away.
“Now that your little دوستوں are out of the way, Barbara. Let’s dance,” Junior کہا to me pulling out a throwing knife.
“I know that the bullet was meant for me and not Madeline. I know that this is all for me, which سے طرف کی the way I am flattered, and I know that this is about Mom,” I stroke his nerve as he lowered his stance slightly.
“I forgot how smart آپ are, and annoying,” Junior fought back unsuccessfully.
“I know that آپ are here to terminate me because آپ think that I am the reason that Mom left. News flash Jimmy, it was all because of you. آپ were the one that drove her away and آپ know that. آپ are just trying to plant the guilt on someone else. Well, it’s not going to work. I know that آپ were the one to kill me cat two years پہلے and then told Mom to leave. آپ کہا that if she didn’t that I would end up like my cat. Jimmy, I am very much alive, and Mom is gone just like آپ wanted her to be. Are آپ happy? آپ succeeded in ruining our family.” Hot tears of rage came down my face as quickly as Nigra Falls. “Our family.”
“Our family? Our family? It was never my family. It was all about you, Barbara. No one cared about me because it was all about you,” Jimmy yelled pointing the tip of the چھری at me.
“Mom cared about آپ and drove آپ to soccer practice all the time. Dad also. They still do, but that train left a long time پہلے for me. Once I found out that آپ told Mom to leave I didn’t care at all. It was all about you, Jimmy, and now you’re mad that it’s about me. It’s about me because I didn’t tell Mom to leave, I didn’t turn psycho and point a چھری at my sibling, and I didn’t let anyone down.” I turned to walk away from the stranger I was talking to, when something behind me clattered on the floor. I turned to look back to see Dick and Artemis cuffing Jimmy.
“One thing that آپ have wrong sister is that آپ do care about me. آپ care about what I have done, so آپ care about me,” Jimmy smiled. All I could do was keep walking because it was true. Wiping tears I passed Madeline’s limp, crimson body. With a deep breath and a final wiping of tears I walked out the double doors I entered this morning.
“Hold fire,” my father cried as he ran up to me. Without the سوال I stated, “It was Jimmy, Dad. It was Junior. Robin and that female archer took care of him.”
“Go get checked out at the ambulance,” he pointed.
“Dad,” he turned back to me as I took a breath in. “Madeline is dead. He killed her in front of Dick, Will and I.” He nodded as we both turned to our destinations.
“Barbara Gordon a statement, please,” a reporter کہا while shoving a microphone in my face.
“Barbara Gordon will not be making a public statement,” an officer کہا coming between me and the reporter. I continued to walk to the ایمبولینس as مزید reporters asked for a statement.
The following few hours were a blur of سوالات from paramedics, officers and reporters. Finally, everyone was released from the school.
“Barbara,” Will کہا spotting me and ran over.
“Will,” I exclaimed giving him a hug.
“I was worried about آپ and Dick. I woke up and آپ two were gone as if آپ disappeared. I thought آپ guys were dead,” Will rambled.
“Will, it was Jimmy Junior. Madeline took my bullet. He was here for me, but thank goodness that Robin and that female archer were there. Jimmy tried to kill me again,” I explained. “And, to answer your question, I went after Junior and Dick came after me.”
“Will. Babs,” a familiar voice کہا behind us.
“Dick, dude,” will کہا as they did their handshake. Once they were finished I hugged Dick with all my might.
“Thank you,” I whispered into his ear.
“For what? I lied and almost severely hurt your brother,” he whispered back.
“For finally telling me the truth and protecting me. For being مزید than a hero, but my hero,” a tear trickled down my face. Dick pulled away from the hug and kissed me. He tasted of his ترکاریاں, سلاد he had for lunch, desperation, glee and heroism. When he pulled away Will said, “Finally.”
“No. No, Wally I’m fine and why do آپ care... Yeah, sure. It’s just because I’m on the team. I have to go… I don’t care if you’re hungry. Bye Wally,” Artemis کہا into her phone that she was now pressing end. “Hi guys. Dick, we need to go.”
“Oh, yes. Wait were آپ just talking to Wally?” Dick eyed Artemis.
“He called me,” she defended against nothing.
“Sure,” Dick کہا sarcastically while rolling his eyes. “Guys I’ll see آپ later.”
“Dick,” I کہا grabbing his arm as he and Artemis turned to walk away. “I want in.”
“No,” he کہا sternly while walking away.
“Yes.”
“No.”
“No.”
“Yes,” he said.
“Great when do I start?” I asked. He slapped his face in realization that I just tricked him into saying yes.
“Babs, it takes مزید than saying ‘I want in’.”
“I know, so train me,” I said. With a sigh he complied saying for me to follow. And it begins. Oh, and bringer is a word.
Author's note: The part about Barbara's family when she is talking to Jimmy Junior is based on the Batgirl New 52 comics.
“Next time give me a warning when you’re about to stop,” I whispered to him. He nodded saying, “We can’t drop down to talk to Artemis, so we’re going to have to do this the hard way.”
“Hard way, you’re kidding, right?” I asked as Dick looked back at me confused. “For a detective آپ sure are stupid sometimes. Give me your phone.” My hand was outstretched waiting for his latest model of the Wayne Tech phone. He hesitantly handed over his phone until it hit him, “You’re going to text her aren’t you?”
“Yes, and I can’t believe that it took آپ that long to figure that out. Aren’t آپ supposed to be a detective یا justice bringer?”
“Yes, but I don’t think that ‘bringer’ is a word,” he corrected me texting Artemis and a few منٹ later a girl that looked to be three years older than Dick and I was looking up into the vent. Soon Dick’s phone lit up with a text saying ‘How the hell am I going to get out of here?’ Snatching the phone I texted back ‘Go to the girls’ bathroom ASAP air duct there:)’
“A smiley face really? Do آپ know what she will think of me now?” Dick glared at me.
“Sensitive,” I suggested.
“Not a good time to joke around Babs.”
“Sorry, I am just a little overwhelmed.”
“Get whelmed یا end up like Madeline and don’t say you’re sorry; it’s a sign of weakness,” he کہا oh so calmly and what could I do but nod like Artemis when she received the text.
Slowly the three of us made our way to the girls’ bathroom until Dick paused before he was officially in the restroom.
“What are آپ doing?” I asked looking back at him.
“I am a guy not a girl and آپ know girls’ bathroom,” he explained.
“This is life یا death and you’re scared of going into the girls’ bathroom?” I looked at him with disbelief.
“No,” he کہا slowly starting to اقدام again. Finally, we made it to the vent cover in the downstairs bathroom.
“Nail filer,” Dick کہا holding out his hand. In moments the cover was off and Dick dropped down.
“Come on Barbara. آپ scared?” He taunted as I dropped down holding my uniform skirt.
“Who are you?” Artemis nearly screamed as I dropped down.
“Barbara Gordon. Dick Grayson – Robin,” Dick explained as her face went into a full-fledged surprised and confused look.
“Okay,” she slowly nodded. “What’s going on? Why are we in lockdown? And, no offense Barbara, but what are آپ doing here?”
“What’s going on? I don’t know. Why were in lockdown? I don’t know. Why Barbara’s here? She’s stubborn,” Dick answered. I have never seen him like this. He was so serious and had مزید wheels turning in his head than I ever thought was possible. Also, he called me stubborn, but he is true although he will pay with a slap.
“Ow,” Dick کہا rubbing his arm where there was a red hand print.
“Um, well, my quiver and bow is in my locker,” Artemis said.
“My بیلٹ, پٹی and gloves are in mine, so let’s go,” Dick said.
“I’ve my binder in mine,” I piped in as a joke, but I just got the ‘really’ stare. “Too soon?” With that we all went to our lockers.
“Tell me again why I have to be in a dusty air vent?” I asked into my earwig, earpiece communicator.
“You don’t need to have a wardrobe change,” Dick blandly said.
“Well maybe I don’t want to kick some پچھواڑے, گدا in a skirt,” I tested his boundaries like we always do to each other.
“She has a point,” Artemis piped in, thankfully on my side.
“You always wear short shorts under the uniform skirts,” he کہا in that know-it-all voice.
“Okay, so yeah I do. Wait how did آپ know that?” I asked confused. All he did was his signature laugh. “Richard Grayson!”
“Welcome to the superhero biz,” Artemis sarcastically announced.
“Hey Babs,” Dick whispered right behind me making me jump and almost hit my head on the سب, سب سے اوپر of the air vent.
“Hey guys,” Artemis کہا making me jump again, but this time I hit the سب, سب سے اوپر of the air vent. Rubbing the سب, سب سے اوپر of my head Dick joked, “Babs I know آپ like frogs, but do آپ really have to act like one right now?”
“Ribit,” I sarcastically played along and we proceed through the vents to the threat. The only thing that we heard on our way was the periodic ‘right’ and ‘left’ from Dick behind Artemis and I with his holographic computer.
“Stop,” Dick harshly whispered. “We are right above him.”
“Him?” Artemis and I both asked the Boy Wonder.
“Babs your going to hate me if I say,” Dick turned his head off to the side dodging my questioning look.
“Like I کہا before, I could never hate you,” I pressed. With a sigh he complied, “He is Jim Junior Gordon.” My eyes grew ten times bigger than their original size. Junior is supposed to be locked up in an institution getting professional help for his violent ways. It all started a few weeks after my mother left the three of us, Dad, Junior and I, for who knows what. Her leaving has been extremely hard on the family and to سب, سب سے اوپر it off Junior became psychotic. Worse, from psychotic to murderous.
“Look, just stay here Artemis and I will take care of him,” Dick cautiously کہا resting a hand on my shoulder and the two of them slid down to the ground.
“Junior broke into the school. Junior was the threat. Junior killed Madeline. Junior is here for me,” looked up from the dusty bottom of the air vent. “That bullet was for me.” I looked down at my best friend and a girl that I barely know. They’re fighting my fight. They shouldn’t be fighting my fight, I thought, so I jumped.
My feet hit the floor harshly. I soon became the vocal point of the room.
“What are آپ doing? I told آپ to wait up in the vent,” Dick yelled at me.
“Yes, sister what are آپ doing here?” Junior replied with a sly smile creeping up on his mouth.
“Fighting my fight.”
“Are آپ crazy? Robin, آپ agree that she’s crazy, right?” Artemis asked still pointing a loaded bow at Jimmy Junior.
“No, she’s perfectly sane,” Dick کہا while stepping aside.
“Ask a stupid question, get a stupid answer,” Artemis grumbled putting her armed arrow away.
“Now that your little دوستوں are out of the way, Barbara. Let’s dance,” Junior کہا to me pulling out a throwing knife.
“I know that the bullet was meant for me and not Madeline. I know that this is all for me, which سے طرف کی the way I am flattered, and I know that this is about Mom,” I stroke his nerve as he lowered his stance slightly.
“I forgot how smart آپ are, and annoying,” Junior fought back unsuccessfully.
“I know that آپ are here to terminate me because آپ think that I am the reason that Mom left. News flash Jimmy, it was all because of you. آپ were the one that drove her away and آپ know that. آپ are just trying to plant the guilt on someone else. Well, it’s not going to work. I know that آپ were the one to kill me cat two years پہلے and then told Mom to leave. آپ کہا that if she didn’t that I would end up like my cat. Jimmy, I am very much alive, and Mom is gone just like آپ wanted her to be. Are آپ happy? آپ succeeded in ruining our family.” Hot tears of rage came down my face as quickly as Nigra Falls. “Our family.”
“Our family? Our family? It was never my family. It was all about you, Barbara. No one cared about me because it was all about you,” Jimmy yelled pointing the tip of the چھری at me.
“Mom cared about آپ and drove آپ to soccer practice all the time. Dad also. They still do, but that train left a long time پہلے for me. Once I found out that آپ told Mom to leave I didn’t care at all. It was all about you, Jimmy, and now you’re mad that it’s about me. It’s about me because I didn’t tell Mom to leave, I didn’t turn psycho and point a چھری at my sibling, and I didn’t let anyone down.” I turned to walk away from the stranger I was talking to, when something behind me clattered on the floor. I turned to look back to see Dick and Artemis cuffing Jimmy.
“One thing that آپ have wrong sister is that آپ do care about me. آپ care about what I have done, so آپ care about me,” Jimmy smiled. All I could do was keep walking because it was true. Wiping tears I passed Madeline’s limp, crimson body. With a deep breath and a final wiping of tears I walked out the double doors I entered this morning.
“Hold fire,” my father cried as he ran up to me. Without the سوال I stated, “It was Jimmy, Dad. It was Junior. Robin and that female archer took care of him.”
“Go get checked out at the ambulance,” he pointed.
“Dad,” he turned back to me as I took a breath in. “Madeline is dead. He killed her in front of Dick, Will and I.” He nodded as we both turned to our destinations.
“Barbara Gordon a statement, please,” a reporter کہا while shoving a microphone in my face.
“Barbara Gordon will not be making a public statement,” an officer کہا coming between me and the reporter. I continued to walk to the ایمبولینس as مزید reporters asked for a statement.
The following few hours were a blur of سوالات from paramedics, officers and reporters. Finally, everyone was released from the school.
“Barbara,” Will کہا spotting me and ran over.
“Will,” I exclaimed giving him a hug.
“I was worried about آپ and Dick. I woke up and آپ two were gone as if آپ disappeared. I thought آپ guys were dead,” Will rambled.
“Will, it was Jimmy Junior. Madeline took my bullet. He was here for me, but thank goodness that Robin and that female archer were there. Jimmy tried to kill me again,” I explained. “And, to answer your question, I went after Junior and Dick came after me.”
“Will. Babs,” a familiar voice کہا behind us.
“Dick, dude,” will کہا as they did their handshake. Once they were finished I hugged Dick with all my might.
“Thank you,” I whispered into his ear.
“For what? I lied and almost severely hurt your brother,” he whispered back.
“For finally telling me the truth and protecting me. For being مزید than a hero, but my hero,” a tear trickled down my face. Dick pulled away from the hug and kissed me. He tasted of his ترکاریاں, سلاد he had for lunch, desperation, glee and heroism. When he pulled away Will said, “Finally.”
“No. No, Wally I’m fine and why do آپ care... Yeah, sure. It’s just because I’m on the team. I have to go… I don’t care if you’re hungry. Bye Wally,” Artemis کہا into her phone that she was now pressing end. “Hi guys. Dick, we need to go.”
“Oh, yes. Wait were آپ just talking to Wally?” Dick eyed Artemis.
“He called me,” she defended against nothing.
“Sure,” Dick کہا sarcastically while rolling his eyes. “Guys I’ll see آپ later.”
“Dick,” I کہا grabbing his arm as he and Artemis turned to walk away. “I want in.”
“No,” he کہا sternly while walking away.
“Yes.”
“No.”
“No.”
“Yes,” he said.
“Great when do I start?” I asked. He slapped his face in realization that I just tricked him into saying yes.
“Babs, it takes مزید than saying ‘I want in’.”
“I know, so train me,” I said. With a sigh he complied saying for me to follow. And it begins. Oh, and bringer is a word.
Author's note: The part about Barbara's family when she is talking to Jimmy Junior is based on the Batgirl New 52 comics.
