Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Her heart fluttered; tonight was the night. He was the son of her hero—a kind of irony, given that he now held the position she had coveted those years ago. She had lied to herself and to everyone, claiming their relationship was more akin to siblings. But it wasn't. It was flirting, unmistakably so. Her cheeks flushed with color as they bantered on their bikes, fighting to one-up each other in battles.
Part of her initial attraction stemmed from the belief that he had convinced the big bat to let her into the fold— though she now knew he had always been rooting for her.
Now she sat on the bed, she had made a big deal about wanting him back for Thanksgiving, for the family. He had been the one to leave. She tried to push the memory of the scar from her mind.
Things were better now; the Titans allowed him to take the global view Bruce never permitted. A shift in dynamics, and of public relations.
She pulled off her top, taking a deep breath. It was a simple black bra. She had spent hours deciding, contemplating the appeal of her new faux leather jacket and cowl. But she wanted to be open, to let it all out.
She let her mind wander as she drew closer to the walk-in closet. Dick's room had always been small, before Jason, and now Tim. They tried to rebuild. And it all fell again. And now again, with that hollow hope and empty grief of a brother who not only passed, but that they barely knew. No- tonight was to be a good night. She pressed her nose against the dark blue hoodie of his, hung with careful care by Alfred. Despite his efforts, and the years since he last stayed, his scent was there, however faint.
A door opened as her heart began to beat in her ears. She hadn't thought he would have arrived yet.
"It's not about that," his voice sounded tired.
"I am aware, Nightwing. The whole of what I am saying is that if your mentor-father has caused you such pain, then why return?"
"It's... he meant well. He did his best," a brief beat, "Besides, she asked that I come."
"The Batgirl?"
"Babs—yeah."
"She wants to," there's another pause in his speech as Barbara moved to hide in the clothes, wondering what they did as she panicked. This was supposed to be a return to her family. "Heal, I guess." She knew the tone to be one of frustration and dejection.
"You feel strongly for the woman, and that is admirable. You—"
"I love her, Kori."
"I know."
She took a slow breath. Two friends came- and love! Her heart fluttered; the lump that had begun to form in her throat retreated. A squeak. Two metal objects tapped against each other.
"Our flight was so long, Grayson." He let out a deep breath. "We were offered private, and you insisted you pay for a couch."
"C-can we not talk about him while it’s out?"
Her eyes widened as Kori giggled. "It is quite a handsome cock."
Her heart pounded as Kori grew silent. Her mind filled the gaps with images of her on her back, and the man she loved pushing in. Her heart filled with pain, then shame, as her mind reconstructed the little porn she had seen. A woman, her breasts bouncing as the man pushed in and out. The woman's face, one of excitement. One she had practiced in the mirror. She saw what they looked like—the women men liked. Taller. Smooth skin. Better assets—though legs and butts were back in. She thought of her mother. Of what she would say of her thoughts. "Slut," filled her mind over and over. A term she had heard about anyone who dressed in anything tighter than culottes.
A groan of pleasure—"Kori, I'm—" his soft gasps filled the room as Barbara was pulled from her train of thought.
"One of Earth's finest delicacies," the visual changed as it hit Barbara like a batarang—the whole scenario was not quite what she had imagined.
She could hear the kiss, the mattress squeak as she climbed onto it. More as they laid back. “What is this?” She asked.
“Your top?”
A soft giggle, “I could not fit into something so small.”
“Alfred must have gotten it mixed in the laundry,” more noise as they moved around. She wondered if she would be trapped and forced to listen to the whole act, her own sex grew warm at the thought. After a wave of shame at the thought.
The door.
“Come on, let’s go see Tim,” a thud as Kori jumped up. “Maybe you should change first.”
Relief, after only moments more the couple had left freeing Barbara to escape the closet. Her shirt had been discarded to the laundry bin, just under Starfire’s discarded outfit. A pair of white boyshorts inparticular drew her attention. A wetspot at the crouch. Her hands shook as she reached out, at first intending just to move it but as it was in her hand only moments later it was inches before her face.
And then pressed against it.
She tried to think of Dick as she did. As she took a long, deep breath in. She pulled it away, her nose still faintly wet. Almost frozen in shock she grabbed her top and pulled it over her head, quickly adjusting it and making her way from the room.

Chapter Text

She was straight. Of course, she was straight. She had just looked up images of Kori; she had never seen the Tamaranian up close. She was thinking of Dick while her hand teased herself. Or at least, she made herself think of Dick, and of course, Kori was there too. Her eyes were fixated on the images of the other redhead on the computer after all. It was to be expected.
She glanced at the time on her phone. A deep paranoia that she may be discovered overcame her. Her uncle was still at work. She was home alone. And distinct guilt filled her. She pushed herself back, standing from her chair. It was too early to go on patrol.
She stepped into her underwear; her mind had returned to the night before each time she saw a pair, out of sheer paranoia and excitement. Guilt shot up again as the thought returned. It was wrong. Not only because she was straight but also because it was a violation, little more than an actual crime.
She pulled on a leather jacket. A ride would clear her mind. She knew as she drove where she was going. It wasn’t a conscious decision, but she hadn’t actively avoided it. The caves and passages that led to the Bat Cave were familiar. The Cave itself almost a home. More than her dorm apartment. More than her uncle’s.

* * *

“-ames, Star.” Voices filled in as the bike came to a stop, and she killed the engine. She had not expected the Titan to be in the cave; though her being allowed in the manor made it inevitable. Her heart ached as her shelter was pierced, though the irony of it being her own make was not lost on her.
Dick wore tight jeans that highlighted his calves, an orange—no, brown—turtleneck kept him warm with a lighter blazer on the outside. The tall woman beside him was barely dressed, with only a towel covering her nethers, full abreast.
Beside them both Tim stood with his arms crossed- eyes trained on the ground before spotting Barbara’s arrival and turning trained on her.
Her hair fell as she pulled off the helmet, hanging it on the stand as she came into view. “Babs?” Dick’s face lit up with a smile as she walked in.
“Uh, we just went over this.”
“Yes, Nightwing, the Robin said in the cave we maintain our mantles.” He moved past them and pulled her in for a hug. She took it in. His warmth. His feel. The faint aftershave mixed with leather. She returned the favor and wrapped her arms around him.
“I missed you,” Dick picked her up for a moment before placing her back down. Her face turned warm with a blush, and she let out a deep breath.
“I’m glad you came,” she began to apologize. But he quickly interrupted.
“I am too. It shouldn’t have been so long.” The alien let out a small, polite cough. “Where are my manners?” He stepped back and toward the long-haired woman.
For the first time, she could take her appearance in person. She was tall, taller than Dick. Maybe half a foot, she estimated. “This is Kori- Starfire.”
The Tamaranian smiled, “It is the pleasure to be meeting you.”
Barbara gestured hello, but Kori began to float down the stairs, pulling her in for an embrace. She could smell the woman, the woman pressed up against her. The alien’s hand had inadvertently found itself on her butt cheek just as Dick’s had.
“Hugs are a part of both my and human culture,” she spoke as her arms held Barbara up against her. Her bare chest pressed against Barbara’s jacket. She broke the hug but pulled Barbara beside her and guided her toward the other two. “Nightwing has told me a lot about you.”
She tried not to look. “Good things, I hope?” She did look at Dick; he had a warm smile. His eyes glanced at the alien’s breasts before to her own face, then away. She could hear her own heart pounding with nerves, could they all? She grabbed her wrist to steady her hand.
“He told me about the Scarecrow case.”
Barbara couldn’t help but give a small smile, “Sewers or blimp?”
“Blimp?” Tim looked between the two.
“Sewers,” Dick replied. It felt nice, having her friend back. She considered if he or Kara were more of a best friend. She knew there was no need to rank them.
“Early for patrol,” Tim starts. “What’re you doing here?” She could sense the relief that he could talk to her and alleviate the urge to stare at the Tamaranean’s breasts.
“Came to clear my head.”
“We should do lunch,” Kori smiled and looked toward Dick.
“Uh, yeah. Sure. Lunch.”
“I’ll pass,” Tim stepped away and toward the back of the cave and vanished.
“I will get clothes, Dick, Barbara-” she paused and considered the name that just came off her tongue. “You two pick a Gotham place.”