Born to Fly
by Kristina (Nemisis07170@aol.com)

***** 

"You know that moment-- you're on a ledge with the jumpline in your hand? You 
feel the wind. You hear the traffic way below.  Then you're off into space. And 
for a few seconds-- before the line loses slack and your swing begins-- you're 
on wings." 

~ Barbara -- Birds of Prey #8 

***** 

It was the perfect night. The air was so sweet she could almost taste it. The 
wind rippled through her long auburn tresses, making them dance across her cowl. 
Her jewel green eyes shone, the moonbeams reflecting deep inside the jade pools.  
She could hear the traffic below her; angry motorists blaring their horns, stuck 
in the typical after work traffic.
  
5 o' clock. The sun was just beginning to set in the horizon. Already faint 
tufts of pink were visible at the cloud bases. Taking in a deep breath, she let 
the gentle autumn breeze caress her face. 

Tilting her chin back, she smiled a soft, content smile as the fading rays of 
sunlight skittered across her cheeks and lapping gently at her neck. Her eyes 
were closed. She was caught in pure ecstasy.  

Then as quickly as they had closed, her eyes flew open. A hard, determined glint 
came to the corners. The time of luxury was over. The moment of freedom had 
passed. Now it was time to work. Time to hunt. Time to…fly.  

Inhaling deeply, she filled her lungs full of sweet air. Then exhaling, she let 
it out. Brushing back her stubborn auburn locks off her shoulders, she shook her 
arms and legs, like a swimmer ready to dive. In her right-gloved hand, she 
tightly clutched her jumpline. Almost nonchalantly, she fired the device, 
hearing the soft clink as the metal found its surface and grabbed on.  

A warm feeling began growing in her chest as she stood at the rooftop's edge. 
The wind howled around her, weaving through the edges on her cape, making it fly 
unaided. She closed her eyes again, momentarily counting to three. At the number 
three, she pushed off the ledge…and was out in space.  

And for that moment. For that one moment before the jumpline loses its slack and 
her swing begins, she was on wings.  

***** 

Barbara woke up with a jolt. Through bleary eyes, she looked for what had awoken 
her. With a disappointed sigh, she realized it was her computer console, 
indicating she had an incoming message.  

Running her fingers through her hair, Barbara untangled it to the best of her 
ability and slid on her headset. 

"Oracle here," she said in her best no-nonsense-all business- tone.  

"Oracle here," came the mocking reply. "Well, well, well, somebody's in her best 
Bat-mode, huh?" 

Barbara allowed herself a small smile. She immediately switched it to the vid-
link and was soon treated to the handsome face of Dick Grayson.  

"You're one to talk, twenty- something wonder," she teased back. "After all, I 
wasn't the one to use the, big bad Dark Knight voice to one Roy Harper the other 
day." 

Dick gave her a chagrined grin. "Guilty, as charged." 

Barbara chuckled. "So what can I do for you, former Boy Wonder." 

Dick took a deep breath and crossed his fingers. "I want you to go out with me 
tonight." 

"Dick," Barbara frowned. He picked the wrong time to try this. "You know what 
I've told you about that…" 

"Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know. You don't want to be pushed. But Babs…" 

"Don't 'But Babs' me Boy Wonder!" Barbara snapped, her eyes narrowing with anger 
and the faint telltale of tears.  

"Babs, will you just please listen!" 

"No you listen! You don't know what this is doing to me! You don't understand." 
Her voice dropped down low. "You don't understand!" 

"I do understand," Dick said softly. "I understand more than you think, or are 
willing to admit. You can't hide behind that chair forever, Babs." 

"I'm not…" Barbara started. 

"You don't have to be strong all the time," Dick's voice was twinged with pain. 
"Sometimes its good for the soul to be soft." 

Then his image vanished and all Barbara had to look at was the blank screen, 
staring at her. Laughing at her. Taunting her. Mocking at her pain.

Barbara fingered the tiny Batgirl doll that sat beside her. She clutched it to 
her chest, running her fingers over its tiny costume all the while. And it was 
about that time that the tears began to start.  

***** 

Dick felt like throwing something. But he knew that would just end up in more 
repairs for Clancy and him with a lot less dinner plates. So he opted for the 
next best thing; stomping around his apartment, muttering everything under the 
sun in Romany.  

Seeing as he had already tromped through the kitchen, living room, and every 
other room in between, Dick stomped into his bedroom, slamming the door shut 
behind him so hard the hinges rattled.  

The force of the blow knocked the worn album off his nightstand. It fell to the 
floor with a thud, pictures and news clippings spilling out over the carpet.  
With a curse, Dick bent down to retrieve the items. Sitting on his bed, he 
attempted to return them to their proper places. Setting the last picture in its 
place, Dick suddenly froze, staring intently at the old photograph.  

It was a picture of him and Barbara. Or rather Robin and Batgirl. It was taken 
the night they first met, at one of those tiny photo booths. Dick's blue eyes 
softened at the memory. That had been such a wild night.  

Running his forefinger over the picture, Dick traced the outline of Batgirl. As 
he was doing this, his eyes suddenly lit up, and he could almost feel the 
lightbulb turning on over his head.  

Smiling a Cheshire cat - I've got a secret smile, Dick closed the album and 
returned it to its hiding place. Going over to his computer, he typed and sent a 
quick e-mail to Barbara, with specific instructions. Next he got in touch with 
the Tower. Donna answered.  

"Donna?"

"Dick? What can I do for you, hon?"

"I need you to keep the Titans away from me for the night. The same goes for 
Oracle. Absolutely no one wearing spandex is to contact us tonight. Is that 
clear?"

"Yeah, sure. I'll tell them. But Dick, what's going on?"

"Never mind, Donna. I'm just going to spend the night with a friend."

"A friend?"

"A friend."

"Ooh! A friend! Gotcha. Oh, and Dick… "

"Yeah?"

"I want details!"

"Goodbye Donna!"

Smiling, Dick cut the connection. After checking his watch and deciding Barbara 
had had enough time, he dug out his Nightwing costume.

Opening his window, he took a moment to gaze at the world outside. The sun was 
just beginning to set. Faint swirls of pink and orange were already visible. The 
wind was just right. Not to strong, but not to soft either. The air was so fresh 
and sweet you could almost taste it. Oh yes, it was the perfect time. The 
perfect time to fly.  

***** 

Barbara sat on the edge of her balcony railing, tapping her fingers against her 
folded arms. Tears still stung her eyes, occasionally dripping beneath her cowl. 
But this time they weren't in anger. No, this time they were from loss and pain.  

"I've seen the sun rise and set over different planets," came a voice near her. 
"I've seen everything from the top of Mt. Everest, to the crystal waters of the 
Bahamas. I've even seen the end of the world approach. But until this moment…" 
Nightwing stepped forward until he was nose to nose with Barbara. "I've never 
seen anything as wondrous or as beautiful as you." 

Cheeks flushing, Barbara stared at the tips of her boots, fingering the kevlar 
cape in her gloved hands. She had no idea what was going on. Why he was doing 
this? And most of all, why he asked her to wear her old Batgirl costume. The 
smell of it alone as she pulled it out of its hiding place was enough to send 
her into a river of tears.  

"Why…why are you doing this?" Batgirl asked, her voice husky. A stray tear 
leaked down her nose.

Nightwing tenderly wiped it away and at the same time lifting her chin, forcing 
her to look at him.  

"Because I love you." 

The answer was so simple, so sweet, and so heartfelt that it almost set her off 
crying again.  

"Here," Dick handed her something. She took it, carefully rubbing her fingers 
over the surface of the familiar object. A grappling hook.  

She looked up at him, her eyes questioning. 

"What…?" 

"You're going to fly." 

"But I can't…" 

"Yes you can. Trust me." He smiled his most disarming smile at her and held out 
his hand. Barbara looked up at him, and behind the mask, could see nothing but 
love in his eyes. Smiling, she took his hand in her own. Her fingers 
intertwining with his.  

"I trust you." 

Nightwing smiled and fired his jumpline. Batgirl followed suit. With one arm, 
Nightwing reached down and pulled Barbara to her feet, his arm encircling her 
waist, holding her in the standing position.  

Barbara nodded, her eyes closed. It was so much like her dream it was scary. But 
this was better than the dream. It was real. And here, she had the man she loved 
by her side, guiding her every step of the way. 

"On my mark then. Three…two…one…mark!" Nightwing, arms still around Batgirl, 
pushed off the ledge, her safely nestled in his arms.  

Barbara opened her eyes when she felt the wind slap against her cheeks. Her hair 
and cape streamed behind her in the wind. A smile began spreading across her 
face like wildfire.  

Nightwing let go of his jumpline and the two tumbled down in a freefall. 

"Come Josephine, on my flying machine, going up she goes, up she goes," Dick 
sang softly in her ear.  

Throwing her arms out to her sides, she mimicked a bird in flight. Dick's grip 
shifted slightly, accounting for her change in position. But he kept a firm hold 
and she didn't fall.  

He shot out another line, and they began their swing. Barbara felt this free, 
singing feeling inside her. One she hadn't felt for a long time. And as the two 
swung off into the horizon, the fading sunlight warming their faces, Barbara 
knew Dick was right. She couldn't hide forever. This was what she was born to 
do. Like him, she was born to fly.  

The End