Barbara's POV
"Hurry up! We gave to go now or we're going to miss it!" I yell, as my best friend and crush, Dick Grayson, chases me.
"I'm not the one running ahead!" He puffs. We've been at this for half an hour, and I'm starting to get out of breath. "Why do we even have to see it at the Multi-plex? You know that we can just watch it at the manor."
"Because you don't have enough human interaction. Literally the minute the sun goes down, you pull a rain check." That's been happening way to much recently. It's starting to kind of undermine our friendship. "Are you like a reverse-vampire that can only be in the sunlight or something?" I laugh, then rest my hands on my knees. Dick knocks me over before he can stop, and we both collapse against a wall.
"Swordwalkers wasn't even that great. I don't see why the second will be different." He complains. His watch starts beeping. Loudly. It's almost as annoying as him. "Oops. Gotta fly." Dick stands up and starts running out of the alleyway. I stay exactly where I am.

Dick's POV
I hate lying to Babs like this all the time. The look on her face when I left her...I don't know how much longer I can keep this up.

I walk into the Batcave and change into my armour, and grab my mask and belt.
"You're on North Gotham tonight." Bruce says, not even looking up from the BatComputer. "I'll be tracking the Joker. Com back as soon as you finish patrol."
"Yes sir!" I grab my bat cycle helmet. This shouldn't take long. North Gotham Heights is one of the safest neighbourhoods in Gotham. Or as safe as you can be in a city like Gotham.

A huge hand throws me against a wall. Damn that hurt. I try to kick my adversary, but they grab my leg and twist it painfully.
"Ah ah ah. Didn't Batman ever tell you that it's not nice to kick people?" Bane's voice says in my ear.
"Whoever said I was nice?" I sneer, and elbow Bane's stomach. He doesn't even flinch.
"What a price I could get for the birdboy." I have to get free. "Let's see...I think I'll start with your face." His fist slams into my letter cheek. I can feel my jaw crack, and my eye is already too swollen to open. Another fist collides with my ribs. Three give way.
I can taste blood in my mouth, and it's covering my face. Focus, Grayson. Get out of this.
I pull out a polyfoam birdarang. If I get the timing right, I'll be able to break away and at least get a head-start. Okay, three, two, one.
Bane's grip on me loosens. Jump! Oh, fudgesticks my ribs hurt.
I don't land on my feet. I collapse onto the roof. It's too hard to think. I have to get help. Bruce'll be halfway across the city by now. Even if Alfred found me, I'm not sure I'd last that long. Babs. I have to find Babs.

Barbara's POV
I sit in front of our television, re-watching old tapes of the Justice League. I watch Batman's movement. I saw him once. With Robin. Back when they still used costumes, not armour.
Thump. Thump. Thump.
Is someone knocking on my...window? I walk over to it. There's a boy out there. It looks like Robin. I slide open my window.
"Why are you-" I'm cut off by his body slumping through the window and toppling on top of me. Oh. He looks...well, actually he's kinda cute. Besides the cut and bruises and blood. His eyes flicked open. Well, one eye does. The other is swollen shut.
I do my best to haul him onto the couch. I'll work out how to explain the bloodstains to my dad later. "Who did this to you?" I ask.
"Ba-ne." His voice cracks, and blood trickles out of his mouth. I run into the bathroom and grab an armful of medical supplies. You can never be too careful I'm Gotham.
"Why come to me?" I have to keep him awake. He probably has a concussion.
"B-Babsss..." His voice trails off. Wait. Only one person calls me Babs. I peel off his cracked and bloody domino mask.
"Dick?!" This whole situation just got a whole lot worse. My best friend AND a hero are dying right in front of me. I grab a wipe and begin cleaning his cuts. I peel off his shirt, and I would blush if there wasn't so much blood. A huge gash runs from his left shoulder to his abs. It's not too deep, but a bruise radiates out of it.
"Ca-ll A-Alfred." Dick mutters, pointing to his belt. I press on what looks like a GPS.
I grab se me disinfectant and a wipe.
"This is going to sting." I warn, wiping the liquid onto his cut. Dick winces, and a few tears pour out of his eyes and mix with the blood on his cheek. I hold an ice pack to his swollen eye, trying to clean his wounds at the same time. Dick's eyes start to close. "Richard John Grayson. If you die I'll kick your ass." I sniffle.
There's a knock on the door. I fling it open.
"Alfred! Dick needs medical attention now! I've done my best but-" Alfred outs his hand on my shoulder.
"Miss Gordon, you've done more than enough." He looks me in my eyes. "I wouldn't doubt that you have a bright future in this particular career."