-Dick's POV-

I never believed in fairy tales.

Back in my trapeze days, there was this little girl who loved all the lovey-dovey stories. She would spend all her extra time wearing flowy costumes and pretending to be a princess. One day on her birthday, I remembered Mr. Haly bringing her a huge, thick, old book of fairy tales.

She spend hours running around the circus to read in different locations. Her little arms barely held that big book. The pages were crumbly and the ink was worn. Sometimes, the older kids and some adults would read her more love stories, ones a little kid wouldn't be able to read themselves. My mother read her some Shakespeare once.

I was friends with all the kids in the circus, but I rarely paid attention to any of the other girls; I had a huge crush on my best friend, Raya. But, little Athena Thomas would go running around explaining what was happening with Cinderella and many other characters from the stories she had read.

Even when I was a kid, I thought that the whole love at first sight thing was stupid. I was like any other human being on Earth, I wanted to find a girl to marry, but I thought that the way that Athena's stories portrayed love was stupid. The prince would be lost in what he was doing, the princess would walk in, the two would meet each other's gaze and bang! Fireworks and chemistry, promising passionate love for the rest of their lives. An unrealistic happily ever after.

"You know, the whole purpose of a masquerade ball is to actually wear your mask," I turned to see a girl in a short purple dress with a matching purple mask. I recognized it was Barbara almost instantly. Her red hair was a major giveaway. Not to mention that her dress matched her Batgirl costume.

"Barbara, you look stunning," I complimented, "I'm actually not wearing my mask just in case someone is looking for me." Twirling the plastic accessory between my fingers, I raked my eyes over Barbara's face. She truly looked heart-stoppingly beautiful.

"Masquerade is meant to be a test of fate. You put your mask on and the ones who still find you, are truly special," Barbara smiled, her eyes sparkling.

"You found me, didn't you?"

"But you aren't wearing your mask, are you?" Barbara had a devious expression plastered on behind her mask. I felt dumbfounded, like I had missed the punch line. "I have to go. My dad awaits."

"Him and the GCPD have the whole hotel on lock down, right?"

"Yep," she giggled, "he is whispering in his ear piece every few seconds to the defense. I better go get him before he changes into his uniform." As if to make her point, the crowd split to show Gordon awkwardly shouting into his ear piece. Barbara waved as she strode over to him. He straightened up as she began to lecture. She led him into the crowd, weaving out of my sight. I pushed the cold plastic mask on my face.

Masks of every style, shade, and length were on many different faces. People swirled around each other, causing many streaks of colors before my vision, resembling a rainbow. It was just like Barbara had said, with all those masks I couldn't recognize a single person among the masses.

With a sigh, I looked across the ballroom to see a large table of food. My stomach growled, so I decided to grant its wish. I climbed the stairs two at a time and approached the cornucopia.

There was an array of different foods. I loaded my tiny plate with one of every single hand held dessert. I stuffed a chocolate-iced eclair into my mouth and headed towards the tables off to the side of the dance floor.

I paused on the top of the stairs. I looked out, scanning the crowd. A streak of red went past my gaze. A pair of blue eyes connected with mine in a blissful moment. The world fell away as she stared back. The electric blue of those small orbs caught my full attention. They were the shade of a sky before a lightning storm hit; the shade of an anxious river before joining the vast ocean; the shade of a newly bloomed bluebell against the green grass. Her eyes shined in contrast with her dark, coffee colored hair.

And bang! Fireworks and chemistry.

A strong connection drew us together. Nothing short of a knife could draw us apart. She met me at the bottom of the white, marble stairs. I took a sweeping bow like a prince straight out of Disney. With a giggle, Victoria watched me and shook her head. I cast an expecting look at her until she lowered into a swift curtsey. When she looked back up at me, she burst into laughter.

"Hungry, are we?" She choked out between laughs. Her face was a deep shade of pink as she hugged her stomach. Gasping for air, her painted nails pointed to the corner of my mouth. I licked at where her finger directed. My tongue came in contact with the half-chewed eclair I had gobbled. I pulled it into my mouth and swallowed it down. The embarrassment I felt caused the sweet to taste like glue and paste. I rested the plate of treats on a random table and wiped my mouth with the sleeve of my suit.

"Who taught you manners anyway?" Victoria seemed to have calmed herself down. Her hand rested on her hip as she glanced judgingly at me.

"Who taught you how to dress? You look horrible," my eyes raced up from her toes to the top of her updo. I devoured the sight of her like an addictive drug. Her dress made her look elegant and sexy at the same time. The tightness of the top half complimented the loose bottom. I never imagined anything more beautiful.

"Oh, do I? You're wearing a blue tie. How much more cheesy could you be?" Victoria stabbed, pressing her full lips together. She truly was a diva queen.

"Well if I'm cheese, then you're a cupcake." I tugged at the red skirt she wore.

"I need to find a new dance partner. I would rather pull out all my teeth than touch you," she said with a coy smile. As she turned to go searching, I grabbed her hand and tugged her towards me. All at once, she came flying in a messy bound straight into me. Her chest smashed against mine with a crash. I didn't realize I had pulled so hard. She looked just as shocked as I did. I seized the moment before she became angry and led her through the people and into the middle of the dance floor.

Pairs of people were dancing to the classical music being played. It was mostly older couples, until I recognized my brother's young face. Tim smiled at the girl he held. She was taller by a few inches and looked older.

"Oh good, she said yes. That girl would be crazy to say no to him," Victoria watched the two, same as I did. I nodded and turned back to the angel before me.

"I'm a Wayne too, you know. So, does that make you crazy?" I raised my eyebrow. She tossed her eyes back.

"Tim is actually a gentlemen. He doesn't leave food hanging out of his mouth."

I narrowed my eyes and pulled her closer to me. She wiggled to try to take a step back, but I held her pinned against me. She was wearing heels, but I was still taller. I lifted her off of the floor to my height. Victoria was angry and about to snap. I leaned in and whispered, "I still have those pictures of you at the ice cream place."

A gasp escaped her lips as her eyebrows shot up. "You wouldn't!"

"I would," I challenged, "I'd show everyone. Artemis, Roy, Barbara, everyone." I, of course, knew that Victoria didn't care about what anyone thought about her. She was playing along for once.

"Artemis would break your hand, Roy would drool, and Barbara would probably be uncomfortable."

"Barbara definitely wouldn't be jealous, I'll tell you that. I've seen her in worse." The words tumbled out. I felt the urge to slap my hands over my mouth and pretend that I hadn't said anything. By the drop of expression, I knew that the words were poorly chosen and she knew it. I stuttered to try to make it better, but nothing came out. My hands dropped to my side. Victoria took a couple steps back and awkwardly looked around the room for an escape route.

"I'm gonna, um, go get something to drink," she explained. I grabbed her arm and turned her back to me. She followed the normal routine and came back towards me.

"No, dance with me."

The tension melted away into the music. Our bodies mirrored each other the more we swayed. I became aware of every place her skin touched me. Electricity radiated from the spot her hand rested on my shoulder. Occasionally when she turned her head, her cheek would graze mine, considering we were so close. I would blush and she would send me an indicating grin.

The dancing stopped when she said she was really thirsty. I took her hand in mine and guided her towards the bar. Cameras ambushed us as we approached the section set up for actually putting in your donation.

"Dick Grayson, oldest ward of Bruce Wayne, how's this year's party?" A female reporter asked.

"It's great, just like last year. Except less blinding," I said, getting a couple of laughs from the people around us.

"And who might this beautiful girl be?"

Turning towards Victoria -- since I knew she wouldn't want me to talk for her -- I smiled lovingly. She stood up straighter and put on a fake smile. It was almost painful to look at the smile after I had seen how beautiful her true happiness was.

"To anyone who doesn't know, I am Victoria Smith. I currently am the newest edition to the Wayne house," she said, "and a friend of Dick's." I noticed she didn't call me Grayson, like she usually did. I made a note of it to ask her later.

"As in girlfriend?" The reporter smirked, leaning in to get the answer. Victoria opened up her mouth to turn them down, but I stopped her before a noise could come out.

"Yes," I blurted, "as in girlfriend." It would give her an alibi. Even if I had been getting increasingly closer to Victoria, we weren't dating. But, according to the press now, we were. Everyone was thinking it anyway. Somewhere deep inside me, I was hoping Roy would be watching the news.

Victoria led me away politely and into a secluded corner far away from the party. She punched me over and over and over in the arm. "What the fuck!? As in girlfriend!?" She screamed. I grabbed her hand before she could sock me in the eye. I rubbed at my arm with the other hand.

"It makes you less suspicious. It's just in front of the press. Calm down," I reassured her. Victoria growled. As the cameras came around the corner to see us, I instinctively pressed my lips to hers. Victoria screamed into my mouth until becoming silent when the cameras lingered. They left and she bit down on my lip. I touched it gingerly, getting the taste of blood. Victoria seemed satisfied at her last blow to me, so I didn't objectify.

"Don't ever do that again," she hissed, "you deserve this, since there was no consent." She punched me hard in the arm again. I growled and punched her back. When I took my hand back, I saw something on my knuckles. I touched the shiny substance. It felt like lotion, except different. I followed to her bare arm to see an exposed light pink scar. It was small, but deep and again looked like it hurt to get it. How many hidden scars did she have?

A crash caught both of our attention. We dashed towards the sound of the noise. Smoke covered the dance floor and the windows of the hotel were smashed. I tugged off my masquerade mask in sync with Victoria.

"What was that?" A couple of people around us asked. People tumbled up the stairs, laughing. Laughing? I got a look at their faces as they staggered towards the door. Smiles spread across their faces. Joker.

I dashed towards the commotion. Victoria followed me. I stopped, her crashing into the back of me. "Stay, Joker Venom is deadly if you haven't be vaccinated for it. You'll end up like those people. Go and give them the antidote," I ordered. Her face scrunched up.

"Don't order me around. I already have been vaccinated. Let's go see what's up," Victoria walked around me and ran through the crowd. I stood in the same place until I saw Tim running after the people who had gotten a wiff of the venom. Reassured, I took after Victoria.

She stood off to my right in a crowd of people looking up at a group of thugs with guns and Joker masks. I moved towards her, but a gun turned to point at me. I stopped and shot the guy who held it a glare. A slender figure crawled in to stand before us, replacing where the band stood on the stage. Joker wore his usual purple suit. I checked the perimeter, but all of the GCPD was missing.

"Hello, the wealthy of Gotham," Joker's vicious voice echoed through the room, "I bet you all know who I am."

"Yes, a cowardly street thug," a man who I recognized as Theodore Brady. His daughter, Tealianne, had left Tim's side.

"How rude of you! I thought you people were supposed to be polite!" Joker cackled. "I am here not to demand money from your very, very rich pockets, but actually to steal Mr. Mayor." The boy from Victoria's first party -- the mayor's son -- stepped forward.

"Yeah right. No one will let you take my dad."

"Well, maybe I'll take you then! Take the boy," Joker flicked his wrist and his men ran forward. They grabbed the boy by his arms and dragged him onto the stage. He screamed out. His dad stepped forward. Joker smiled. I looked at Bruce, whose every vein was popping out. We were all feeling pretty tense. We couldn't do anything to stop this, or we would be revealed.

"Hey, don't you guys have a newbie with you?" Joker said, scanning the crowd. I had no idea how he knew about Victoria. I moved towards her, but she had already stepped out in front. "Ah yes. There she is. The new and beautiful, Victoria Smith!" Victoria glared daggers. Joker jumped off the stage and stood in front of her.

It took every ounce of self control for me not to swing over to him and punch him until he couldn't let out a single laugh anymore.

His long white fingers stroked her cheek in a familiar way, almost. She stood stock still. "Let them go," she said boldly. My heart rate quickened, scared of what Joker would do to her.

"I don't think I will, Vicky. I need the Mayor and his son is a good motivation for him."

"Then let Ethan Hayes go. If all you need is Mayor Hayes," Victoria looked at the scared boy. He recognized her. The worry in his eyes seemed to slowly fade away. She had the same effect on me.

"Hmm. But I like the little kid!" Joker let out another obnoxious shriek of laughter. I twitched and shook with anger. He put his hand on her exposed shoulder and leaned to whisper into her ear. I couldn't take it anymore. I shoved through the crowd.

"Let. Him. Go." Victoria fearlessly barked at the psychopath. He frowned slightly and shoved Ethan forward. He tumbled off stage. Victoria caught him and the Joker left. Just as quick as he had arrived, he vanished.

"Are you okay?" She asked Ethan. He stood and wrapped his arms around her. She patted his back before he let go and took off to go to his mother.

"Victoria!" I yelled. I emerged from the crowd and wrapped my arms around her. To the cameras, it looked like I was just a generally concerned boyfriend. But, I had never been fearful for her safety. She could handle a coward like Joker. I leaned in. "We have to go after Mayor Hayes. You handled that really well."

"I'm just glad Ethan's okay. I still owe him a dance, but I hope getting his dad back will be good enough," she whispered back, her voice tickling my ear.

"Sorry for hugging you, but the cameras are watching."

"Here," she pulled her face away from my shoulder, "kiss me. It's more believable."

Happy to comply, I snaked my hand up to the place where Joker had touched on her cheek. I held her face and softly pressed my lips on hers. We had kissed before -- even without cameras -- but this was more of a loving embrace. It wasn't lust filled. She had told me to do it because of the alibi I had set up. With Victoria, the line between what was faked and what wasn't was becoming more and more blurry. That kiss sure did feel real, though.

After the whole Joker incident, the party faded. As people left, they donated twice as much as they did last year. Victoria ripped the expensive jewelry off of herself and placed it on the donation table. The person working the booth was crying, until she saw the sparkling rubies on the necklace Victoria laid down.

"We should get him now," Victoria insisted once we were all safely inside the limousine with Alfred, "the longer we wait, the more danger Mayor Hayes is in."

"We can't go too quickly. It will be too predictable for Joker. He'll be too prepared and we'll lose," Bruce argued . Victoria stomped her foot hard, turning sharply towards him.

"You're scared to lose? Really!? There is a man who is in danger for his life and you're scared to lose?" She shouted.

"Victoria, you don't understand. If we lose, Mayor Hayes loses. We have to regroup and make sure we are prepared," Tim explained. She seemed to calm down. I rested my hand on hers once she angrily placed it on the seat beside her. She breathed out through her nose in angry puffs.

"We'll go after him tomorrow afternoon. Joker won't expect us to attack without the shadows," I said. Everyone nodded.

After a brief moment of silence, Tim yawned. "I'm tired." We all lightly chuckled.

"Me too," I agreed.

"It has been a long day," Bruce said. We all turned towards Victoria, waiting for an answer. She stared stubbornly out the window. All three of us looked at each other with wicked smirks.

"WHAT ABOUT YOU, VICTORIA!!??" We all shouted in unison. She jumped, covering her ears. With some light-hearted laughs, Victoria looked at us with shock.

"Calm down, you freaks. I'm pretty tired too," she smiled, letting out a loud, deep yawn. It didn't even sound human. We all burst into laughter.

Victoria was opening up to our little family.

~~~~~~Masquerade! I didn't make it a huge deal of mask, but I did add some Phantom of the Opera in there! I imagined Joker coming in right on the DAAAAAAA DA DA DA DA DAAAAAAAA part. Chapter forty, look where we are :') so beautiful. Don't forget to vote, comment, and follow if you aren't already!~~~~~~