The Trouble in You Is the Trouble in Me

@ Prince Vegeta
Melinda had just laid down sideways on the bed, her head propped up by her hand when Alfred walked in. She gave a moment's thought to sit up a bit but gave him a smile anyways, remaining in her position until after he left. She giggled when the door closed and Damian turned back towards her. When he laid next to her, she leaned forward to give his cheek a kiss. Her tshirt slipped to expose the skin of her hip, bare except where it met the lacy hem of her underwear. "I'm glad we have Alfred's blessing," Melinda said with a smirk, as she reached a hand out to trace the lines of muscle that stood out on his abdomen.

Clarissa felt as if everything happened in a blur, and it was only a moment before she saw blood bloom from Dick's hand and she cried out, despite everything. When he exploded at her, she bit her bottom lip until she could taste copper, holding her tongue until he was finished, after wrapping up his hand. "I understand. I'm sorry. I don't know what came over me," She said, even though she knew there was nothing to say that could make this any better, and she didn't deserve to have an excuse. Clarissa couldn't hold back the tears that blurred her eyes, and her throat burned with holding them back. She ached to go over to Dick and look him over, to hold him, but she kept her place away from him.

@ blue robin
Damian smirked as one hand patted her exposed hip before stopping to gently rub up and down it. "Alfred is key. He's basically the group mom. You get his approval and you get dad's approval." Damian told her as he felt her tracing over his six pack. "You should see the guys in the locker room when I take my shirt off to change into my gym clothes. They never expect the bratty rich kid to have anything resembling muscles.' he told her as he looked her in the eyes.

Dick realized the cut wasn't that bad. All he would need is stitches when they got back to the batcave from Alfred. He looked at Clarissa who looked like she was about to cry. Dick realized that he had shouted at her like Bruce shouted at all of them. "It was a mistake. Don't beat yourself up over it. Learn from it and move on from it. Let's head back to the perch and we can see if we need to go somewhere else." Dick told her as he shot his grapple gun to the perch nest.

@ Prince Vegeta
Melinda laughed at his explanation of Alfred, her skin tingling where his fingers moved up and down her hip. "It's good to break expectations. It's my favorite thing to do, to be what people don't expect me to be, to change assumptions," She said, her eyes meeting his when he looked at her. "I always love to find out what makes people different, why they are the way they are. Everyone has reasons deeper than appearance, but no one ever wants to take the time to look," She continued.

She nodded her head in agreement, silent now as she moved to follow him back to the perch they were at. Once they were both up there, she settled down and brought her knees up, wrapping her arms around them and looking out over the city. She disappeared into the thoughts of her mind, staring but not really seeing.

@ blue robin
Damian smirked as she said that. "Is that why you donned cat claws and a whip in your spare time?" he joked as he pulled her close until there was no space between the two of them. "Well you broke mine pretty quickly." he told her as he leaned forward and kissed her. Enjoying the feeling of being basically alone in the house.

After a while Dick packed it in. The city was quiet tonight which meant that something bad was on the horizon. "Let's go." Dick told her as they headed back to the motorcycle. He was quiet on the way home and once they got home he went straight upstairs without another word.

Tim had just gotten in from patrol when he noticed Dick walking off without a word. Clarissa was silent as well and before she could walk off he looked at her and asked, "Dick yelled tonight didn't he?"

@ Prince Vegeta
She smiled at his statement, letting him pull her as close to him as he possibly could. When he kissed her, she felt herself relax and almost melt into his embrace. Her hands reached to touch him wherever she could reach, up and down his sides and along in his back, exploring his bare skin, tracing over scars with gentle hands.

Clarissa remained quiet throughout the ride home, letting Dick walk off without protest. She had tears that had welled up in her eyes once more, and when they got into the house, she took off her mask and let them fall soundlessly. She didn't hide them from Tim, and just nodded her head at his question before more began to fall, and she couldn't help herself. "It was all my fault. I was reckless and he got hurt and I don't even know what I was thinking, I just acted and I didn't communicate," She shut her mouth when she realized she was rambling, her bottom lip trembling as she stood there uselessly.

@ blue robin
Damian kept kissing her. Feeling himself relax for the first time in a very long while. He inhaled sharply when her hands ran over the scar that his clone had left him. He gently moved her hand away from that one to almost anywhere else. A few minutes passed before he pulled away and put his head on the pillow. "As much as I would like to keep making out and possibly other things we should probably get to sleep. Alfred will skin us if we're late." he told her as he pulled the blankets over him.

Tim patted her on the shoulder as he sat down next to her. "Yeah we've all gotten yelled at by someone in this family. Dick hurts the worst usually. Remember he's got to be the cool, protective big brother to everyone. You should have seen him when we lost Jason and especially when Damian died for a bit. I can tell he still hasn't forgiven himself for the last one. So he only shouted because he cares. At worst he'll push you harder the next couple of days but he's not that mad at you." Tim told her as he took off his mask and looked at her with a smile.

@ Prince Vegeta
Melinda laid her head down as well when he pulled back and did so, nodding in agreement and following it with a yawn. "Will you hold me?" She murmured, turning around and pressing her back to him, snuggling underneath the covers that he had pulled up.

Clarissa wiped her tears and looked over at him while he spoke to her, and she returned his smile with a half hearted watery eyed one. "Thank you Tim. I needed to hear that," She said, and her shoulders slumped a little when she started thinking about it again. "Dick's been more than helpful with me during the time that we've spent together, and I can never think of anything that I could do to even make all of you feel just as happy as I do to be included, even more so with Dick. I just want to impress him and make him proud of me so much but all I did was the opposite," Clarissa explained.

@ blue robin
"I was hoping you'd let me." Damian told her as his arms went around her and pulled her close to his body. His head sitting on top of hers to avoid the cascade of hair from getting all over his face and into his mouth.He fell asleep soon after that and entered a dreamless sleep until he heard the alarm go off at 8:30 sharp the next morning. He groaned and turned it off before slightly jostling Melinda awake.

Tim patted her on the head like she was a little kid. "The guy is over the moon for you. The little bit you've been training and I've never heard him talk about another trainee like he does for you." Tim told her as he went to his locker and stripped down to an undershirt and boxers. He was a lot slimmer than Bruce or Damian but he was as muscled as the rest of the Batboys and Batgirls. "Just use tonight as a lesson and don't do it again. I'd get in the showers and then get on up to bed. We have that carnival thing to get to in the morning." he told her.

@ Prince Vegeta
Melinda fell asleep easily in Damian's arms, sleeping without nightmares unlike she usually did. She woke the next morning feeling Damian moving around and jostling her, and she laid for a moment longer before stretching her arms up and wiggling around a bit. She yawned and looked over at him, smiling sleepily. "Good morning," She mumbled, her eyes looking over to the alarm clock to see the time through bleary eyes.

Clarissa hummed a bit when he patted her head, and she looked over to find him undressing as he spoke to her, and she quickly averted her eyes, her cheeks going pink. At his words, she couldn't believe what he was saying. He liked her? It made her heart beat faster in her chest. "Thank you for everything, Tim. Goodnight," She said, getting up and going to her room, stripping off her clothes and showering before slipping into a tshirt and getting into bed. It didn't take long for her to fall asleep.

@ blue robin
Damian groaned a bit as he sat up. "I think dad has gone crazy. All of us tend to sleep in until two or three on the weekends so all of our sleep cycles are permanently screwed up." Damian looked over and gave Melinda a quick kiss before standing up. "I need a shower so give me about ten minutes and the bathroom is all yours. Unless you feel the need to join me." he told her with a wink as he walked in and closed the door behind him.

Alfred stood there stitching up Dick's hand. Dick looked up at Alfred expecting him to say something since Dick knew that he could hear him when he straight up blasted CLasrissa after getting his hand cut open. "Go ahead and say it Alfred." Dick said. "Master Richard you weren't wrong in expressing anger towards young Mistress Clarissa. However for future reference I would be a little more tactful in making sure she understands her wrongdoings before jumping straight to yelling at the young girl. Especially one that is in love with you." Dick's face turned into a frown before looking at Alfred. "Even if that was true we have training and missions to complete." Dick rebutted. "Something to think about." Alfred said as he finished the stitches. Dick went from Alfred's room to his. He showered and then went to sleep until his alarm woke him up. Once up he showered and put clothes on and then went downstairs where Bruce and Tim were already waiting. "Morning fellas."

@ Prince Vegeta
Melinda giggled a bit at his statement, still smiling when he gave her a quick kiss. She watched him go into the bathroom and laid in bed for a moment, wondering if she should join him or not. She very much wanted to, mostly because she couldn't find a reason not to, except that it may make them late. Melinda stayed in bed for a few more minutes before getting up and going in, running a hand through her hair as she made her way to the sink with her toothbrush. "Hey, I'm just brushing my teeth. I would get in, but I don't want to make us late," She said to him, his form concealed by steam and the shower curtain. The mirror was already all fogged up so she couldn't see herself, so she went straight to brushing her teeth instead of trying to fix her appearance.

Clarissa got up at her alarm, moving to get ready for the day. She showered again to wake herself up, changing into a nice blue dress that was casual and hugged her curves at the right places but rippled in extra fabric halfway down her thighs. She let her hair fall down naturally and grabbed her phone, not bothering with makeup. Her eyes were still a little red from the crying that she had done, and irritated because of that. Clarissa slid her feet into black converse and she made her way downstairs, her heart beating faster in fear of seeing Dick. She didn't know how he was going to be around her now, and she wasn't exactly ready to see him in person because she was sure that she'd just get upset again at the guilt she felt. As she walked down the stairs, she began to notice how many bruises littered her body from all the training that she had been doing.

@ blue robin
Damian finished his shower shortly after she said that. He grabbed a towel and dried off in the shower before tying it around his waist. He stepped out of the shower and grabbed another ttowel to wipe the mirror for her. "Here, so you can see what you're doing." he told her. "Shame you couldn't join in. The water was amazing." Damian stepped into his room and put on jeans, boots, a black v-neck, and a light jacket. Damian stood there and waited for Melinda to be done.

Dick stood waiting. He wondered how Clarissa would react since yesterday. She seemed skittish and he knew that him yelling at her had scared her. When she finally walked down the stairs he smiled at her and said, "morning." as they looked around waiting for Damian and his lady friend to get ready.

@ Prince Vegeta
"Thanks," She mumbled as she finished brushing her teeth, her eyes roaming his body without trying hard to hide it. There was a smirk on her lips as he left, and she stepped out of clothes and showered quickly, using his soap and smiling as she thought about how she was going to smell like him. Melinda got out and changed into the clothes that she had brought, a pair of high waisted jean shorts and a black cropped v neck tshirt, leaving her hair to dry. When she stepped out of the bathroom, she smiled to find Damian in a similar outfit. "Look, we match," She said with a giggle, putting on some combat boots and grabbing her leather jacket. She walked out of the room with him and saw the rest of them waiting downstairs.

Clarissa tried not to look surprised when Dick said good morning to her, with a smile even, not meeting his eyes when she responded. "Good morning, Dick," She murmured, her voice low and her eyes mostly on the floor. After she spoke to him, she moved away from the group a little bit, standing off to the side on her own.

@ blue robin
Damian looked at her and laughed. Seriously laughed which was a rare occurrence. "We're going to be that couple aren't we?" he said to her as he walked out with her. When he walked downstairs he could sense tension. Not with him and Melinda but with Clarissa and DIck. What the hell had happened last night while they were on patrol? Damian wondered as he joined everyone. "We taking the limo or separate cars?" Damian asked trying to break the silence.

Dick moved over to her and wrapped an arm around her. "I'm sorry I yelled it was wrong of me. So stop acting like I hate you. I want to have a good time and a mistake we all made at some point shouldn't stop you from having one as well." he told her as he dropped his arm as they all went to the garage to get in the limo.

@ Prince Vegeta
Melinda felt warmth spread through her at the sight of Damian laughing, and the fact that made her smile even bigger was the fact that she had done it herself. "Wouldn't want to be any other way," She told him with a little smirk on her face. Her eyes scanned the group once they were downstairs, and they all seemed unnervingly quiet. She watched as one of the boys walked to a girl and slipped an arm around her, her expression quite solemn. Melinda wondered what had happened, but didn't say anything as they mostly all decided to go in the limo. She followed Damian and got into the car beside him.

Clarissa jumped a little when she felt Dick's arm go around her, and she couldn't help the feeling of wanting to pull away. She nodded her head slightly at his words but didn't know what to say. Throughout all of her feelings of the events that had occurred last night, she still felt echoes of a past that she wanted desperately to ignore. Although the situation was nothing at all like what she had been through, she couldn't help getting flashbacks of Nathan screaming at her, and lashing out afterwards. Even though Dick wasn't like him at all, and didn't physically hurt her, she couldn't help being reminded. The bruises, though by her own fault, reminded her of what she had seen on her body while she was with Nathan. She had to keep reminding herself that it wasn't the same and it wasn't going to ever be like that again. Clarissa felt even more guilt at the feelings that she was having and comparing what had happened to the past. She knew that Dick was better, but she couldn't help it. Her mind was betraying her. The apologies and the fake comfort that Nathan used to give her after a bad fight or when he had been bad to her reminded her of what Dick had said, even though he meant it like Nathan never did. She remained silent as she walked into the car, not really paying attention to where she sat. Her mind was elsewhere, fighting battles within herself.

@ blue robin
Damian sat in the car watching everyone. Drake was here and while they were a lot better off than when Damian first arrived tensions were still there. But they had gotten along a lot better after a minor incident in Peru a few years back. Although he knew what everyone was dying to ask. Who was the girl? Damian had been waiting for thar ever since he woke up.

Dick sat there and noticed that Clarissa had gone back into herself. He wanted to nudge her and make sure she was okay but she seemed to almost want to pull away earlier. So he looked up and smiled at Damian. "So Damian is this the girl that you cyber stalked for a week straight?" he joked with his little bro as he ruffled his hair. "Grayson I am going to disembowel you with a trowel." Damian growled as he punched him in the arm. Dick caught the punch and put Damian in a headlock. "Still too slow little bro." Everyone started laughing including Bruce, Tim, and Jason. "Serves the little punk right." Jason mocked.

@ Prince Vegeta
Melinda sat there quietly, watching Damian interact with his brothers with a smile on her face. She saw all of them looking at her with scrutiny, but she remained still beside Damian. At Dick's comment about Damian cyber stalking her for a week, she raised an eyebrow before laughing along with everyone else.

Clarissa couldn't help but be torn from her thoughts due to all of the laughter that was ensuing. She caught into the middle of the conversation, and watched as Dick gave Damian shit about the girl he had next to him. She smiled, just slightly, and found herself having an arm put around the back of her chair. She turned to see Jason grinning at her, looking between her and the scene of Damian and Dick. "Look much prettier with a smile on your face," He murmured near her ear, and she bit her lip to keep from saying anything. She knew he meant well, as she had been probably frowning for most of the morning. Despite herself, she felt her cheeks flush pink.

@ blue robin
Damian managed to struggle and get free just as they pulled up to the carnival's entrance. Even if Dick was his favorite of the brothers he was still an ass sometimes. Damian got out with Melinda as he looked around the carnival. It smelled of manure, puke, and cheap popcorn. "So, what do you want to do first? Games? Rides?" he asked her as he stuck his hand out.

Dick walked out and then walked into the carnival with Tim and Bruce. It felt good to be back in something like this. He had grown up around things like this and it was nice to go back to those days. Looking over at Melinda who was talking to Jason. She seemed to have gotten out her funk while talking to him.

Jason looked at Clarissa as she blushed as he said that. "Come on girlie, what do you say we go on a few rides and then you can tell me what's been bothering you all monring?" Jason asked as he extended a hand.

@ Prince Vegeta
Melinda took Damian's hand as it was offered to her, looking around the carnival with a grin on her face, suddenly very excited now that they had arrived. "Games! Let's win the biggest weirdest animal we can find. No teddy bears," She challenged, and pulled him in that very direction.

Clarissa looked down at the hand that Jason had offered to her and briefly over to Dick, seeing him with Tim and Bruce and making her decision. She took his hand then, looking up into his eyes and nodding. "Alright, Jason," She said, managing a bit of a smile as she let him guide her where he wanted.

@ blue robin
Damian smirked and walked over to the ring toss game. "I'll get you the big teddy bear like the movies say I should." Damian told her as he went over to the man and handed him a dollar. He had made sure to grab spare cash and change for this. The man handed him five rings. Damian sized up the bottles and the rings and threw them all at the same time. Each of them landing on a bottle. "Give me the biggest stuffed animal you've got." he told him. The man handed him a giant stuffed Walrus. "Weird and big enough for you?" Damian asked with a smirk.

Jason walked along with Clarissa when he saw Damian win the giant stuffed animal. "Where did he find her? She seems so normal?" Jason asked as they went over to the skeet shooting gallery. "So, what do you want to do?" he asked her.

Dick walked up to Damian and Melinda. "Already little bro? You're going to have to carry that everywhere you go now you realize that right?" he told him as he looked at the two of them with a big smile. He kind of wished he had Barb or Korrie here right now but it would have to wait for another time.