nightingale

chapter one

song playlist- https://open.spotify.com/user/chances.taken/playlist/0089r2xluJMRD1hZQq0yS1?si=QySwPmLXQuu0wXQF8vPmvw
song- bellyache; billie eilish
picture- the nightingale and the rose; oscar wilde

The entire street itself was lit only by two working street lights, a fact that escaped Barry due to his lack of need for light. However, as the world whisked by in a mix of speed and slow-motion, one sound caught his attention as he neared his destination. The sound was loud enough that it caused Barry to stumble and subsequently crash into a hoard of trash cans, and as he got up he mumbled to himself.

"Take that trash cans..."

He looked around to determine the source of the sound, but he had no idea which way the sound had even come from. Although he knew he needed to get back to his apartment to sign for the pizza he ordered, he couldn't help but be curious so he did a quick run through of the surrounding area, stopping every few seconds when he came across a person, or a dog.

It wasn't until he was within 100 feet of his apartment that he found her. She was lying on the ground next to a dumpster, the top of said dumpster dented as if a 100-pound girl had been thrown into it. She was unconscious and bloody, and her long brown hair was strewn across her face, matted with fresh blood. Barry stood there for a moment or so just staring before finally deciding to pick her up and take her inside.

"Shit, shit, shit, shit, shit, shit, shit..." Barry repeated to himself as he paced around the room, every now and then stopping to look at the practically dead girl lying on his couch. "Gotta stop the bleeding, but how? C'mon Barry you should know this! But I usually only work with dead people... ones who are dying aren't my forte."

He couldn't help but talk to himself, and when he looked at the girl again and saw the blood starting to pool on his couch, he made a split second decision and took a t-shirt that was crumpled on the floor and put it on the cut that was the main source of the bleeding. He picked up his phone, debating whether or not to call 911, but when he opened the recent calls, he saw the name of the perfect person to call. He waited impatiently as the phone rang a couple times before a voice finally answered.

"Mr. Allen?"

"ALFRED! THANK GOD! HOW DO I STOP BLEEDING?" Barry screamed into the phone.

"I thought you healed quickly, Mr. Allen." Alfred said calmly.

"I do, it's not for me! It's for her!" Barry breathlessly explained the situation as quickly as possible, not leaving out a detail.

"I'll be there in ten minutes, be ready." Alfred instructed seriously.

"But what about my pizza?" At that moment the doorbell rang, "Nevermind, it's here now, I'll be ready." Barry said relieved, not realizing that Alfred had hung up already.

Ten minutes later, a knock on the door interrupted Barry's second large pizza, "It's open!" He yelled, his mouth still full. Alfred quickly entered, grabbing the pizza boxes from the table. "Hey!" Barry yelled, reaching for his pizzas.

"Get the girl, I'll carry these for you." Alfred rolled his eyes as Barry pouted, but complied. He picked her up and carried her to the town car that was parked outside, the engine still running. Alfred got into the driver's seat, taking them to a waiting helicopter. Barry moved the girl from the car to the copter and strapped her in. They took off, Barry ignoring the destination and instead opting to focus on his pizza.

--

Barry woke up from his nap when he heard a groan coming from the other side of the room. He turned his swivel chair in the direction of the girl, now properly bandaged, sitting up holding her head in her hand.

"I see you're awake. Good." Barry turned to the new voice to see Bruce Wayne walking in, Alfred close behind him. "Can you tell me your name?" He asked approaching the girl who merely stayed silent, staring at Bruce. "No? Don't talk, or don't want to talk?" Again, silence. Obviously annoyed by her blatant unwillingness to talk, he simply handed her a notepad.

"Can you write your name?" She reached out her hand, and Barry took it as a cue to stand up, handing her a pen from his bag. He placed it softly in her palm, her delicate, yet calloused, fingers closing around it. She looked away and began writing in gorgeous cursive.

The words 'Luscinia Ledger' were emblazoned on the page she handed to Barry.

"Lushiana?" Barry tried, squinting at the name, but she merely glared at him. He made a few more attempts before giving up. "Okay, I'm just going to call you Lucy" She merely rolled her eyes before shrugging.

"Alright Miss Ledger, why don't we get you some clean clothes and a shower? Bruce, will you call Diana?" Alfred asked.

"Why?" Bruce asked, his expression grumpy and his tone lilted with traces of a whine.

"Because, wouldn't you think that Miss Ledger would appreciate another female being here instead of just three men?" Alfred said firmly.

"Okay, fine." Bruce said, sounding slightly like a teenager. As Alfred led Lucy out of the room, and Bruce retreated to his office to make his phone call, Barry was left alone.

"Um," he called out, "Can I order pizza?"