Unspoken, Now Said

Friday, October 24th, 15:05.

New Jersey,

Gotham City,

Gotham Heights.

The late afternoon sun bathed Gotham Academy in a soft golden glow, casting long shadows across the pristine courtyard as students filtered out of the main building. The air buzzed with conversation, the occasional laugh echoing off the stone walls as teenagers eagerly embraced their freedom from another day of grueling academia.

Barbara Gordon walked in step with Artemis Crock, the two making their way toward the school's main gate. Their conversation was lighthearted, mostly about classes, the latest gossip, and a particularly frustrating test that Barbara had aced while Artemis barely scraped by.

"You could've at least pretended to struggle," Artemis grumbled, shoving her hands into the pockets of her jacket. "Y'know, for morale."

Barbara smirked. "And deprive you of the motivation to study harder? Never."

Artemis groaned in exaggerated frustration, but her fake suffering was cut short when she caught sight of a familiar figure leaning casually against a sleek black motorcycle near the entrance. Next to him, Richard Grayson stood with his arms crossed, wearing his usual playful smirk.

Esau.

Dressed in the same clothes he'd worn when meeting Kaldur earlier, he looked effortlessly at ease, arms folded over his chest, his stance relaxed. His azure eyes, however, held a flicker of amusement as Richard spoke, probably giving him a hard time about something.

Artemis grinned and waved, catching their attention. Both Esau and Richard turned toward them, raising a hand in acknowledgment. Barbara felt a familiar warmth spread through her chest as Esau's gaze lingered on her for a fraction longer, his expression shifting into something softer.

All Barbara could think about was the kiss and a pink tinge dusted her cheeks.

Not noticing the shifting Barbara, Artemis marched right up to Esau, barely sparring Richard a glance as she started jabbing her finger into the blondes chest without hesitation. "I can't believe you," she said, eyes narrowing as she poked him again for emphasis. "You don't get to pull that 'mysterious disappearance' act without at least telling us first, you jackass."

Esau merely smirked. "First Kaldur, then Dick, now you. What, the whole team planning on taking turns giving me shit for this?"

Artemis crossed her arms, unimpressed. "What did you think was gonna happen? You up and vanish without a word, and now you're surprised we're hunting you down?"

Richard leaned in with an amused grin. "Yeah, man, this is totally on you."

Esau sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I accept my fate."

Artemis shot him a smug look before finally stepping back, letting him off the hook—for now. As Esau turned toward Barbara, his smirk faded, replaced by something quieter, more personal. His blue eyes softened, and Barbara felt her heart do a little flip at the way he smiled at her.

Barbara bit her lip, but she couldn't stop the smile that tugged at the corners of her mouth.

Richard and Artemis, unfortunately, did not miss this exchange. The two exchanged glances, and then, as if by some unspoken agreement, simultaneously gasps of realization escaped them.

"Oh shit," Richard said, eyes going comically wide.

Artemis dramatically clutched her chest. "Oh no."

Esau narrowed his eyes in suspicion, but Barbara's stomach dropped. She could already tell where this was going.

Richard turned to Artemis, feigning surprise. "Did you also just remember that thing we had to do?"

Artemis snapped her fingers. "Yes! That very important thing! That we both forgot until this very moment!"

"That we must absolutely leave for immediately," Richard added, nodding solemnly.

"Oh, definitely. No doubt about it." Barbara groaned as Artemis winked at her, already stepping back.

Richard gave Esau an exaggeratedly serious look. "Be good," he said.

Artemis threw Barbara a wicked grin. "Be sensible."

Barbara's face burned. "Artemis!"

Esau exhaled heavily, tilting his head back in suffering as Richard and Artemis waved and turned on their heels, disappearing down the street while chuckling to themselves. Silence hung between them for a beat before Esau finally sighed, rubbing his face. "They're never gonna let that go, are they?"

Barbara shook her head, still embarrassed but unable to suppress a smile. "Not a chance."

Esau groaned in mock agony. "Great."

Despite herself, Barbara found herself tucking a loose strand of red hair behind her ear.

Esau noticed.

He tilted his head slightly, studying her for a moment before finally breaking the silence. "Wanna grab a coffee?" He asked, referencing their favorite spot.

Barbara glanced around, spotting a few Gotham Academy students passing by, whispering among themselves as they glanced in her direction.

She sighed. "Actually… just take me home."

Esau followed her gaze, understanding immediately. She had always been popular, and their friendship—whatever it was now—had always been the topic of hushed conversations and knowing stares. It hadn't mattered before, but now? With the teasing from Artemis and Richard fresh in her mind, Barbara just wanted to escape for a bit.

Esau nodded without argument.

He reached into his bag, pulling out a spare helmet—one he had clearly brought just for her. Barbara couldn't help but smile at the thoughtfulness, taking it as Esau swung his leg over the bike. Once she secured the helmet, she climbed on behind him, arms wrapping around his waist as he revved the engine.

If she took a moment to enjoy the solid warmth of his muscles through his shirt, well…no one had to know.

She sure as hell wasn't going to admit it.

-X-

Friday, October 24th, 15:15.

New Jersey,

Gotham City,

Gotham Heights.

Esau followed Barbara into the Gordon home, stepping inside as she flicked on the hallway light. The warm glow illuminated the space, casting soft shadows along the walls. The house felt familiar, filled with subtle signs of Jim Gordon's presence—neat stacks of paperwork on the entryway table, the faint scent of coffee lingering in the air, and the distant hum of the city outside the windows.

Barbara turned to him, tossing her keys onto the side table before tilting her head toward the stairs. "You gonna be alright making yourself comfortable while I go get changed?"

Esau smirked, waving a hand dismissively. "I think I can manage."

Barbara rolled her eyes at his confidence, already heading up the stairs. "Try not to burn the house down while I'm gone."

"No promises," he called after her with a grin.

With that, Esau made his way into the living room, shrugging off his jacket and tossing it over the back of the couch before collapsing onto the plush cushions with a sigh. He grabbed the remote, flicking through the channels lazily, skipping past news reports, soap operas, and late-afternoon talk shows. Eventually, he settled on a movie—one of those over-the-top action flicks filled with explosions, dramatic one-liners, and ridiculous fight sequences that defied physics.

He was only a few minutes in when he heard Barbara's voice. "What are we watching?" Turning his head, he caught sight of her re-entering the room. His smirk faded slightly, replaced by something quieter as he took her in.

She had changed into a thick, oversized jumper that hung off one shoulder, paired with comfortable cotton sport shorts that left her toned legs bare. The casual outfit suited her—effortlessly relaxed but still striking. Esau let his gaze linger for just a moment longer than necessary, admiring the athletic definition of her legs, years of training and fighting reflected in every sculpted line.

Barbara noticed.

She arched an eyebrow, amusement flickering in her green eyes. "See something you like?" She teased.

Esau met her gaze, unbothered by being caught. A slow smirk tugged at the corner of his lips. "Maybe."

Barbara let out a light laugh, shaking her head as she padded toward him. Instead of sitting at the other end of the couch, she sank down beside him—extremely close. The air shifted between them, the playful teasing from earlier giving way to something else, something heavier. Esau adjusted his position, sitting up slightly, his arm resting against the back of the couch.

Barbara turned toward him, her face just inches away. For a moment, Esau hesitated, his fingers brushing lightly against her cheek. The touch was barely there, testing, waiting for any sign that she might pull away.

She didn't.

Instead, Barbara leaned in slightly, her breath warm against his skin.

That was all the confirmation Esau needed.

He closed the distance, pressing his lips against hers in a deep, slow kiss. His hands came up, cupping her face gently as he pulled her closer, tilting her head to deepen the kiss. Barbara responded instantly, wrapping her arms around his neck, fingers threading through his dark hair as she kissed him back just as fervently.

The world outside faded away.

It was just them.

Eventually, they broke apart, their breaths mingling in the space between them. Barbara searched his face, her fingers still resting lightly against the nape of his neck. "What does this mean?" She asked, her voice quiet but firm.

Esau's thumb traced slow, absentminded circles along her jaw. "It means this has been a long time coming."

Barbara let out a light laugh, shaking her head in agreement. "Yeah…it really has."

She shifted, adjusting herself more comfortably against him. As she curled into his side, Esau instinctively wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her close. She rested her head against his chest, her fingers absentmindedly playing with the hem of his sleeve.

Still, there was a question lingering between them.

After a few beats of silence, Barbara spoke again, this time more seriously. "I don't want to play games, Esau." She tilted her head up, meeting his gaze directly. "I need to know—what does this really mean to you?"

Esau didn't hesitate. "I've always had feelings for you," he admitted, his voice steady. "I've always wanted more than just friendship."

Barbara's lips parted slightly in surprise, but then she smiled, nodding. "Same," she murmured. "I just… didn't know if you felt the same way."

Esau let out a low chuckle, shaking his head. "If I'd known you felt the same, I wouldn't have waited so damn long."

Barbara laughed at that, swatting his chest lightly. "God, we really are so stupid."

Esau smirked. "Better late than never?"

She hummed in agreement, resting her head against his shoulder. A comfortable silence stretched between them, the weight of unspoken feelings settling into something tangible, something real.

After a moment, Barbara broke the quiet. "So…do we just see where this goes?"

Esau nodded, brushing a few stray strands of red hair from her face. "We don't need to force anything. Let's just take it one step at a time."

Barbara exhaled softly, her smile warm. "I like the sound of that."

She nestled closer against him, her fingers absently tracing patterns along the fabric of his sleeve. Esau tightened his arm around her waist, resting his chin lightly atop her head as the two of them turned their attention back to the movie.

Neither of them cared much for what was happening on the screen.

This moment was all that mattered.