CHAPTER 16
ALWAYS ATTRACT

DICK Grayson called her once every few hours that whole weekend. Iris Kingsley never picked up.

She wasn't upset that he stood her up. She swore by it. But her pride was bigger than anything in the world, and she would not give him the benefit of finally answering his calls. Each time her ringtone went off, and she saw his name flash across the screen, Iris released a hmph under her breath and turned her phone over. She was not giving him her attention.

Each voicemail sounded the same. When he left one, that is. The first three calls, no voicemail. But from then on out, he seemed to get more desperate, and each voicemail left her on the edge of what he would say next to get her to call him back. Never worked, though.

DICK GRAYSON – 11:07 AM: Hey – uh, Iris? I'm getting worried. You're not answering my calls and I just want to make sure you're okay.

DICK GRAYSON – 5:20 PM: Iris. I have important information to tell you. Please, pick up.

DICK GRAYSON – 12:39 AM: Oh, fuck. I can't sleep. I really don't know why I'm calling you. Are you ignoring me? Is that a stupid question to ask? Are you even – like – alive?

DICK GRAYSON – 9:10 AM: I feel like I'm chasing after a lost dog. This is so stupid. Please, fucking answer me. I really need to talk to you, Iris. Or at least know if you're okay, for Christ's sake.

DICK GRAYSON – 7:55 PM: Hopefully, I see you at work on Monday. Goodnight, Iris.

Maybe it was cruel. Maybe it made her seem like a bitch, but Iris didn't care. At this point, it felt like he was only calling her because it was convenient for him. Did he ever want to have a drink with her in the first place? Right now, it didn't seem so likely.

And this was the exact kind of attitude she had as she walked into the station on Monday morning. With her head held high in the air, Iris stomped over to her desk and chucked her briefcase right by her chair. Charlie watched her coworker's steps intensely, studying each irritated stomp with bated breath. Instead of standing up and sticking her nose over the cubicle wall, for once, Charlie sank back in her chair and minded her own business. Iris looked frustrated this morning – but not the kind of frustrated where it looked like it was okay to talk to her. No, something was really bothering her, and Charlie knew talking so early in the morning would not help.

Iris kept to herself the whole morning. She had another meeting with the Chief on what news she gained on the drowned body case and confirmed that she would be receiving autopsy results soon. She made plans to talk with the family as soon as she knew the last bit of information. Her whole face was practically pressed to her computer monitor for most of the morning. She didn't even notice Dick get in late and storm through the doors of the station. Not like she cared anyways.

It was only until Iris heard her stomach grumble that she actually took the time to stand up again. She forgot to bring her lunch because she was in such a hurry this morning, so it was a vending machine meal for today. Striding past Dick's office, Iris hardly glanced from the corner of her eye as she made her way to the break room.

After one o'clock was the best time to hit up the break room, seeing as almost half the officers liked to take their lunch break there. The room was completely void of human life, which made Iris' life easier. She took her time to decide what she wanted to spend her two bucks on. I mean, choosing between getting a Twix or a Clif bar was a pretty momentous decision. Eventually, she picked the peanut butter Clif bar and received two quarters back. Plucking the protein bar from the machine, Iris turned to head back to her desk, but was almost blindsided by the person waiting beside her.

It was kind of stupid for her to be so caught off guard. It wasn't like she forgot he worked here.

"Hey," Dick breathed out, shoving his hands into the front pockets of his dress pants. He tended to do that when he was nervous, she noticed.

Iris pulled the wrapper apart and muttered, "Hi."

An awkward silence ensued. Dick watched her bite down on the bar and chew loudly in front of him, waiting to see what he would do. Truthfully, he didn't know what he could do to make things better. She was clearly mad at him, even if she didn't want to admit it. What was the best way to approach this calmly and rationally?

Definitely not the way he ended up doing it.

"Listen," he sighed, rubbing at his brow line, "I know you think I stood you up on Friday, and I'm sorry, but I can promise you –"

"You did stand me up, though," she said while pointing her half-eaten protein bar in his direction. "That's kind of exactly what you did."

"Iris –"

She bit off the last of the Cliff bar and held her hands up. "Whatever. I don't care, Dick." Iris chucked the wrapper in the open trash can. "I have so much on my plate now and the last thing I needed was people at the station finding out I went out for a drink with the Detective Dick Grayson." She wiggled her fingers while saying his name.

"You don't understand," he muttered. "It was a Robin thing."

"It's always a Robin thing."

With a roll of her eyes, Iris tried to move past him, but his hand caught her own. She came to a sudden halt, shock covering her entire face. Iris whipped around, but didn't detach herself from his grip. Instead, she held on tighter, despite the anger coursing through her veins. He looked down at their tangled hands at the same time she did, and when their eyes met, Iris realized just how close their faces were. Dick pursed his lips. She could feel his breath on her cheeks. It would be so easy to –

Iris cleared her throat and slipped her hand away. Rubbing at the end of her nose, she said, "Again, it doesn't matter. Because while you –" She jammed a finger onto his built chest. "– were off gallivanting in your little Boy Wonder costume doing who knows what, I went back to my apartment complex and saw that my former-Coatl neighbor had his place broken into." Iris looked away from his confused stare and shrugged. "My only guess that it was the Coatls. The place was completely trashed, and the little Coatl symbol was removed from his door."

Dick's expression softened. Iris turned her head towards him, brow narrowing when she noticed the smile playing on his lips. "What are you grinning about? I'm still pissed at you."

"I left the station early on Friday and couldn't make it to the bar because I thought I had a lead on the Coatls," he explained, and Iris' eyes grew wide with interest. "I had been out getting my evening coffee and saw a car with the symbol on the license plate. It was two guys that kept passing by the station. I don't know if they knew you were here, but they seemed suspicious. So, I followed them and they led me to a dark, dead-end street. They knew that I knew who they were. I almost had them, but they both escaped in a random getaway car before I could question either of them. The end."

Iris bit down on her bottom lip. "And that's why you left me so many messages about wanting to talk to me?"

"Well, I knew that you'd immediately think that I stood you up and I needed to tell you about what happened." He ran a hand through his light brown hair. "I eventually realized that you were either A: extremely pissed at me or B: kidnapped. I was worried."

Iris shook her head. She couldn't believe how bitchy she looked right now. Granted, she had a right to be pissed about him standing her up. It wasn't like he didn't do that. However, he had done it for okay-ish reasons. She felt her pride sink low in her stomach when she looked up at him.

"Sorry for ignoring you," she huffed. "I didn't know."

He shrugged. "It's okay. You had a right to be angry."

They were silent for a moment, both fighting the shit-eating grins that threatened to appear on their faces. Iris thought about grabbing his hand again, but didn't dare move an inch, too afraid of what that gesture might reveal.

"So ..." He rubbed the back of his head. "Do you still care about people at the station finding out you had a drink with the –" He wiggled his fingers. "– Detective Dick Grayson?"

Iris shrugged. "The odds could be in your favor, Bird Boy."

•••

Iris had never once stepped foot in Jumbo's Bar, and for good reason. It wasn't like she didn't like dive bars – she loved them, in fact. It was that Jumbo's had a reputation for spoiled food and shitty bands. Although, if one didn't partake in any food and only came to drink, she figured that maybe it could be fun. Iris just never had time after a long workday to go sit at the local bar by herself and wait for a horny, old man to take pity on her resting bitch face by buying her a drink. She'd much rather drink alone in her apartment. Either way, it was pretty pathetic.

Dick seemed to be a familiar face around here, though. Almost half of the staff welcomed him upon his arrival and sat both of them by the end of the bar, A.K.A. Dick's usual spot. Iris silently wondered how often he visited this place. Did he come as a stress reliever after work, or simply to observe people when the Robin gig got to be too much? She didn't voice these questions, afraid that they were too personal, that she might know too much.

By the time it reached ten PM, however, nothing seemed to be holding her back. They had only been at Jumbo's for two hours, and Iris was completely, downright hammered. She realized how easy it was to talk to Dick once she had a few beers in her, and how great he was of a listener. Dick, too, seemed to loosened up as they went onto their fourth Coors Light. The band playing wasn't that bad either, especially for a Monday night.

"Don't you hate this song?" Dick suddenly asked, taking a big gulp from his beer.

Iris looked over her shoulder at the band located to the side of the bar, eyeing the logo on the drum set with their name, the Talking Strangers. They were currently playing their own rendition of Taylor Swift's I Knew You Were Trouble. With a grin, Iris turned back to Dick and shook her head.

"Not gonna lie, I unironically love Miss Swift." She released a drunken chuckle, eyes wrinkling at the sides. "And that's something I would definitely not admit while sober, but here we are!"

Dick laughed along. "Can't say that I'm any better," he replied. "I unironically like some Nickleback songs."

"Oh, no!" She shouted and slammed the table with the palm of her head. The two erupted in fits of laughter, tears welling up in their eyes. Grumpy, old men stared at them. They were clearly making a scene, but the bartender liked Dick Grayson too much to quiet them. Besides, was anyone actually there for the band? Probably not.

For the first time in a while, everything felt totally normal. The alcohol made her head swoon and she felt like she was walking on cloud nine, but it was the sudden connection to Dick that made everything better. She had always felt a connection to him, even before the whole necklace thing, but it was different now. They related to each other in more ways than one. As Iris sat there silently, listening to him go on and on about how Nickleback did have some good hits, she smiled and realized how much she cared about Dick Grayson.

He helped her when he didn't have to. He understood her. He made her feel normal when everything felt different.

Iris' cheeks flushed slightly when he beamed towards her, and she suddenly wasn't sure if it was from the alcohol she consumed or the fact that she just might like Dick Grayson more than she planned.

"I gotta confess something," she said, pressing her cheek against the half-empty bottle in her hands. Dick lifted a brow with interest. "I might've not liked you when we first met because we were so similar."

He cocked his head to the side. "Really?"

"We both don't like people ... We keep to ourselves ... Same profession ..." She shrugged. "We're pretty similar, Grayson, as much as I hate to think about it. All I ever wanted before you was a partner that would leave me alone, but once I got it ... I don't know. Things changed. But then, you began to actually talk to me and –"

"You remembered why you wanted to work independently in the first place?"

Iris snapped in his direction. "You got it, champ."

"Or maybe you just really, really don't like new people."

"Again," she said, pointing between them with a drunken smirk, "it's like we share a fucking brain!"

Behind them, the band's music shifted, and they began playing a lighter tune with an acoustic guitar. Iris' ears perked up, recognizing the song from just a few cords in. She smiled and allowed the familiar melody to calm her. Dick pointed towards the band with the end of his empty beer bottle. "You know this one? I've never heard of it."

"This was one of my favorite songs in college." Her chin fell into the palm of her hand as she watched the band with tired eyes. "I'm surprised they even know this song."

Dick went from watching her to the band playing the song's long intro. The four guys swayed to the music, practically consumed by the evident drugs they took hours ago. Two women began to slow dance in front of the tiny stage, holding each other close, and sharing a kiss as the melody carried them away. Dick licked his lips and slid his empty beer towards the bartender, lifting a finger when the man asked if he wanted another. Instead, Dick got to his feet and offered his hand towards Iris. She glanced at him with an arched brow.

"You wanna dance?"

Iris bit the inside of her cheek. Despite the alcohol running through her, she thought of saying, "No." She thought of pulling away like she usually did, as if they didn't just share several intimate moments throughout the past couple of hours. She thought of leaving, even though she didn't want to.

But the alcohol won this time. Or maybe it was her own desire.

With a creeping blush, Iris took his hand and walked with him to the small dance floor in front of the stage. Jumbo's certainly wasn't made for dancing, but she guessed they'd make the best of it. Dick pulled her into his embrace before she could even blink, and rested one hand on the small of her back, while the other clasped her right hand. Iris swallowed hard, looking up at him for a quick second, and allowing herself to melt into his embrace. She laced her fingers with his and curled her arm around his shoulder. The band sang on like it was their last dying breath:

If it hurts this much then it must be love.
And it's a lottery, I can't wait to draw your name.
Oh, I'm trying to get to you, but time isn't on my side.
If the truth's the worst I can do, then I guess that I have lied.

Instinctively, her head leaned into the crook of his neck, and she felt his mouth brush by her ear. Iris inhaled the deep, musky scent lingering on his collar. She hadn't been this close to someone physically in a long time. Honestly, she couldn't remember the last time she let someone hold her like this. Probably a random guy in college. But this ... this was different. His hold felt so intimate, but she didn't feel like running.

Keeping me awake, it's been like this now for days.
My heart is out at sea, my head all over the place.
I'm losing sense of time and everything tastes the same.
I'll be home in a day, I fear that's a month too late.

Iris twirled one of her fingers through his short hair, pressing herself against him even more. Her whole body felt like it was on fire, and all she wanted was to let the flames devour her. Dick moved their intertwined bodies to the song, but neither of them could hear it anymore. All they could hear was their own breathing and the steady rhythm of each other's hearts. His warmth surrounded her; his embrace felt all the more fragile. For once, she didn't want him to let go.

That night I slept on your side of the bed,
So it was ready when you got home.

She lifted her head and searched his eyes. He raised his left hand then, grazing her collarbone before moving a few hairs from her face. Butterflies flooded her stomach. His thumb caressed her chin, and Iris wondered if this was how warm Icarus felt when he flew too close to the sun.

"Dick?" She whispered, voice strained.

We're like knots and crosses, in that ...

He breathed, "Yeah?"

Opposites always attract.

Iris gulped, shoving the back of her hand in front of her mouth. Her stomach lurched. Something was wrong. With a muffled voice, she replied, "I think I'm going to be sick."

Dick blinked. "Huh?"

Before she could stop herself, Iris untangled herself from his hold and bolted towards the bathroom. She pushed through the door and headed for the first stall. She couldn't even lock the door before hurling herself in front of the toilet and vomiting her guts out. Everything tasted like a mix of beer and acid. This was totally embarrassing. Iris Kingsley was one to handle her alcohol pretty well, not puke it out the night of.

Not long after, a new person stumbled into the bathroom, and Iris didn't even have the strength to close the door. She was a little preoccupied with hurling every piece of food or drink she consumed throughout the night. As she clung to the porcelain lid for dear life, she heard a pair of shoes squeak beside her. A hand lightly picked up her dark hair and held it back. Iris groaned loudly as her stomach seemed to settle. She wiped her mouth with the back of her hand and hesitantly looked up at the person.

Dick Grayson smiled down at her, and immediately, a wave of embarrassment flashed over her face. Iris squeezed her eyes shut and slammed her hand down on the flush handle. "Sorry," she muttered as he released her hair. It fell gracefully against her back.

He shrugged before kneeling down next to her. "Believe it or not," he said, placing a strand of hair behind her ear, "you're not the first girl to visit the porcelain throne after dancing with me."

Iris held her hands over her eyes, blushing red with embarrassment. "I don't know what's wrong with me." She dragged her fingers down her face before staring at him with bloodshot irises. "I must've not eaten enough today."

"Then maybe you need food."

Her eyes went wide. "I am not eating here!"

"No, no," he chuckled, lips curling into another drunken smile. Her stomach was doing flip flops, but it wasn't from the alcohol this time. "At my place. You can eat and stay there tonight."

Iris tilted her head. "And why would I do that?"

"Who else is going to hold your hair back when you puke again?"

•••

A/N: in case y'all wanted to know the song that dick and iris were dancing to, here it is! I honestly think it captures them perfectly:

[There should be a GIF or video here. Update the app now to see it.]

y'all ain't ready for the next chapter. just wanted to forewarn you, but there's no way to prepare. I repeat: NO WAAAAAY TO PREPARE 👁👄👁