Taken

Veronica looked around at the sparkly jewelry that was on display in the glass cases. She sighed, she could never afford any of this stuff. It was too nice.

Veronica knew she could just ask Bruce for a bit of cash, but she was already staying with him, so she didn't want to ask for more than what was given.

"May I help you, miss?" A woman behind the counter asked. Her greying hair was pulled back into a tight bun, her dark blazer resting over her white blouse, and her pencil skirt smoothed neatly underneath her folded hands as she looked at Veronica from behind her gold rimmed glasses.

"Oh, no ma'am. I'm just looking for now," Veronica smiled warmly at the lady. The woman nodded and went to go help another customer.

Veronica turned her gaze and looked at a little chain which had a bumble bee charm on it. She smiled slightly, looking at the way the little black and gold gems sparkled.

"You like that one?" A voice asked from behind her, making her jump slightly. The owner of the voice came and stood beside her, looking down at the bee necklace.

"Yeah, it's beautiful," Veronica said, turning her attention back to the necklace.

"Well, your birthday is next week, so I just might get it for you," Richard smiled at her, putting his hands in his pockets.

He looked at her light brown hair and the way it was pulled back onto a French braid, a couple curls framing her rosy cheeks.

"You don't need to, Richard. I've already told you I don't want anything," she replied. He chuckled quietly, shaking his head.

"What?" She asked, looking at him.

"You're just so stubborn. C'mon. You need a little something every once in a while, Roni," He replied, looking at him.

"Alright," Veronica sighed, knowing he was just as stubborn as her.

"Wanna go to the park?" Richard asked, grinning. He already knew she would say yes, so he took her soft hand in his send guided her out the door.
"It feels so good out here," Veronica commented, breathing in the cool air.

"Yeah, this is pretty much the best time of year in Gotham," Richard said, looking around. They were on the better side of town.

There were less sad, homeless people here in this area, to which Veronica was thankful. It sucked seeing people like that.

When they got to the park, Veronica ran straight to the swings like a small child. Richard laughed and jogged after her, hopping onto the little orange seat beside her.

Richard and Veronica stayed there and talked for hours. It was nice. Richard was happy to not be talking to a stuck up, rich person for once, or some gold digger trying to either get into his pants or his wallet.

They began the walk to the manor, laughing at something that happened months ago.

Looking up, they both stopped in their tracks, seeing a dark figure at the end of the sidewalk. It had gotten late, but was still early enough for the street lamps to not have flickered to life yet, only allowing them to see the silhouette of the man.

"Hand her over," the man sneered.

"Get lost, pal," Richard snapped. The man slowly approached them and Richard pushed Veronica behind him once he saw the clown mask that the man was wearing.

"I said hand her over!" The man said, louder this time. He made a move to grab her but Richard grabbed the man's arm and twisted it around his back, pressing him into the wall.

"Veronica. Run," Richard said through clenched teeth. Veronica hesitated but turned and ran down the empty street, screaming when two clown men came out and grabbed her.

Richard turned to run and help her but something struck him in the back of the head. The last sound he heard was Veronica screaming for him as he slipped into a state of unconsciousness.

Author's Note

Fun fact: this chapter has 666 words.