Alice had messaged him about lunch plans. It was their usual thing since they'd first met—completely by accident—when Dick had been clueless about the university's cafeteria credit system. He'd stood there like an idiot, not realizing he had to preload his school ID, and Alice, standing behind him, had offered to pay for his meal. He didn't need the help now, not with his bank account looking much healthier thanks to his various exploits.
He wanted to return the favor by taking her to a restaurant with his new car. Alice didn't know about the McLaren yet, and Dick was curious to see her reaction. He liked her as a friend—genuine, not a target—so their conversations were easy, natural. Alice had this way of making things feel less complicated.
As he approached the lot, he spotted Alice waiting by the entrance, earbuds in, tapping away on her phone. She looked up, noticed him, and gave a wave, a small smile pulling at her lips. He pulled up in the McLaren, the car's engine purring softly as he rolled to a stop beside her.
Alice's eyebrows shot up, her eyes wide with surprise. She pulled her earbuds out and stepped closer, leaning down to peer into the car.
"Holy shit, Dick," she said, laughing in disbelief. "This yours?"
"Yeah," he shrugged nonchalantly, unlocking the passenger door. "Get in."
Alice circled the car, her fingers brushing the sleek lines of the body before slipping into the seat. She let out a low whistle, running her hand over the leather interior. "This is... insane. I didn't know you were loaded to afford a car like this."
Dick glanced at her, amused. "There's a lot you don't know."
She laughed, shaking her head. "Clearly."
The restaurant he had in mind wasn't far, a nice spot downtown with good food and a view of the city. Nothing too fancy, but not a dive either. He pulled onto the highway, the McLaren gliding effortlessly through traffic. Alice leaned back in her seat, relaxing into the ride, occasionally glancing over at him with that same smile she always had—a healthy blend of curiosity and ease.
"I gotta ask," she said after a while, her voice casual, but with that hint of genuine curiosity that made her different from most people he dealt with. "How'd you afford this thing? You've been holding out on me."
Dick kept his eyes on the road, not missing a beat. "Won it in a contest."
Alice raised an eyebrow, clearly skeptical. "Uh-huh. And what kind of contest gives away a car like this?"
He smirked. "A good one."
She laughed again, shaking her head. "You're impossible."
The conversation shifted after that, moving away from the car and into more familiar territory. They talked about school, how much of a hardass Wilkes was in their psychology class, and the upcoming exams. It felt nice, talking to someone who wasn't constantly trying to one-up him or play some angle. With Alice, things were simple. She didn't pry, didn't push for more than he wanted to give, and in return, he let his guard down—just a little.
By the time they reached the restaurant, both were properly hungry. The valet raised an eyebrow when Dick stepped out of the McLaren, but Dick tossed him the keys without a second thought. Alice, still slightly in awe, followed him inside, her eyes darting back to the car as the valet drove it away.
"You really know how to make an entrance," she teased, bumping his shoulder lightly as they walked to their table.
He shrugged, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "Thought you'd like it."
The restaurant was busy, but their table by the window offered a nice view of the city skyline. Alice scanned the menu, her eyes widening at the prices. She glanced up at him, but he waved it off.
"Order whatever you want," he said, leaning back in his chair. "My treat."
She hesitated for a second, then grinned. "Well, if you insist."
After ordering food, Dick leaned back in his chair as he asked, "Pardon my language, but is your mother still being a cunt?"
Alice's frown was immediate, her eyes narrowing as she playfully smacked his arm. "Dick!"
He raised his hands in mock surrender, chuckling. "Sorry, sorry. Is she still being a dick?"
That got her to laugh. She shook her head, dropping her guard as she leaned forward, resting her elbows on the table. "She's... I don't know, difficult, I guess. Same as always. She's just always on my case about everything—school, my future, who I hang out with. Like, chill out, you know?"
Dick nodded, still pissed about a woman he had yet to meet. He didn't like control-freak parents, especially the ones who treated their kids like projects. Alice had mentioned her mom before—strict, overbearing, always pushing her to be something she wasn't. The kind of woman who had her whole life mapped out for her kid, with no room for what Alice actually wanted. It grated on Dick, even though he wasn't in the habit of caring about other people's problems.
But Alice? She was different.
"Does she know you're out with me?" Dick asked, smirking as he took a sip of his drink.
Alice rolled her eyes, groaning. "God, no. She'd freak if she knew I was hanging out with a guy who drives a McLaren. She'd probably assume I'm with a drug dealer or something."
Dick chuckled, setting his glass down. "And how do you know I'm not?"
Alice gave him a playful eye-roll, but her smile stayed. "If you were, you'd be a lot cockier."
"Is that what you think of me?" He leaned forward, his elbows resting on the table, eyes locked on hers. "Not cocky enough for you?"
Alice bit her lip, pretending to think about it. "Maybe you're just the right amount of cocky. Don't let my mom know, though."
Dick chuckled, setting his glass down. "Well, I won't sell you out—yet."
Alice snorted, shaking her head. "Please, she'd ground me until graduation. Like I'm still in high school or something."
That was another thing that set Dick off—parents who treated adults like kids. Alice was what, twenty? And still being micromanaged like she couldn't make her own decisions. The frustration in her voice was clear, even if she tried to laugh it off.
"Have you ever just told her to back the fuck off?" he asked, genuinely curious.
Alice sighed, leaning back in her chair. "Yeah, a few times, not in those exact words though. It never ends well. She acts like she's listening, but then, the next day, it's right back to the same old crap. I think she's convinced that if she loosens the reins, I'll screw everything up."
Dick tilted his head, watching her. "And would you?"
She blinked, then laughed softly. "Maybe. But I'd rather screw up on my own terms, you know?"
He nodded, understanding that more than she knew. Freedom came with the risk of failure, but it was better than being trapped under someone's thumb.
Their food arrived, and the conversation shifted to lighter topics—classes, random campus drama, the professor they both hated. But Dick's mind kept circling back to her situation. Alice didn't fit the mold of someone who was coddled or controlled. She was sharp, independent when she could be, and way more laid back than most of the girls he knew. Yet, here she was, fighting off her mom's suffocating grip.
It irritated him in a way he didn't expect. Not because it affected him directly, but because he could see what it was doing to her. And for some reason, that bothered him more than he liked to admit.
Dick leaned in closer, his voice dropping just enough to make Alice look up from her plate. "I can talk to her if you want," he offered casually, though the sharp glint in his eyes said more.
Alice blinked, caught off guard by the sudden intensity in his tone. "What? No, you don't have to do that." She laughed softly, brushing off the suggestion, but there was a hint of unease in her smile. "She wouldn't listen to you anyway."
Dick didn't drop it. "Maybe. Or maybe she just needs someone to remind her that you're not a little girl anymore." He leaned back, giving her a small, almost teasing smile. "I have a way with people, you know."
Alice chuckled, shaking her head. "Yeah, I'm sure she'd love that—me bringing home some guy she's never met to tell her off." She rolled her eyes, trying to keep things light, but Dick noticed the flicker of frustration behind her words. It wasn't just a joke. She was tired of her mother's constant control.
Dick was serious though. He could meet Alice's mother, fuck her into submission, and put an end to her controlling behavior. The thought crossed his mind like an easy solution, but he didn't want that to come between him and Alice. He hated seeing her trapped like that, though, under someone else's control, suffocating in the life someone else laid out for her.
"You know I'm just messing with you," he said casually, though his eyes stayed on her longer than they needed to. "But seriously, if you ever need an out, you know where to find me."
"Thanks for the offer," she said, attempting a smile, "but I don't want to drag you into my mess."
"I'm already in it," Dick replied, leaning forward. His gaze stayed steady on her, cutting through her deflection. "You're my friend, Alice. If I see something screwing with you, I'm not just gonna ignore it."
She paused, her fork hovering over her plate, then slowly set it down. Her lips pressed into a tight line, and for a moment, she seemed to consider his words more carefully than before. "It's not that easy. She's... complicated."
"Everyone's complicated," he countered, voice firm. "That doesn't mean you just let them control your life."
Alice sighed, leaning back in her chair. "I know. I just..." She hesitated, then shook her head, brushing a hand through her hair. "I don't know, Dick. It's not like I haven't thought about it, but doing something about it? That's harder."
Dick didn't say anything for a second, watching her closely. The flicker of uncertainty in her voice struck him, but he understood it too well. He'd dealt with people controlling every aspect of his life, and he knew how hard it was to break free.
"Listen," he said after a beat, voice softening just slightly, "I'm not telling you to go start a war with her. But don't let her make you feel like you don't have a say. If you ever want help with that, I've got your back."
Alice blinked, caught off guard by the quiet sincerity in his tone. She gave him a small, genuine smile.
"Thanks, Dick," she said, her voice soft. "I'll think about it."
When they finally got up to leave, Dick paid the bill without a word, waving off Alice's half-hearted protests. Outside, the McLaren was waiting, the valet giving him a nod as he handed over the keys, taking the tip.
Alice slid into the passenger seat, a soft sigh escaping her lips as she leaned back into the plush leather. "You really know how to spoil a girl," she said, her voice teasing, though there was an underlying appreciation that didn't go unnoticed.
"Only the ones that deserve it," he replied with a grin, starting the car and pulling away from the curb.
Dick turned to her, smirking slightly. "Your place?" he asked.
Alice nodded, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "Yeah, just drop me off a few streets down from there. My mom's probably home, and I... well, you know how she is."
He rolled his eyes, letting out a sigh. "Sure, missy," he muttered, but the corner of his mouth twitched in amusement. The McLaren purred as he navigated through the quiet streets, his fingers tapping lightly against the steering wheel.
They reached her block soon enough, the houses neat and suburban, all perfectly aligned like soldiers standing at attention. Dick slowed the car, pulling over a few streets down her house. Alice glanced out the window, her fingers fidgeting with the edge of her shirt.
"Thanks for the ride," she said, her voice soft but genuine. She turned to him, her smile a little tired, but warm. "And, you know, for lunch and... everything."
Dick shrugged. "Anytime. You know where to find me."
Alice hesitated for a second, her eyes flicking up to meet his. There was something in her expression, but she didn't let it linger. Instead, she gave him a quick nod, reaching for the door handle.
As she stepped out of the car, she paused, glancing over her shoulder one last time. "I'll text you later, okay?"
He nodded, watching her for a moment before she closed the door and walked up the street. He waited until she disappeared into the distance before pulling back into traffic.