The Story So Far…
These stories, more two to three shots, are meant to bridge the gap between the second and third trilogy, what you will find is fluff and character development, stories I wanted to tell that I couldn't find a reasonable place to fit into what I've already told, or things I didn't want to shoehorn in. Unlike my usual, I will be naming the sections, and you'll get a clue as to how long it's been since the Gotham Quake. (The show never gave the year, so I've kept with that on purpose.) In addition, as per my usual, the entire story is written, but will updated every two to three days or so.
As usual, I give a heartfelt thanks to IllusoryGentleman, who's been a constant source of support for me, and a constant source of better lemony goodness than I produce. Go give him a read please, he's a badass and deserves the readership.
Also, as usual, I aboslutely love interacting with my readers, so please, drop me a PM, and especially a review.
July 29th
London
1500 GMT
Two Months after the Quake
"Okay, I officially hate international flight." Deke said upon exiting Heathrow into the greater city. "Please remind me to like, not do it anymore." He added, stretching big and wide. Beside him, a much more chipper and wide-eyed Barbara stood to his left, her emotions a bright jumble of excited and curious. To his other side was Aasha, who was just as much a mixed bag, though the excitement was tempered with an undercurrent of worry. She'd been turning into a bigger and bigger ball of fret as the days had past to their flight, and despite getting the stamp on her shiny new American passport, the tiny sorceress was still feeling the worry of how her parents were going to feel.
"C'mon Cowboy, you're just mad we flew business class." Barabra said, poking him in the side softly. "If we'd flown first class like you wanted, you'd be a lot happier. Plus, could have been worse, it was a commercial flight. Try doing Gotham to Tibet in a World War Two era cargo plane."
"There's room to lay down in a cargo plane." Deke grumbled, trying desperately to work the stiffness out of his knees. He took the time to look around and take in the country though. Much like Aasha, he'd gotten his first stamp on his own passport, since his trips to other countries were technically illegal. What he saw didn't necessarily bother him though. He'd been worked up into England being a dull and gloomy place, full of fog and rain, but there was bright summer sunshine and a nice breeze in the air.
"So, shall we hail a taxi then?" Aasha said, screwing up the nerve to carry on with things. What had begun as a trip to see her family had been snowballing into being told she was a terrible daughter and a disappointment to everything her parents believed in. Given she'd been conceived through magic and alchemy, what they believed in was kind of messed up.
"Yes please." Barbara said, shouldering her bag and digging her phone from her pocket. She smiled and showed the screen of her Q-Phone off, reading full signal. "QCore as a mobile carrier is amazing. I love this." She added, still so damn chipper, as she searched for ride sharing services in the London area.
"We could get a proper black cab if you'd prefer." Aasha said, pointing to the several stationed outside the airport for hire. "English cabbies are largely delightful people."
"I'd say it's your country, but it isn't anymore. All the same, it's still your trip babe, we're just along for the ride." Barbara said, looking at her girlfriend with a patient eye. She had a short shopping list for Alfred, and wanted to pick Bette up something fun, but other than that, she'd specifically made no plans to remain as flexible as possible.
"Okay then, traditional cab it is." Aasha said, reaching for her own bag but seeing it on the shoulder of her boyfriend, who just smiled sweetly at her. "Thank you love." She said, and led the three of them to one of the taxis. Picking one largely at random, she poked her head towards the window and waved politely to the cabbie.
"Are you for hire?" she asked, when the older gentleman with the salt and pepper hair turned to acknowledge her. He tipped his button bill cap politely to her and turned off the 'For Hire' light off on the roof of his cab.
"Yes ma'am, I am. Hop in. Shall I help with the luggage then?" He asked, reaching for the door handle.
"No thanks, I got it." Deke said pleasantly, stepping around to the back of the taxi. He popped the hatch open and set his bag, and Aasha's in, and then reached out for Barbara's. She handed it to him and tipped him with a peck on the cheek, and together they climbed into the back of the taxi.
"Where to Miss?" The cabbie asked genially. He turned around to really look at his passengers for a minute, the unique fares he would take was part of why he'd gotten into the business in the first place, and these three were no exception. The dark tan and obvious accent from the man screamed American, and the clothing said the sexy redhead was too, though she looked so bloody Irish it hurt. The little Indian was a cute thing, despite the gloomy clothing she chose to wear.
"We need a fair hotel that's nearest to number seventeen Northampton street please." Aasha said pleasantly. When the cabbie didn't even bother with the GPS, she had a feeling they were in excellent hands. Easily, he pulled out onto the street, and began the process of navigating London traffic, though he snickered at the big man when he got onto the road proper.
"First time in the UK, innit Guv?" He asked, tilting his head back a bit to speak to his fares through the window.
"How'd you guess?" Deke drawled, getting comfortable in the back bench seats of the taxi, which had to have been about a thousand times more comfortable than the airplane seats. That he was able to have the women in his life properly cuddled up against him might have helped him arrive at that opinion.
"You jumped when I was driving on the left side o' the road." The cabbie said with a snicker. "Gets you Yanks every time. What about the lady though? Your first visit, miss?"
"No, it's my third. I got to come for a school trip several years ago for the first time." Barbara said pleasantly as they wove about the bustling city. "I also had the benefit of being acquainted with an Englishman who was able to give me plenty of tips."
"Izzat right Miss? Good friend to have, an Englishman, or an Englishwoman for that matter. The other young lady, you bring some friends from overseas in for a vacation? Cause if you did, you picked a right nice time to invite them." The cabbie commented, navigating the traffic easily and calmly.
"It is lovely, isn't it?" Aasha commented in a friendly tone. "And no, I'm coming home to visit my parents, so I brought them with me. We lived in Gotham." She said, letting that statement hang. When it had gotten out that they had been Gotham residents, the neighbors up and down the road where Deke's family house stood had all gathered together and brought food, many of them trying to offer money, and that was not an uncommon story for the displaced survivors either.
"Oh, Gotham. Right nasty piece of work that was, Miss. I arsked the missus if we could offer a few pounds to the fund they was buildin', all us cabbies put in a bit. Heard the Met dropped a fair bit too, and a bunch of 'em tried to volunteer over there." Their cabbie replied.
"It's been amazing all of the outpouring of help." Barbara said with a smile. "I'm the Gotham native, and seeing my city crumble wasn't easy. When so many countries started offering aid, it made me feel happy to be alive again."
"I imagine so Miss. I wouldn't wanna think of something similar happenin' here. You said you sawr it crumble though. You was actually in town when it happened?" The cabbie asked, moderating his tone so as not to upset his fares despite being extremely curious about the whole situation. Sky had covered plenty, but he'd yet to speak to any Yanks who'd actually been there.
Barbara nodded, feeling her boy's hand squeezing hers lightly, and also feeling an undercurrent of thought from him telling her the cabbie was just curious, not asking out of malice. "Yes, all three of us were at an art gallery. Our friend here had some of her work hanging when it happened. We were extremely lucky the building was less than three years old, and built with good materials."
"I'd imagine so, and I'm happy you was in a safe building. You're about the nicest Yanks I've hauled all week. I keep gettin' the busy businessmen who can't keep off their mobiles. Kind of refreshing, that." The Cabbie said thoughtfully. His genial attitude was infectious, helping to break Aasha out of the bleak study her fears had driven her further and further into. It was obvious to her lovers too, who glanced at one another with a knowing glance.
After arriving at their hotel, which was a rather comfortable and modern looking affair, Aasha beelined to the bathroom, leaving Deke and Barbara to stretch out on the single king sized bed. "That cabbie was so sweet. I hope something wonderful happens to him today." Barbara said. She was laid out with her knees hanging off the left side of the bed, while Deke was mirroring her on the right, so when she said it, it was to his upside down face, causing a small giggle from her.
"Yeah, nice fella. I'm just glad I was prepped, cause otherwise I wouldn't've understood half of what he was saying without breaking into his thoughts." Deke replied, stealing an upside down kiss from his girl.
"Cockney, Cowboy. It can be tricky but he wasn't too bad." Barbara retorted, taking in the smooth light gray walls and clean lines of their room, and judging it worth the money Aasha was spending. She'd insisted so firmly on them not spending their money on this trip, that it left Barbara more than a little worried about her personal finances. What they'd kept from their FEMA fund was enough to float for a good long while, given that three major corporations were matching it, but it still required budgeting and restraint, something their girlfriend seemed to never consider with her own money after the bills were paid.
Aasha exited the bathroom looking far more relieved, and plopped down on the bed with them. "So, are we napping, or are we going to go ahead and do the things?" she asked, not sure where her opinion was on that spectrum. She'd slept most of the flight, as had Barbara, but she knew Deke hadn't been able to get comfortable enough to, and his more terse attitude was showing because of it.
"Might as well go and do the things." Deke said, feeling her thoughts clearly, and realizing she was perfectly right. "I could use a shower though, and I'm sure Babs is as hungry as I am."
"Right, about that. My mum will feed us, whether we want her to or not. I haven't called to tell her we're in a room yet, as that will spark an argument all its own, so I'd like to give her the win on dinner if it's all the same." Aasha said sourly. She did not want the argument as to why her family home wasn't good enough to stay in, despite the fact she was traveling with two people.
"We're just along for the ride and the support sweetie." Deke said, forcing himself to sit up before the girls would be forced to jump up and down on him to wake him. He would have been less tired if he'd just flown himself, he firmly believed.
Aasha watched him start undressing, and took the opportunity to scoot around and get closer to Barbara, who she curled up against and stole a quick kiss. "I'll kiss him shortly for the same reason, but thank you again for agreeing to come with me. I need this support."
"No Ash, you don't." Barbara said, rolling over onto her side and giving her girlfriend a look before explaining herself. "You don't need us to support you, you're tough enough on your own, but it's nice to have that backup and you know we're happy to give it."
"She's right." Deke said, standing there in his underwear and digging through his suitcase. "And you said yourself that you're probably blowing this way further out of proportion than it'll wind up being. They fled India to give you a life, and you're living it, that's as far from squandering their effort as it gets."
"Yes, you're right, I just can't shake the worry." Aasha said worriedly. "Something's bothering me, and I don't know if it's because I'm afraid of being judged or what. It's nothing precognitive or anything, don't worry about that."
"Why would we be worried about that?" Barbara asked, also sitting up, and taking the opportunity to swat her boy on the butt as he walked past, a smile on her face at him wearing the underwear she'd bought him.
"I was talking to Pacifica the other day, and I mentioned it, and she brought up the precognitive effects that can bleed over from the harnessing of sorcery. I spent a good long time meditating on that to make sure it wasn't the case." Aasha explained, also going to her suitcase to dig out fresh clothes.
"Well, okay then." Barbara replied, drawing her feet under her like a tailor and watching her girlfriend try to sort herself out. When it was clear she was just going to worry herself to death, Barbara realized she needed to do something, and quickly. "Ash, come here please." She requested, and patted the bed.
"Okay." Aasha said, and slipped onto the bed. She squeaked when Barbara tackled her down, and then got very confused when she slipped a leg over her hips to straddle her. "Babs, love?"
From her position above her girlfriend, Barbara leaned down, almost touching noses with her. "Aasha Kathryn, you are killing yourself worrying. Now you are going to be a good girl and stop worrying about everything, until you have a reason to worry, am I clear?"
"Yes Miss." Aasha said reflexively, too startled to be turned on by the treatment. To be fair, it was Babs' job as her part-time Domme to keep her in place and even-keeled. It just wasn't something she'd ever really exercised, as much as a lack of necessity as well as a desire to allow Aasha to live by her own choices. In this moment, though, it was critical, and while not the support she thought she needed, it was definitely the support that helped the most.
"Feeling better now?" Barbara asked, dismounting from her position of power over the girl to lay back down beside her. She stroked Aasha's hair and kissed her softly on the cheek, reminding her how much she cared despite having to show her who was boss again.
"I am." Aasha said in a distant, comfortable voice. "I think I'm going to go bother Deke in the shower to keep from fretting more, care to join me?"
"I absolutely do. Are we teasing or annoying?" Barbara asked, pleased to hear Ash taking charge of her concerns instead of just burying them to hide them away. She sat up and watched her girlfriend do the same.
"Neither, I'd planned on being a little pervert and just staring at him. I suppose that might get annoying as I'm in no place to do anything about it for the moment, but I don't much think he'll mind." Aasha said, strolling easily into the bathroom and being preceded by a giant steam cloud when she'd opened the door.
"Don't mind us, we're just keeping distracted for the time being. Please take your time." Barbara said, slipping up on the sink while Aasha closed the toilet seat and perched on it. In the shower, Deke paused, grinned at both girls, and flexed, before returning to rinsing his hair out, a silly look on his face the whole time.
