Barbara's sleep was disturbed by the rustle of a curtain and the scraping of the hoops sliding along the rail. Then the sun. glaring and harsh in her sleep addled brain.
Sitting up suddenly she looked around the room and huddled into the thick cotton bedding. Unsure what to do and unable to ask
'Relax yourself miss Gordon' came a voice from by the window, a voice that was eventually matched to the wizened and careworn face of Alfred Pennyworth as everything started to come into focus.
Barbara opened her mouth and closed it again and repeated this for some time before shaking her head and climbing timidly out of the colossal bed she had woken in. She almost let out a squeak as her bare toes hit cold floors but she held it in. the words of that madman were fresh in her mind and she wanted to know more about him so she could find him.
She wanted him put away.
She wanted him dead.
His name had never come up but his face was immediately recognisable and she could easily draw it if given a chance. She needed to find Bruce. Word on the street while she had been dragged to and fro for questioning was that he knew a powerful ally who could find her parents killer.
Bruce Wayne knew Batman, or so they whispered.
She was roused from her thoughts when footsteps approached the the room and Bruce stuck his head around the doorway
'Alfred, is breakfast ready?' he asked
'Yes Master Bruce, all set out for you two, just help yourselves to whatever you'd like' the old butler smiled wryly, before adding
'Oh, and Miss Gordon, your clothes are waiting in the bathroom. Do get dressed and join us'
Barbara nodded and waited for the two men to leave before she shut herself in the adjoining bathroom and pulled her clothes on quickly. Trying her hardest not to cry and failing.
It took her some time to work up the courage to go downstairs but she found the dining room easily, her mouth beginning to water at the smell of Alfred's cooking. When she sat down to eat, Bruce was waiting for her, offering a smile, she sat patiently.
'Help yourself Barbara' Bruce smiled back, taken aback slightly when she grabbed a little of everything and attacked the food hungrily. She hadn't been offered a decent meal in weeks. Her cheeks burned as she finished and Bruce shrugged
'I want to help you find him Barbara' the billionaire said quietly, staring down at his eggs. Fixing her with a stare, he then said
'But I cant help you if you wont talk to me'
Barbara bit her lip in fear and desperately thinking on the spot, she mimed writing something
'For now' Bruce warned. Then he put his knife and fork down and beckoned for Barbara to follow
Time to talk.