Quintessence

Chapter 4

Bruce counted it as a pretty good night when the only injury he could claim was a slight bruising of his hand where Superwoman had grabbed it in an attempt to keep him from beating the mugger they'd caught. Either she didn't know her own strength, or she was uncertain of his. Luckily, the flight back to Gotham had been short and uneventful. Bruce Wayne had simply been delayed from leaving earlier that afternoon, having been invited to attend a performance of the Moscow Ballet while they were in Metropolis. He couldn't turn down the invitation by his old friend, Natascha, even though he had been forced to leave before the performance was over.

Alfred was waiting with the Rolls Royce at the airstrip. He raised an eyebrow as Bruce approached the car and handed him his bags. "How was the ballet, Master Wayne?"

"I've seen better performances," he commented, smiling as he slid into the backseat.

During the drive to the manor, Alfred caught him up on the news in Gotham throughout the day. Fox called to confirm that the agreement with Takashi Shipping had gone through. Bruce couldn't decide if he was pleased with the news or not; while they hadn't been able to find anything worrisome about the company, he still didn't like the idea of dealing with the same people Lex Luthor did business with. Unless, of course, it meant taking business away from Lexcorp. It also meant he'd be expected to attend the party in honor of the company's opening in Metropolis that week, and honestly, one trip a year to that city was just about enough for him.

"Find everything you were looking for, sir?"

Bruce nodded as he picked up the evening edition of the Gotham Times that was laying on the seat for him. He switched on the overhead light. "Lex's gun-running operation will be easy to dismantle. Almost too easy, in fact. Makes me wonder what it's covering up…"

"Can't things just be simple?"

"Not where Lex is concerned, no." He winced as his hand flexed and held it up, glancing at the bruising around his knuckles. He heard Alfred ask, "What happened to your hand?"

"Superwoman." Bruce winced as he flexed his fingers and then opened the paper. "She didn't appreciate the fact that I was beating up one of Metropolis' criminals."

"Ah." Alfred smiled. "Territorial, I see."

"You have no idea."

"Must be a common trait among those with dual identities…"

Bruce glanced up at the quip to find Alfred barely attempting to hide a smile.

"Anyway," Bruce began as a smile appeared. "Before running into Superwoman, I had an almost-lunch with Miss Hudson Kent."

"Almost-lunch, sir?"

"I can't help but believe that when she looks at me, she sees Lex."

"But with hair."

Bruce's smile broadened. "Yes. With hair. We'd barely sat down when she was suddenly making excuses about some interview at City Hall."

He glanced through the headlines quickly before pulling out section C, and turning to page five, where news of Batman had recently been relegated:

The menacing vigilante known as The Batman, wanted in connection with the murders of five Gotham citizens, including two police officers, continues to evade capture. In a statement released by the office of Police Commissioner Gordon today, attention seems to be focused more on solving the recent surge of crime in Gotham, rather than apprehension of the vigilante. Said a spokesman for the Gotham Police Department, "We all want to bring The Batman to justice for crimes committed but at the moment there are more pressing matters concerning Gotham's citizens…"

"Perhaps Miss Kent still worries over that little coatroom fire."

"You'd think she would have gotten over that when news got out about me burning the entire place down."

Alfred chuckled. "Quite. She's doing well, then?"

Bruce shrugged. "Seems to be."

He laid the paper in his lap as he recalled both encounters with her during his day in Metropolis. He couldn't decide if his knowledge of her not being human now colored his perception of her or not. Alfred still didn't know the truth, or he would have asked him what he thought. There was something about having the secret identity of another in your hands, and knowing what was at stake. The man cleaning up around him was Bruce's most trusted friend and confidant, but that didn't mean he had the right to go broadcasting Superwoman's true identity to him, even if he knew the information would be safe with Alfred.

"I remember that weekend she and Luthor visited quite vividly," Alfred commented as they pulled onto the drive that led to Wayne Manor. "I do believe it was the only time I'd ever heard Lex Luthor laugh."

"Well, he doesn't seem to spend much time laughing anymore, either. He also appears to have developed a bit of an obsession with Superwoman."

The worst part of Lex's little speech to him about Superwoman was that he had a point, however wrong-minded it might be. On paper, Superwoman appeared to be unstoppable, while Lex claimed to be the only one on Earth who happened to know how to stop her. The question remained: Did Lex know Superwoman and Hudson Kent were the same person? And if so, had he gleaned the information from her when they were still in love? If that were the case, then it meant Hudson was aware of a way to neutralize her that she apparently had no inclination of sharing with others. That was worrisome, if only because things could always get out of hand, no matter the intention.

"Something to worry about, sir?"

"Hmmm? I'm not entirely certain I have an answer to that question yet, Alfred. Lex isn't really my problem but Superwoman is. The fact of her existence doesn't affect just Metropolis but the world. If Batman brings out the worst of Gotham, what could she achieve?"

"Batman also brings out the best, Master Wayne," Alfred pointed out. "Perhaps the same can be said for Superwoman."

"Perhaps… " Bruce turned his gaze out the window.

She'd already proved to him that she refrained from abusing her abilities, and she had been right about one thing, the people of Metropolis loved Superwoman. Well, everyone but Lex apparently. But was that enough? When Bruce considered the lengths he'd been forced to go to in order to stop the Joker, he couldn't help but grow concerned that there might be someone even worse out there. Someone with the desire to test Superwoman's limits.

And one thing was for certain: her limits had yet to be tested.

"I suppose this means more late night visits to Metropolis, sir?"

Bruce looked up, catching Alfred's gaze in the mirror. "Probably. Why?"

"Well, you're going to need an alibi…."

Bruce couldn't help but raise his brow in curiosity as Alfred flashed him a grin.

******

Louis stared at the note in his hand – the tiny and precise handwriting, the vague but important message, the soft whiff of… well, whatever the scent was, it was pleasant.

Please look into connection – Luthor Farmers Market Grocers Gotham.

Top of B of M building. 1:30PM.

~ S

Anyone else would have sent an email but for some reason Louis has never really pictured Superwoman as a computer kind of gal. She seemed to like the more hands-on approach; hence the note that was sitting on his desk in a crisp white envelope when he'd arrived earlier that morning. Superwoman wrote and left him a note! He smiled at the realization as he held the paper beneath his nose and inhaled once more. A clean scent like… like a fresh spring breeze. He imagined her hunched over – well, wherever it was that she wrote it. Perhaps this very desk, brows knitted together as she thought over what to say. He liked the little squiggle before the 'S'. Maybe someday little notes like this would also end with an 'x' or two. 'Love & Kisses, Superwoman'. Yeah, that was just about perfect.

Although how she expected him to get on to the roof of the Bank of Metropolis building, he had no idea.

"What in Heaven's name is that thing on your head?"

Louis winced at the sound of Hudson's voice behind him, barely glancing over his shoulder to find her standing in the aisle between their desks, staring at him. She even had a finger out, pointing. She dropped it momentarily as her shoulder bag slid down her arm; she adjusted it quickly and went back to pointing.

"That, my dear fashion-challenged partner is a fedora… a chapeau, an homburg, a trilby – "

"An ugly eyesore."

"It is not." He pulled his feet down from where they reclined against the top of his desk and turned to face her as she set her bag down and started her computer. "You gotta dress the part to get ahead in this world, Smallville. Poorly-fitted jackets and ugly flats just aren't going to cut it. Now me," he flicked at the rim of the fedora, "I thought I'd go for the Macaulay Connor look."

Hudson met his gaze, blinking. "That kid who ran around his house screaming all of the time?"

"What? Oh, hell. Not Macaulay Caulkin – Macaulay Connor. You know – Jimmy Stewart. The Philadelphia Story."

"Oh, yes." She nodded and turned her attention to her monitor. "That one with Tom Hanks. That was sad."

Louis didn't know whether to laugh or cry. He was close to beating his head against the desk. Sighing instead, he said more to himself, "Although, I admit I do tend to resemble Cary Grant far more than Stewart."

"In your dreams… "

His head came up at the barely-heard words and glanced sharply in Hudson's direction. "Did you just say something?"

"Pardon?" She looked over at him, eyes wide, and a touch of a frown on her face.

He must be hearing things. "Nothing."

Leaning back in his seat, Louis watched quietly for a moment as she began looking through her emails and shooting back responses with the fastest typing he'd ever seen. When Hudson had first started at the Daily Planet, the other employees would gather around her desk just to watch her type. Money exchanged hands over words per minute. Jokes were made over to what other talents could be possible with those fingers. Eventually, the novelty wore off and everyone went back to work. But sometimes, Louis still couldn't help but watch in amazement over how quickly she get could a story typed out. He didn't bother much with typing himself; it was the content that mattered. Even when typed one finger at a time.

"So how'd the reunion with Wayne go?" he asked after a few moments.

Hudson shrugged. "It didn't. He bored me so I left."

Louis' eyebrows shot up at that. He leaned forward once more, trying not to laugh. "You… walked out on Bruce Wayne?"

"Sure. Why not?"

"Well, one thing's for certain Smallville, you never cease to surprise me." Louis grinned at her obvious ignorance that she had done anything wrong. "I wonder if that's the key…?"

"The key to what?" She stopped typing to peer at him over the rim of her glasses.

"To the way billionaires flock to your side."

There were few things Louis loved more than annoying his partner. Well, other than every single moment spent with Superwoman, and maybe the occasional expensive cigar… Okay, so there was also sex, the Metropolis Sharks, and the Royal Red Robin Burger with fried egg and three strips of bacon. But, after all of that came annoying Hudson Clark Kent. She was far too easy to read, with her cheeks burning a nice bright red and her chest heaving with indignation… that was kind of hot. That was if her blouse wasn't buttoned all the way to her neck (and didn't contain a coffee stain right in the middle of it), and if her hair didn't remind him of half his elementary school teachers.

Hot and Hudson Kent really didn't mix.

"Billionaires do not – Oh!" Hudson shook her head, and Louis was already prepping himself for the lecture. "Why? Why must you turn every little thing back to my past history with Lex Luthor? There's a lot more to me, you know, than just him. Why I – I used to be a local rodeo champion back in junior high and high school. Did you know that? And I handled the entire school paper all by myself my senior year!"

Louis bit back his grin as she stood arms akimbo as she stalked over to him, leaning into his face as she continued. "And, for your information, I am also a world traveler! My years before coming here were spent traveling all over the globe, seeing places and meeting people, and I certainly didn't need Lex Luthor or – or Bruce 'Hi, I think I'm charming' Wayne to do so! I am a perfectly capable, intelligent and talented woman who doesn't need some man to hold her up! Especially billionaires!"

Waiting to see if she was finished, Louis finally glanced around the office, noting that her tirade had caught the attention of their coworkers. Silence seemed to settle over the floor. Slowly, one by one, the other women began to applaud and cheer her. As a triumphant smile settled over her face, Hudson pushed her glasses up her nose and plopped unceremoniously back into her chair. Louis allowed a small grin. Across the room, Eddie, editor of the sports section was giving him a look as if to ask 'What'd you say??' Louis just shrugged.

As everyone seemed to return to work, he wheeled his chair into her cubicle. "You know, Smallville that little speech of yours just went to prove my conclusion."

"And what conclusion would that be, Louis?"

"You ran out on Wayne because you like him. Just like you were drawn to Luthor. And that terrifies you."

She sighed, flashed him a very evil, and yet comical glare, and went back to her typing. "You obviously don't have the slightest clue about women, Louis."

"I know everything there is to know, Smallville," he replied, holding the note in his hand up to his nose once more. "At least about the women who matter."

"What is that?"

"A note… from Superwoman."

She snorted.

"It really is!" He shoved it in front of her face for her inspection. "See? Right there. 'S'."

Hudson's brow furrowed as she scanned it. "What's she doing nosing into Lex's business operations?"

"She isn't. I am." He pulled his hand back, tapping the note against his armrest. "Although, for the life of me I can't figure what Luthor would be doing with a grocer… and what any of that has to do with Gotham."

"She's obviously completely nuts. Her apparent dislike of Lex Luthor is clouding her judgment."

"Superwoman has excellent judgment," Louis scoffed. "And no cracks about her clothing – they're getting old."

Hudson let out a little sigh and returned to her work.

Pondering the mystery for a moment, Louis eventually returned to his own desk. He'd never heard of Farmer's Market Grocers, come to think of it, so he began glancing through the web for information. The grocers has been started only a year earlier, something about offering small farmers in the state of Kansas a way to sell their produce throughout the country without the cost of shipping preventing them from such outreach.

"Hey, Smallville. Check this out. You ever hear of these guys?"

Hudson stood and moved over to Louis' desk, leaning over his shoulder to read the corporation information on the monitor. She was frowning by the end of it. "No. No, I haven't."

"I'd think your father – "

"He hasn't mentioned any such thing." She nudged him out of the way, reaching out to the keyboard, her fingers flying over the keys. "I can call him to ask, but if that were the case, I'd think they would have said something… Hmmm. Says here that Farmer's Market Grocers is funded entirely by donations to a Small Kansas Farmers Fund."

"Donations?" Louis grunted. "Why does that send off warning bells in my head?"

"Well, the voices need something to keep them occupied," Hudson remarked offhandedly as she reached out for a piece of paper and quickly copied some of the information from the screen.

"Oh, ha ha. I'm rubber and you're glue." He reached out to snatch the piece of paper from her. "And this is my story, not yours. I was asked to handle it personally. Maybe I'll even ask Wayne about it…"

"I doubt he'd have any interest in talking to you, Louis. Bruce isn't too fond of the press."

"Well, he isn't going to be able to avoid us on Thursday…"

He paused, waiting.

"Th- Thursday? What's Thursday?" Hudson was watching him suspiciously.

Reaching out, Louis grabbed that morning's edition of the Planet and held it up to her. "You don't even read the content of your own paper? Tsk, tsk. I'll be sure to let Miss Grant know. Anyway, it's right there in the social section. A super-sized gala highlighting the opening of Takashi Shipping's first US-based office here in Metropolis. Luthor's hosting it… and all of Takashi Shipping's customers are invited including – you might notice there in the third paragraph, first sentence – the CEO of Wayne Enterprises."

Hudson sat – or rather, fell – back into her chair as she stared at the paper. "I thought Wayne Enterprises hadn't signed with Takashi Shipping… "

"The deal was announced last night in the Gotham Times," Louis muttered, recalling asking Wayne that very question on the steps of Lexcorp the day before. "I could have been the first to break that story. Bastard."

"What does this have to do with us?"

Louis refrained from rolling his eyes as he reached into his desk and pulled out the tickets, waving them at her. "We've only been slated to cover this for the last three weeks since it was announced, Smallville. Did you completely forget?"

Apparently she had by the slightly rounded shape her mouth fell into.

He couldn't help but laugh. "And Smallville? Don't wear that atrocious gold thing you wore to the City Hall fundraiser we covered. You looked like my grandmother."