"What?!"
"Ex-fucking-scuse me?" Alex spits out.
"Yes, I was on my way to the grocery store when I saw a bedraggled woman in an alleyway. I pulled over to see if I could offer assistance and found the lady crying about chocolate pretzels to a stray kitten," Alfred recounts and Alex sighs and smiles in relief.
"Oh god, it's her!"
"When I approached her she yelled 'this is Allie's Alley' and hastily added 'and Pretzel's referring to the brown kitten, I believe. However, when I came closer she saw my face and calmed down but refused to join me in the car until I promised to purchase her chocolate pretzels and allow the kitten to accompany her."
"Is she alright? She's in the car with you right?" Alex fires out quickly.
"Yes she seems to be doing well, all things considered. What shall I do with her?"
"Where should he bring her?" Alex queries to Bruce. "She has a double at the hospital so not there."
"Take her to GrayRidge Estate would you Alfred, and get her some chocolate pretzels on the way," Bruce requests.
"Miss Gray are you ready to go home?" Alfred asks aloud.
"Home? No! I have to talk to Bruce! He promised," Allie suddenly exclaims, loud enough for Alex and Bruce to hear. Alfred heaves an audible sigh and addresses Bruce.
"Master Wayne I'm putting you on speaker, please assure Miss Gray you will be at her home." The phone beeps and Allie's sniffled and the meows of her kitten become clearer and louder.
"Allie can you hear me?"
"Brucie!"
"Hi there, are you doing okay?"
"Yes, yes I will."
"Promise?"
"I promise," he swears. "So will you please go with Alfred?"
"Wait! Alex is gonna be there too right?"
"Yeah, Allie, I'll be there," Alex chimes in.
"Oh goodie! Then I'll go. Here Aldred, your phone." There's a moment of silence and then Alfred speaks again.
"We will arrive promptly no later than 1:30 pm," he states. "And Miss Aldridge it appears you have a cat named Pretzel now."
"We already have a-ugh dammit fine," Alex groans. "Thanks Alfred."
"Thank you Alfred," Bruce echoes.
"Of course." He hangs up and the heroes share a truly relieved look. A weight has been lifted that had been haunting them since the tower collapsed on Allie.
III
Alfred stops at a gas station and buys chocolate pretzels for Allie so she spends the ride quietly munching on them.
When they cross the bridge leading to the GrayRide mansion on a private island in Gotham Bay , Allie sits up and gazes out the window.
"My house is so pretty," she marvels. "It's like a maze in there Alfred. So huge."
"It is," Alfred agrees as he parks the town car in the front circular driveway.
Bruce and Alex are standing on the grand steps waiting for her.
"They are waiting for me! Oh I feel special," Allie gushes and claps her hands. "Like a
red carpet celebrity."
The second the car comes to a full stop the billionaires are scrambling forward to help Allie.
The door flies open and Allie beams at her saviors.
"Hi guys! I have a kitten and chocolate pretzels!" she squeals and holds up both her hands to show them."And the kittens name is Pretzel! Because she's chocolate colored, like a pretzel."
"That's really great Allie, could you hand those to Bruce so I can help you out of the car?" Alex asks gently.
"No need. Guys could you take these?" As she speaks two invisible arms instantly take the kitten and pretzels from Allie, leaving her open to wrap her arms around Alex in a haphazardly embrace.
"Thank everything you're okay, but what the fuck?" Alex breathes out, eyes wide at the seemingly floating objects.
"I have extra invisible limbs! But they're busy so could you lift me up? My body hurts."
"Course." Alex hooks an arm under Allie's knees and gingerly cradles her before lifting.
"You're really strong Alex," Allie whispers into Alex's shirt. The fingers of her left arm are clenched in the fabric while her right arm swings limply.
"For you, yes." Allie's head lolls back revealing a wide smile with squinted eyes.
"Lex, was there a horse in my hospital?" she murmurs drearily and Alex frowns.
"No, Allie there wasn't."
"Oh then I think I might have lied to John Mulaney," Allie utters and Alex shares a befuddled look with Bruce. She is still definitely drugged out of her sanity. "I think I might have met John Mulaney."
"Allie, is that why you escaped? Because you thought there was a horse?"
"No silly! I jumped out the window because when I woke up I was alone. You are my impulse control Alex," Allie answers, as if it is the most obvious thing in the world. A stab of guilt hits both CEO's at Allie's response, they left her alone. "Bruce promised we'd talk after I lived and I did, so I wanted to find him." Allie squirms in Alex's arms and strains to see Bruce behind Alex's shoulders. "Mr. Wayne have you seen Bruce around? If you haven't seen him maybe you've seen," Allie lowers her voice and intensely whispers, "Batman."
Bruce and Alex go pale, Allie isn't supposed to know about their alter egos. Allie giggles and shakes her head.
"I'm kidding! Bruce isn't Batman, Batman is in love with Bruce though," Alle reveals seriously. "It's obvious, Batman always protects Wayne Industries."
"He does," Bruce agrees tentatively. "But Allie, it is me Bruce." The blonde scrutinizes his face and suddenly her eyes light up.
"Brucie! I found you!" Bruce moves closer and reaches out, grazing his fingers on Allie's cheek. Bruce longs to be closer to her but now isn't the time. Allie leans into the touch and closes her eyes while humming appreciatively.
"You did find me. You're an amazing detective," he compliments, a hidden layer beneath the acquiescing statement, and Allie blushes. She reaches up and pets his face with her unbroken arm while scrunching her nose.
"Your face is scruffy."
Alex, quite fed up with the gushing and giggling and being the one holding Allie while all the weird petting was happening, decides to cut in.
"Let's get you inside." Alex starts up the steps with Allie and Bruce follows dutifully. "I think your talk will have to wait until all the drugs are out of your system."
"You're so smart Alex!"
"Thanks babe."
III
Inside the victorian style mansion Alex lays Allie in her four poster bed and the invisible limbs settle the kitten and snack bag in her lap.
On the other side of the mattress sits the third body, sleeping and utterly still.
"Oh my gosh you found her! It's closet me," Allie cheers and Alex and Bruce frown, confused by her recognition.
"Allie if you're up for it, would you answer some quick questions for us?" Alex inquires. "I know you're addled with meds but we have burning questions."
"Don't hurt yourselves," Allie coos. "Whaddya wanna know?"
"First off, how do you know that's the double from the closet?" Bruce asks.
"She's softer," Allie answers simply and shrugs. "Next." Her answer gives nothing to Bruce and Alex but they can tell she won't give any elaboration.
"What was carrying the pretzels and cat and you along?" Alex queries.
"Vectors, invisible arms with direction and magnitude!" As she speaks the 'vectors' poke at Bruce and Alex, jolting them. "It's super weird, I'm like a four-armed beast from Ben 10."
"Hah, yeah kind of, anyway how did the other two copies happen?" Alex continues.
"I fell out of bed, something tugged back and then I fell out of the closet and something else tugged back. They melted out I guess," Allie recounts and yawns. "Didn't hurt or nothin."
"We should let her rest and call Dr. Shaw," Bruce suggests softly and places a hand on Alex's shoulder.
"Good idea Brucie. I'm exhausted and most my bones broken," Allie grumbles and leans back into her pillows.
"Right," Alex huffs. She's zoning out, her mind traveling far away into worst case scenarios.
There is no doubt now.
Allison Gray is a metahuman.
"Do you think I'm a freak?" Allie whispers, fear set in her hazed blue eyes with all the drugged delirium gone.
"Never," Alex promises in a stern and determined tone. "Allie I would never and neither would Bruce."
"You are not a freak, you are a miracle," Bruce sweats and squeezes her good hand before leaning over to kiss her forehead.
