DISCLAIMER: I do not own Batman :(
WARNINGS: language (all of you should know this by now), Violence
A/N: Hiya! I'm going to give you wonderful people another chapter. This chapter is longer than usual but I felt that it was all necessary. Cookies to all those who review! :)
BATGIRL / MYLA
Wow. I think Bruce might break his jaw soon if he lowers it any more than he already has. I'm really glad I picked this dress. It was a long, elegant, red piece I picked out from one of those rich people stores you can find at the mall. It will cost me my whole paycheck to get it paid off, but Bruce's expression alone is worth it.
"Well, I guess we better get going." I said. I didn't want to be too late. All the rich women will already be ticked that I looked so hot.
I smiled ruefully as I thought about it.
"Okay, everyone in the car! It will feel nice to ride in my actual car this time instead of the Batmobile." Bruce mused.
No wonder he's excited, we're taking his sports car. I rolled my eyes and hopped in.
When we arrived, I figured I should gather my surroundings since this scumbag man probably wants to kill Batman. I'm not all that worried over it but Bruce seems to be bent out of shape about it all. I wish he would just relax a little.
As I walked down the huge marble steps, I was immediately captivated by the massive size of the house. Clearly, whoever is throwing this party is one of the bigger donations towards the project. There were statues that resembled different Greek gods and goddesses all the way down the steps. It was immaculate. I wanted to slide down these steps with a mattress to be honest.
Going into the middle of this huge room seemed to ruin its beauty. There was a stain glass floor picturing a maize with fruit trees and a couple dancing so that whenever I was walking on it, it just seemed wrong. It was too beautiful to be stepped on. To talk about the ceiling was not doing it any justice. It stood at least 5 stories tall with glass as the "roof". The moon and the stars could literally shine on everyone as they danced under it on the stain glass the left was a bar and tables for everyone to sit, talk, and drink.
After taking all of this in, I realized just how out of place I was. I tapped on Bruce's shoulder.
"I'm going to get a drink."
Then I left as fast as I could to hopefully soothe my alert emotions.
"Champagne miss?"
"YES...ugh...please." He raised his eyebrows as I shot him a humble smile.
"Right away, miss."
I looked around to find Bruce lurking in the crowd, no doubt trying to find the man I described to him. His name was Jared. We found him on Bruce's data of Gotham but he was no one we knew as a regular villain. Because of this, Bruce is even more confidant that there are thieves and known murderers ganging up to take over Gotham.
I'm not quite sure what I think. None of it makes any sense. Why would someone try to take over Gotham of all places? This is not exactly the greatest city on the face of the planet. Generally, the ones who want to control this city would be pissed to share it with anyone so, I disagree with his theory.
Well, I am quite certain of one thing: we need to get down to the bottom of this. I can't stand all these obstacles that we have to go through to catch the "bad guy" anymore. Whatever happened to a good beat down to a man trying to take an old lady's purse? Those were fun times.
Being scared, however, is not fun. I sense something big looming over us. It's like a thunder cloud that you know is going to eventually rain on you but you're trying to calculate when, where, and for how long. You want to make sure that you take your picnic back inside so everything doesn't get mushy and inedible. Or perhaps you want to know when you will be able to be happy and ride your bike again.
For me, I just wanted to be happy. I wanted to ride my bike and be cheerful but this big thing creeping over us won't flippin' let me.
"Here you go ma'am." The bartender handed me the biggest glass of champagne I had ever seen. I was prepared to give him money but the man laughed and said that the hostess was paying for everything.
"She must be pretty damn rich."
"Yeah, well, you're at an event for charity where people are dying to show off how "generous" they are. What did you expect?" He said, laughing.
"And how do you know that I'm not one of those people?"
"Well, ma'am, to be honest, I saw your face walking through the door. I know an average incomed person when I see them since I, of course, am one of those people. With that dress, though, no one will be able to tell." He winked and walked away.
I guess it is pretty obvious if one was so inclined to observation. Thank goodness that everyone else is too preoccupied with themselves to care.
Someone sat down next to me as I tried to chug the last bit of my champagne.
"Wow, dad wasn't exaggerating about your alcoholic problem. You've only been here a minute and you've already downed a whole glass."
The kid is way too smart. This is why we don't talk.
"Well what do you know about it, kid? I like alcohol. Alcohol is wonderful. Get over it."
He laughed. "I've always loved you despite your flaws. Don't even pretend that you don't like me because I know that you watch out for me like I was your kid brother."
I grunted. He was a lot better than my actual brother. I preferred Tayden over him, truthfully.
"You're probably right. I don't hate you. I do wish that you weren't so smart all the time."
He looked sad as he said, "Myla, you don't look...healthy...these days. Are you feeling alright? I know that you joke about drinking and everything and that you really don't like talking to me but I get worried."
I was astounded. This little 15 year old knew just how to push all the right buttons. I wanted to hug him because he was so right but I didn't want him to know just how bad it's gotten.
"Well, kid, I've had a hard time in life. I think it's safe to say that most people have had a hard life." I laughed. "But, seriously, I think one of these days I'm going to lose my mind but the weird part is that I'm going to be perfectly fine with it. I'm going to welcome madness and finally give in to forget all the things that I've done."
"Why would you need to forget what you've done? I think you more than make up for it just by being," he looked around then whispered, "Batgirl."
I laughed at that. I wish that I could be so young again. "Well, sometimes people make mistakes so big, that you could save the whole world and still feel guilt, stabbing at you every day after." I grew even more depressed as I realized that Tayden was the person I had wronged to the point of no return. He was my sword of guilt.
"I don't believe you. You have never done anything to me to make me feel bad."
That you know of, I thought.
"There's a lot of single ladies waiting to be danced with out there, you know. I'm sure they wouldn't mind being dazzled by your teenage charm." I smiled.
He rolled his eyes. "You over exaggerate just as much as dad."
He left, and I could see that it had only taken him minutes to find a willing partner. I chuckled at how awkward he still was in social situations.
"Sir, I would like to get a long island, please!"
The little brat will just have to get used to me downing drinks.
After 15 years, it still took me by surprise every time Tayden called Bruce "dad". It really shouldn't but I think it bothers me more because I'm the same age as Bruce but I haven't gotten the chance to be called "mom". I just want a functional family of my own. I mean, I'm clearly at the right age to start. Bruce is obviously considered a really young dad but he adopted so everyone is okay with it.
I saw someone out of the corner of my eye, in a black suit, sit right next to me. Why can't everyone just leave me alone?
"Hey, I would like to get two drinks for me and the lady!" He looked at me amused saying, "Long time no see."
I nearly spit out my drink.
"Jerry?! What are you doing here?!"
He chuckled. "I was about to ask you the same thing. I'm here to give to my favorite charity, of course."
"Oh, well...I came with Bruce Wayne. He's talking to someone on the dance floor right now but he couldn't find anyone to go with him so he asked me." I smiled shyly.
"Bruce Wayne couldn't find a date? I don't believe that. The man is abundant in women." He laughed hysterically then wrapped his arm around my shoulders. "I believe you have been fooled, my dear. I would've asked you to come with ME but I didn't think you were in to these types of things."
Why does everyone keep saying that?
"Yes, well, I rather enjoy social events, actually." I said, a little peeved.
"I didn't mean to offend you, dear. I was actually trying to suggest that maybe next time, you come with me? Unless you would rather come with the man who is ignoring such a beautiful lady sitting all alone in this grimey corner."
"I would love to." I grinned. "And, well, he's not ignoring me. He just needed some important information from someone who works with him before we could have any real fun." I replied in attempt to convince him of Wayne's intentions.
He looked doubtful. "Well, while you're waiting for him to talk to his...comrade...would you do me the honor of dancing with me?"
I was more than okay with that. "I would love to." I replied enthusiastically.
We spun to a slow dance and, maybe it was the drink I had, but I was in heaven. Everything felt right and I was happy just to rest my head on his chest. He was a lot taller than me so we probably looked a little bit awkward but I didn't care.
After the second song we were interrupted by Bruce. He better have a damn good reason because I was beginning to seriously enjoy myself.
"Agh! Jerry, is it?"
Jerry stopped and looked at him, clearly not impressed by the interruption. "Yes, how can I help you?"
"I was just wondering if I could borrow back my date for a minute? I would like to get in a couple dances because I'm going to have to leave in a little bit." His smile was good humored to anyone that didn't know him. To me, I fully understood that he was displeased by this man's presence. Great, now I'm going to get bellowed at because I am being "distracted" from my duties.
Jerry just looked annoyed but smiled anyway. "Sure go ahead. I'll dance with her later when you leave her at the bar again." He quickly left, clearly enraged.
"Way to go. Every time I start to have fun, you go and ruin it." I huffed.
He seemed to be enjoying himself now. "Well, it's not my fault. You have things to do." We started dancing so it wouldn't look peculiar that we were just talking to each other on the dance floor.
"First of all, I found out that this Jared man is working with some lady, but no one knows who."
"How did you figure something like that out?"
"Well I showed a picture to the lady in the purple dress, just trying to see if she had even seen him but she told me more than that. Apparently, she not only knows this man, but she works with him! He's one of the assistants for a woman who owns some sort of company that, evidently, is apart of my own business! We really couldn't have gotten any luckier. Unfortunately, though, I can't seem to locate him anywhere and we might have to meet him where he told you we should be meeting him and hope that he won't kill us if we want any more information on this guy."
"Ugh, great. I crack myself up thinking that I could actually have fun at something like this."
He frowned at that.
Well I guess meeting my doom is really the only option here. Always when I really want some more liquor.
He took my hand and guided me towards the stairs. Every step towards the third floor made my heart beat a little bit faster.
Were these stairs leading us to answers, or were we just getting another piece of the never ending puzzle? I guess I was about to find out...
