Chapter 10

Claire stood on the stage in the Royal Hotel's ballroom. The entire room had been decorated with luxury in mind. She nervously played with the flowing fabric of her dress. The sheer light steely-blue overlay flowed over a silver satin lining, giving the dress the appearance it was fluid. The shoulderless dress clung to her body beautifully. She was wearing a pair of sparkly silver pumps with it. Her long blonde hair was bound in an intricately complex bun and the diamond hoops in her ears sparkled in the lighting.

She and the rest of her bandmates were preparing for the benefit concert. He hefted her beloved violin to her left shoulder and drew her bow into her hand. She started playing and soon lost herself in the music. She began swaying and dancing as she played and felt her nervousness vanish.

"Damn, Rose. You've definitely still got the magic." Callum called out from behind the piano.

"Thanks, Call." Claire stated happily.

Reign and Julian exited the storage room with the last of Aryn's drums. They smiled as Julian used his own powers to swiftly assemble the drum kit. Reign took his place to Claire's right and slipped his guitar strap over his shoulders. The silver strap complemented the midnight black tuxedo he wore.

"Everything's set up, Clairebear." Reign stated.

"Awesome. We ready, boys?" Claire asked.

"I am!" Julian called out from his synthesizer.

"Likewise." Aryn stated from his drums.

"You know it, Rose." Callum replied.

"Indeed, darling." Reign answered.

"Alright then. Twenty songs. We can do this." Claire nodded happily.

"Everyone remembers the setlist?" Reign asked.

"Yep." Came a chorus of voices.

Claire could hear the roar of voices on the other side of the velvet curtain concealing her and the band. She knelt by the bottle of water near her feet and drew a sip of the cold liquid into her mouth. She savored the chill as she swallowed the water.

Footsteps echoed on the stage on the other side of the curtain and Claire could only imagine who they belonged to. She steeled herself for the preparation of the concert. She took a moment to glance around at her surrogate family and she smiled brightly.

"Good evening everyone. I'd like to take the opportunity to thank you for coming to this benefit gala. Without further ado, I proudly present Firestorm." Bruce stated quickly.

His footsteps receded and Claire watched as the velvet curtain slid back revealing her and her bandmates. She took a moment to clear her thoughts. She casually approached the microphone at center stage and smiled at the large crowd.

"Good evening. My name is Claire Kennedy. I would like to take a moment to thank Bruce Wayne for asking us to play for you all this evening. We are Firestorm and we hope you enjoy the concert." Claire stated.

She retreated to her position and smiled when Callum began the music for their first song. Soon everyone was in full swing and Claire joined in with her violin. As she played she let the music flow through her and smiled as she started channeling her gift around her adding to her stage appearance.

As the first hour passed the band forged on, launching into the second set of music. They'd worked up to the much more energetic, high-paced music they were now playing. Nearly everyone in the crowd was entranced in the music. As Claire danced around the stage she caught Bruce sitting at a table with the rest of the League's founders.

The music shifted and Claire's violin was the sole source of music playing. She drew notes from the instrument in such quick succession it looked like she was a Speedster playing. She continued on, playing in solitude for a few minutes before she smiled as the stage lights dropped to darkness.

Reign started playing a solemn guitar chord and Aryn soon joined in with a deep drumline. Julian and Callum joined in, followed by Claire's violin and her voice. She focused her gift on the stage and shielded her loved ones in a golden sparkling light. They stood on the stage in solidarity as they played their final song. When it hit its crescendo all of the stage lightings came back on and flooded the stage with brilliant lighting effects.

As the song ended the Gala attendees erupted in applause. Claire lowered her violin to her side and bowed gracefully. As she rose, Reign and the others joined her and bowed as the curtains closed.

"That was off the hook, Claire!" Aryn exclaimed happily.

"How are you feeling, Rose?" Callum asked delicately.

"I'm good. My arms feel like jello though. You good, Reign?" Claire inquired.

"Indeed, Clairebear. Promise me you'll save me a dance?" Reign replied.

"I'd have to be dead to be unwilling to dance with you." Claire smiled brightly.

As they started clearing the band of their private instruments, they heard familiar footsteps as Bruce made his way back to the microphone. He moved through a rousing speech, encouraging everyone to donate to the Victim's Fund and announced that dinner and drinks were beginning along with the silent auction. As the Hotel's band came on stage dancing would begin shortly.

Claire and her bandmates sped through moving everything and when the entered the ballroom, a hostess was quick to lead them to their table. Reign held Claire's chair out for her as she sat down. She closed her eyes and drew a sip of water out of her glass. Seconds passed and she felt someone tap her on the shoulder.

"Hiya Claire!" Wally exclaimed.

Claire stood and hugged the redheaded man gently. His soft emerald green eyes shone brightly. He'd styled his hair out of his face and looked quite handsome in the tuxedo he was wearing.

"Hi, Wally! Did you enjoy the concert?" Claire asked sheepishly.

"We all did! Where'd you learn how to play like that?" Wally replied.

"I started taking lessons when I was little. After my parents died, I was encouraged to use music as a way to process the emotions I was feeling. Would you like to meet the band?" Claire asked.

"I'd love to, thanks!" Wally stated happily.

"The ever lovely Reign Kennex, his husband, Callum Levine, my foster brothers Aryn Scott and Julian Harrington. Boys, I'd like you to meet Wally West. He's a new business colleague of mine." Claire stated beautifully.

"It's an honor to meet you, Wally. Claire is very dear to us. She's been a great friend and sister for quite a while." Reign stated.

"Diana, John, Shay, Clark, and Lois are over yonder if you'd like to say hello." Wally whispered in Claire's ear.

"Boys, will you excuse me for a moment?" Claire asked pleasantly.

"Of course." Came their echoed replies.

"Shall we?" Claire whispered in Wally's ear.

Wally slipped his hand to the small of Claire's back and lead her towards a table near the back of the ballroom. As they approached the table, Diana's light gray-blue eyes lit up. Shayera smiled and waved. Diana stood and pulled Claire into a warm embrace and kissed her on the cheek softly.

"Your musical skill is quite impressive, Claire." Diana stated gently.

"Thank you. You look amazing, Diana." Claire complimented.

Diana was wearing a floor length silver satin gown and had her long raven black hair pinned back off her face. She still wore her silver bracers and she was wearing a simple pearl necklace. She easily towered over Claire while barefoot and in the heels she wore, she almost seemed to dwarf the small doctor.

"As do you. Would you care to join us?" Diana asked calmly.

"That would be lovely, thank you." Claire replied.

She smiled when Wally moved to her side and pulled out a chair for her. She smoothed the fabric of her gown and sat down at the table. As she settled at the table she focused her thoughts on Reign and conveyed to him she'd been detained and by all accounts, enjoy the evening.

"Lois, how's Samuel doing?" Claire asked gently.

"He's doing great. Thank you so much for being there for us." Lois stated happily.

"Really, Claire. Thank you for everything you did. Sam's doing fantastic. Alfred, Bruce's butler is babysitting him for us tonight. My cousin, Kara is helping too." Clark added.

"How have you been the last six weeks Claire?" Wally asked.

"I've been alright. It's December, so work is getting crazy. Long shifts at the hospital paired with lots of silly injuries mean longer shifts at the Thomas Wayne Clinic, but I wouldn't give any of it up. I'm happy knowing I help curb a little of the hatred in Gotham every day." Claire answered.

The music shifted to a much slower song. Clark and Lois bade everyone farewell as they began making their way towards the dance floor. John and Shayera followed them quickly. Wally stood and offered his hand to Claire.

"May I have this dance?" Wally asked gently.

"I'd love to." Claire replied brightly.

She took Wally's hand and allowed herself to be lead to the dance floor. She turned and faced Wally as he slipped his right hand to the small of her back. She loosely held onto his left hand with her right hand and laid her left hand on his shoulder.

The two moved beautifully together as they danced. As they danced through a second and third song, Wally jumped when Bruce tapped him on the shoulder. He and Claire stopped and Wally frowned ever so slightly.

"May I cut in?" Bruce asked politely.

"Of course." Wally and Claire stated.

Bruce pulled Claire to him and snaked his right arm around her slender waist. He smirked when he noticed she held his left hand tighter than she'd held Wally's. His smirk broadened into a smile when he noticed Claire's eyes sparkling in the lights.

"I don't believe I've properly thanked you for saving my life, Doctor Kennedy. The concert you put on was amazing. Are you enjoying the Gala so far?" Bruce asked quizzically.

"I'm a doctor, Mr. Wayne. You needn't thank me for doing my job, nor fulfilling the oath I vowed to uphold, but I appreciate it, deeply. As for the Gala, you certainly know how to throw a hell of a party, that's for sure. Who knew you were an excellent dancer?" Claire teased.

"Alfred will be glad to hear that. On a different front, have you started any new, exciting ventures?" Bruce interrogated.

"No. I've been keeping myself busy at your father's former Clinic in my free-time." Claire answered.

"Do you volunteer at the Clinic often?" Bruce asked softly.

"I do. I work twelve shifts a month at Gotham General and an additional 30 hours a week at the Thomas Wayne Clinic." Claire stated gently.

Bruce leaned close to her and smiled internally when Claire subtlety responded. She shifted ever so slightly and cast her gray gaze towards his azure eyes. She shivered when he exhaled against her neck. The same sparks he felt when he shook her hand six weeks ago tingled on his skin now.

They were pulled from their intimate dance as Reign tapped on Bruce's shoulder and asked to dance with Claire. Bruce instantly frowned, then smiled at the man as he spun Claire into his embrace. He left the two friends to dance while he checked on the final preparations for the Celebrity Auction.

"Rose, you alright?" Reign whispered.

"Thank you. I felt like he was trying to bore holes into my soul." Claire whispered back.

"You're blushing, Claire. Do you think he's attractive?" Reign teased slightly.

"Hrmph." Claire brushed his statement off.

"You do! I mean, he's ridiculously attractive, but I wouldn't have pegged you for someone that liked rich playboys." Reign stated.

"Oh shut up and dance with me, will you?" Claire inquired.

"Delighted to, Rose." Reign answered.

The moved through several songs as Claire allowed herself to relax in Reign's embrace. She truly looked at her bandmates as her family and was honored Reign viewed her as his baby sister. They'd met when she was at Duke and he and Callum had essentially adopted her.

By the time they finished the emcee was beginning to announce the celebrities for the auction. Claire was ushered to the stage and led behind the thick curtains. She took her seat in one of the luxurious golden chairs set up. A stagehand ran to her and handed her a small bottle of water and checked she was in the correct seat.

Claire looked at the line of people and recognized a few of them. Vicki Vale's ice blonde hair stood out on the darkened stage. She stared at her nude colored nails in the darkness and toyed with the material of her dress. The emcee finished their introduction and the curtains opened, revealing Claire and the others.

Claire toned out the noises as the first few celebrities were auctioned off. She glanced at the tiny card with her name on it and saw she would be the last person auctioned off. When she thought of this fact, the chortle from Reign made her giggle. She saw Callum thwack him on the arm and shake his head.

She drowned out the noise and chaos as the other fourteen people were auctioned off. By the time the auction had made its way to her, you could hear a pin drop in the ballroom. She saw Wally, Bruce, and Reign in the rows of people ready to bid on her.

"Now for the star of tonight's celebrity auction. You saw her perform earlier as Astra Rose, leading founder of the band Firestorm. Gotham General's own 'Youngest Doctor Hired'. She graduated top of her class from the Duke University School of Medicine. She holds a triple specialty in General Surgery, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, and Internal Medicine. She's recently made news for saving Bruce Wayne's life two months ago. Give it up for Doctor Claire Kennedy!" The emcee exclaimed.

Claire rose from her chair and strode to the end of the catwalk that had been assembled. The emcee, a young man Claire didn't recognize offered her his hand and spun her around gently. She swallowed the growing lump in her throat as she realized in this single moment, every single person in the ballroom was staring at her.

"Now, if you win the date with Doctor Kennedy, you'll be getting a private reservation for Solstice. The reservation includes the meal, wine, and two gift certificates to the White Willow Spa. We'll start the bidding at five-thousand dollars." The young emcee called out.

Claire smiled when Reign bid on her. Wally bid on her next, which slightly amused Claire. She was dumbfounded when Bruce bid on her as well. Reign bid a second time, bringing the total to eight thousand dollars. Wally and Bruce bid in tandem and Claire went wide-eyed as others started joining in too.

"Oh, my. It seems Gotham has spoken, Doctor Kennedy. There's quite a few lovely bachelors and bachelorettes out there bidding on you. Do you have anything you'd like to say to the crowd?" The young man asked.

"If you win the date with me, I'll give you an intimate piano or violin lesson. My apartment, your choice." Claire taunted.

The flurry of bidding took off again, leaving Claire speechless. She was silently hoping Bruce would give up the chase and Wally would win. Her hopes were dashed as Wally his price limit. Soon the bidding was up to fifty thousand dollars for her. She took the microphone from the young man and softly began singing Carol of the Bells. The room fell silent as she sang letting the notes of her voice echo in the room as she sang without musical accompaniment. As she finished the song, she handed the microphone back to the emcee.

"Five-hundred thousand dollars." Bruce announced.

Claire swallowed the new lump in her throat and stared at Bruce incredulously. Everyone soon quieted down and stared at the emcee. Bruce stood resolutely in the audience.

"Five-hundred thousand dollars for a date with Doctor Claire Kennedy. Going once? Going twice? Sold to Mr. Bruce Wayne. Congratulations!" The emcee exclaimed.