"Toy...store?" Nyssa said slowly, not comprehending. Kate's look of amusement grew. Nyssa grew uneasy. She may not have known Kate long, but if she was amused, it spelled trouble.
"You'll see." Kate said, abandoning her plans to drink something alcoholic. Bouncing with excitement, she ran to get her jacket.
When Alfred knocked on the door about 20 minutes later, Nyssa had still not managed to convince Kate to explain what she meant.
"Hey Alfred." Kate said. "Don't spoil the surprise."
"I do not like surprises." Nyssa grumbled.
The corner of Alfred's mouth twitched. "I do believe you will enjoy this one, Ms. Raatko."
"Not another word." Kate said over her shoulder as she left the apartment.
"You know." Nyssa said as she stood next to Kate in the elevator. "I promised Bruce I wouldn't kill...but I have other ways of getting information."
She couldn't be sure, but she thought she saw Kate shiver slightly, but when the other woman met her eyes there was nothing but amusement in their depths. "Oh really?" She said. "Ms. Raatko, are you trying to seduce me?"
"He em." Alfred cleared his throat behind them. The two women moved apart. The look on Kate's face told her that she had quite forgotten his presence. The elevator doors opened and Nyssa walked out first. Kate followed. They got into the car, Alfred, getting into the driver's seat. Thy drove to Wayne Enterprises. Nyssa frowned.
"Are we visiting Bruce?"
"No." Kate growled. She'd been cross with him ever since the encounter with Ivy.
"I am not angered with him." Nyssa said. "I have not earned his trust."
"That doesn't justify-" Kate began.
"And further more, the presence of extra gadgets would not have made a difference. I was hit with a chemical compound and having a communication device in my ear would not have changed that."
Kate exhaled loudly as the car pulled into the garage of the building. Alfred began driving down towards a lower level. Nyssa frowned out the window, then turned back to Kate. She grinned. "I told you; we're going to the toy store."
Alfred stopped the car at the lowest level of the parking garage. He opened the door and stepped out of the car. In front of them was a wall. Alfred pressed his hand flat against it. There was a low humming noise and a blue light seemed to scan his palm. Then he stepped back and the walled opened. Getting back into the car, he drove them inside. They were in what appeared to be an underground lab. There were various machines and half finished inventions littering tables. A man was standing in the center of the lab in a blazer and bowtie. He smiled as Alfred stopped the car. "Miss Kane." He said as Kate got out of the car. "And you must be Miss Raatko."
Nyssa stepped out of the car and looked around at the bright lights of the underground facility before turning her eyes on the elderly man in front of her. "Nyssa." She said, holding out her hand. "I assume you are in charge of the toys."
The man took her hand and shot Kate an indulgent look. "That name will not catch on Miss Kane."
"That's what you think." Kate retorted. "Nyssa this is Lucius Fox. He's the genius behind most of our...toys." She put an extra emphasis on the word.
Lucius smiled. "It's a pleasure to meet you Nyssa." He shook her hand and pulled back, motioning to the table. "Come, Barbara's been helping me put some finishing touches on your equipment."
Barbara wheeled in and waved. "Hey guys. Welcome to the toy store." She smiled as Lucius looked at the ceiling as if searching for help. Kate and Barbara high fived.
"Don't encourage her." Lucius said to Barbara. Turning to Kate, he sighed. "See what you do?"
Kate shrugged. "Show her the thing!" She said.
Nyssa raised an eyebrow. "The thing?" She asked. Kate was grinning. Barbara wheeled over to a large display case that was covered with a sheet. Taking hold of the fabric, she pulled. The sheet fell away, revealing a suit. It was the same color scheme as her league uniform, yet sleeker and less bulky
"It's bullet proof, flame proof, and it comes with a mask." Barbara said.
"it also has heat regulators and will cool you when you over heat and heat you if you freeze." Lucius said. "It's got built in tracking so we can locate you in the highly unlikely event you get kidnapped." Lucius said. Nyssa stepped forward, and touched the glass of the display case.
"I don't know what to say." She murmured. It was definitely an upgrade from her league uniform.
"Did you show her?" Tim came rushing into the lab. He was wearing a suit and tie with his hair slicked back. Dick followed, also in a suit, but had forgone the tie. He shoved his hands in his pockets.
"I don't think she likes it." He said.
"What do you know?" Barbara retorted.
Their bickering faded into the background as Nyssa looked at the table next to the display case. There were small gadgets, none of them bat shaped, but all using the same deep red and black color scheme as her suit. She picked up a small tracker. Then ran her fingers over her old league sword. She looked over at Kate. "You have returned this to me?" She asked. Kate shrugged.
"You can use it to hack vines next time you face off against Ivy. Or slice Harley's hammer in half." She paused. "Just don't stab people."
"I will endeavor to do my best." Nyssa said solemnly. Kate raised an eyebrow, then her mouth curled into a smile. They both turned back to watch Dick and Barbara's argument.
"Bite me." Dick said.
"I would, but you might enjoy it." Barbara shot back.
"Children." Lucius said. They stopped, glaring at each other and turned away.
"They are so screwing tonight." Kate whispered to Nyssa.
"Indeed." Nyssa said. "Nights with my beloved were always best after we'd sparred."
Kate raised an eyebrow. "So the way to a girl's heart is by kicking her ass? I'll take that under advisement." She leaned and nudged Nyssa with her shoulder, winking. Nyssa resisted the urge to laugh.
"It is amusing that you believe that you would be the one delivering the..." She paused, looking Nyssa up and down. "Ass kicking."
Kate chuckled. "Is that a challenge?"
"Challenge implies that the fighters are on an equal skill level." Nyssa retorted, enjoying the look of amused indignation on Kate's face. It had been a while since she'd traded jokes with anyone.
"I almost had you that first night on the rooftop." Kate said. Nyssa hummed in amusement.
"The operative word being, 'almost', Kate. And I was holding back."
Kate gasped and put a hand to her chest. "Well I never. I save your life and this is how you repay me?" She smirked and stepped forward, invading Nyssa's personal space. "You, me, on the mats."
Nyssa tilted her chin upwards and met her eyes. "If you wish." She replied. Kate nodded.
"Oh I do." She smirked. "You better not hold back."
"I won't."
"Guys." Dick groaned.
"There are other people here." Barbara agreed. "At least we kept room for jesus."
"Babs, I'm jewish." Kate said, pulling back. "Also we all know you haven't gone to church since the 90's."
Nyssa smiled at Barbara. "I love the suit." She said, looking up Lucius. "Thank you."