Days later. Huntress hid in a stairway of a building. She had been there
almost one hour. She was watching through a dirty window. Four men were
inside working with out noticing that she was watching them.
"You never told to me about the long and boring waiting times." Huntress wispered.
::This is the hero's life. The police had been looking for this guy. The person who called me told me that it's going down tonight.:: She heard Oracle's voice on the com set.
"Your stoolie is good?"
::Yes::
"So, they think they are gonna be lucky tonight. What are we looking for?"
::Some kind of drug that those men want to buy::
Huntress observed a truck stop and park outside the building. The front door opened. "Truck." she said seeing the truck moving inside the building.
::That must be it::
The man that drove the car went to the four men that were inside the building and began talking to him. They gave him a big suitcase *The money/* Huntress thought. Two of the men opened the back door of the truck and jumped inside.
"It's done, may I come in?" Huntress asked to Oracle.
::Yes, I'm calling the police at this moment::
Suddenly Huentress heard the shots coming from inside the truck. The men outside began to shoot inside the truck and the men with the suitcase shot them. Both fell to the floor bleeding. The man with the suitcase closed the back door of the truck and jumped in the front seat.
He was going to start the vehicle when his door opened. She saw a young lady that grabbed him by the lapel and yanked him out of the vehicle using her great strength. She beat him and he fell unconscious. She walked to the back part of the truck and opened the door with caution. She looked inside and saw two of the henchmen lying on the floor. She checked the neck of one of the men for a pulse as Oracle had showed her. Both men were dead. She felt disconcerted.
::Talk to me, What's happening Huntress?::
"I don't know, those men shot something here inside and the box is empty::
::Empty?::
"Yes. I don't know what they were shooting." Helena jumped inside the box and looked around "There is nothing, just two flowerpots broken, dark earth and broken plants. But there is nothing else." She looked around and scratched her head. "Something scared them."
::And something killed them.:: Oracle added ::I guess I need give you a camera, I woulf like to see those bodies. Describe them to me::
Helena kneeled, it was the first time she had been next to a body "This is disgusting." She said. "One of them has red marks around his neck and his tongue out. The skin is almost blue."
::The cause of death Would be Asphyxia. Yes, I need to give you a camera. Helena the police are near the building, get out of there.::
"Police? Where?" Helena looked around.
::Just go out of there, trust me.::
* * * * * *
Things seemed back to normal after that night. But Helena still felt Barbara was resentful towards her. Before a sweep one night, she went to the greenhose where she had helped the woman during a robbery. She knocked on the door and walked in. Knowing that Barbara loved flowers, she thought it would be a good idea to give her some. That place was big and had a great variety of plants, she looked around.
"Hey you came back" she heard a voice in her back and she turned. Pamela was there.
"Yeah, I'm back" Huntress smiled nervouos. "Good evening."
"Good evening, I was just about to close, it's late. May I help you?"
"Oh, yeah, yeah, I'm looking for some flowers."
"It will be a pleasure to return the favor." Pamela examined her carefully.
"Well. I made a terrible mistake and."
"I understand, you want some one forgive you, your mother?"
"No, no, my mom died a couple of years ago." Helena stuttered.
"I'm sorry." Pamela fake a sad face.
"It's okay, she is almost like a mother, she's a friend."
"Flowers are a great gift. What kind of flowers?"
"Well, she loves flowers, every kind of flowers."
"Some one special?"
Helena looked around, a few meters from her, the ones that she knew her mentor would like. She pointed to them. "Those ones, she loves that ones."
Pamela walked to the end of the green house and took them, "I can do a nice arrangement with them." She took some of them and went to a table to make the arrangement. "Since when are you a crime fighter dear?"
"A while."
"What do I call you? I told you that you can call me Pamela."
"Huntress."
"Huntress, well, well, it's an original name." Pamela began to prepare an arrangement. "You are very good."
"Thanks." Huntress looked around curious about the plants.
"I imagine that you are meta."
"Did you know about metas?"
"I have many friends that are meta," Pamela said cutting some parts of the flower. "In this business I meet so many interesting people. You remind me a feline friend."
"Well, that would be an interesting coincidence." Huntress raised her elbows.
"Your abilities are the most incredible I have ever seen."
"Some people have great powers. I'm just fast and hit hard."
"But I saw you fighting very well in the dark room." Pamela said.
"A little advantage, I can see at night." Huntress smelled some flowers next her.
".Like a cat." Pamela was trying to confirm her suspects, the kid had her body and atittudes.
"Looks very nice" Huntress said changing the conversation "What are these?"
"Are a Bletias purpureas."
"Bleta what?"
"Orchideas."
"Ah. " Huntress raised her brows, she wasn't good with botany
"How is your business? No problems with bad guys?"
"No, you scared them; you fight very well. The friend that I knew was a cat, she called her self Catwoman." Pamela looked her eyes on her waiting her reaction as she gave her the flower arrangement.
Helena moved her jaw and cooked her head "Well, it would be interesting meet her."
"Yes. would be."
They looked in silence a few seconds.
"I need go." Huntress said "How much is it?"
"Nothing, it's a pleasure, you helped me last night. Take it as a thank you present."
"Thanks."
"This weekend my precious and rare plant arrives, maybe you would want see it. It's very expensive and unique."
"Okay, yeah, maybe I could come back to see it."
"I'll be waiting for you."
"Okay, thanks." Huntress smiled and walked out the greenhouse.
Pamela smirked; now she was sure; that smile, that way she moved. She couldn't be wrong.
* * * * * *
Huntress walked out happy with the flowers in her hands. It was a very nice arrangement. She looked at it carefully and turned on her com to listen to her mentor's voice.
::Helena where are you?::
"I'm here, near New Gotham park. What happened?"
::Problems, a robbery at the big liquor store::
"On my way" Huntress jumped to the next building taking care to not break the flowers. She swept between the buildings and stood up in front of the street where the robbery was. She put the plant on the cornice of the rooftop and jumped down.
She fell in behind both of the men and kneeled. Smiling she said, "Hi guys."
She finished with the three guys in less than three minutes and jumped back up the building. She picked up the flower and fixed the ribbon. "It's done Oracle" she said distractely. She hoped Barbara would like the gift.
::Well now we have more problems, in a supermarket five blocks from where you are now::
"Okay" Huntress took her gift and ran between the buildings.
::They are trying to escape Huntress, go to the alley that is to your left:: She heard Barbara's voice over her mic. She obeyed and jumped down into the next alley. She put the flower on a wood box for the moment as two guys ran towards her. She put her hands on her waist. "Time to have a little fun."
"Out of my way!" one of the gusys shouted but Huntress stopped him with a blow on his nose.
She jumped and kicked the other man. Immediately the man that she had hit in the nose charged against her. Huntress ducked twice and kicked him in his knees. The man fell down.
"That hurt." She smiled.
"Bitch." The man said as he stood up immediately. Huntress bent down and the man crossed over to her and smashed the wood box where the flower was. It moved and fell to the floor. She almost flew to catch it before crashed against the floor. She sighed with relief and stood up with it in her hands. Her eyes changed and she bent down in time to avoid a punch aimed her face. She turned and kicked him making him fall unconscious..
::How is it going?:: Barbara asked.
"Very well, but they almost ruined my night." She said looking to see if the plant had any damage.
::Why?::
"I'll tell you later. I'm a little busy now." She put the flower on a trash container and turned to block the fists of the second man that tried to hit her again.
::Okay::
She punched and kicked the man in his stomach and in the face. He smashed against the wall unconscious too. Helena smiled and went to take her plant again.
"It's finished,call the police," she said.
::Okay, Alfred is asking me what do you want for dinner?::
"Pop tarts would be good."
::Done.::
* * *
After a long night of patrolling, Helena come back home. Barbara was sat in front of the Delphi. She saw Helena walk in with the flowers in her hands. The kid stood up in front of her and put the small arrangement on her desk.
"What is that?" Barbara asked.
"It's a Bletia purpurea" Helena said fixing the ribbon of the flower on the desk again. "An orchid."
"What?"
"The owner of the garden told me that. Is not an orchid?"
"Yes is an orchid. Very beautiful, did you buy it? It's strange, I didn't know that you liked flowers."
"Hey, it's not for me. It's for you" Helena put her hands on her pockets.
"For me? Thank you very much. They are beautiful." Barbara picked it up with her hands. She kept silent for a moment and looked at Helena with suspicion. "Why?"
Helena wrung her hands nervously, "Well. I was thinking. that maybe. you could forgive me." She bit her low lip.
"Forgive you?" Barbara felt touched.
"I'm not perfect, I know that I create a lot of trouble for you. I hurt you and."
"Oh Helena, I'm not mad at you."
Helena lowered her head. "I thought you were still mad at me. "
Barbara gave her a big smile. Those details of the girls were nice, and moved her, especially since she knew that Helena didn't like to show her feelings. "I was mad with you. Sometimes you are difficult."
"I know, sorry for that."
"You must accept that I was angry with you for a very good reason. But it was many days ago, now I'm not mad at you."
"Well. You didn't tell me that you forgive me yet."
"Okay, I forgive you. Does that make you feel better?"
Helena smiled lightly and nodded. She turned her back and looked in her pockets. She took out some money and counted it. She turned again to see Barbara.
"May I invite you to dinner?"
"Dinner?" Barbara raised surprised one brow. "Alfred prepared pop tarts for you as you asked:"
"Well... He will understand, we almost never go out. Christmas is close, maybe we can have some fun... What do you think?"
"Well, I..."
"You never want to go out, come on." Helena said looking her feet. "You are always in oracle mode..."
"Oracle mode?" Brabara laughed.
"Well, when you are working at Delphi's is almost impossible talk with you."
Barbara knew that she was right, she didnt like to go out often and that maybe it would be a good idea. She smiled.
"Come on, I'm paying."
"You're paying?"
"Yes, I can pay for it today." Helena said bitting her lip. "I did some small jobs after classes in the High School cafeteria and I earned a bit of money."
"It's okay Miss Barbara, Miss Helena is right." Alfred interrupted them handing Barbara her coat and gloves. "You two never go out to have some fun. It would be good for you two and for me, I could go to bed early."
"Okay" Barbara said taking the coat and wheeling to the elevator. Helena couldn't contain the big smile as she followed her. Helena felt the heavyness lift from her heart when she realized that Barbara had truly forgiven her.
"You never told to me about the long and boring waiting times." Huntress wispered.
::This is the hero's life. The police had been looking for this guy. The person who called me told me that it's going down tonight.:: She heard Oracle's voice on the com set.
"Your stoolie is good?"
::Yes::
"So, they think they are gonna be lucky tonight. What are we looking for?"
::Some kind of drug that those men want to buy::
Huntress observed a truck stop and park outside the building. The front door opened. "Truck." she said seeing the truck moving inside the building.
::That must be it::
The man that drove the car went to the four men that were inside the building and began talking to him. They gave him a big suitcase *The money/* Huntress thought. Two of the men opened the back door of the truck and jumped inside.
"It's done, may I come in?" Huntress asked to Oracle.
::Yes, I'm calling the police at this moment::
Suddenly Huentress heard the shots coming from inside the truck. The men outside began to shoot inside the truck and the men with the suitcase shot them. Both fell to the floor bleeding. The man with the suitcase closed the back door of the truck and jumped in the front seat.
He was going to start the vehicle when his door opened. She saw a young lady that grabbed him by the lapel and yanked him out of the vehicle using her great strength. She beat him and he fell unconscious. She walked to the back part of the truck and opened the door with caution. She looked inside and saw two of the henchmen lying on the floor. She checked the neck of one of the men for a pulse as Oracle had showed her. Both men were dead. She felt disconcerted.
::Talk to me, What's happening Huntress?::
"I don't know, those men shot something here inside and the box is empty::
::Empty?::
"Yes. I don't know what they were shooting." Helena jumped inside the box and looked around "There is nothing, just two flowerpots broken, dark earth and broken plants. But there is nothing else." She looked around and scratched her head. "Something scared them."
::And something killed them.:: Oracle added ::I guess I need give you a camera, I woulf like to see those bodies. Describe them to me::
Helena kneeled, it was the first time she had been next to a body "This is disgusting." She said. "One of them has red marks around his neck and his tongue out. The skin is almost blue."
::The cause of death Would be Asphyxia. Yes, I need to give you a camera. Helena the police are near the building, get out of there.::
"Police? Where?" Helena looked around.
::Just go out of there, trust me.::
* * * * * *
Things seemed back to normal after that night. But Helena still felt Barbara was resentful towards her. Before a sweep one night, she went to the greenhose where she had helped the woman during a robbery. She knocked on the door and walked in. Knowing that Barbara loved flowers, she thought it would be a good idea to give her some. That place was big and had a great variety of plants, she looked around.
"Hey you came back" she heard a voice in her back and she turned. Pamela was there.
"Yeah, I'm back" Huntress smiled nervouos. "Good evening."
"Good evening, I was just about to close, it's late. May I help you?"
"Oh, yeah, yeah, I'm looking for some flowers."
"It will be a pleasure to return the favor." Pamela examined her carefully.
"Well. I made a terrible mistake and."
"I understand, you want some one forgive you, your mother?"
"No, no, my mom died a couple of years ago." Helena stuttered.
"I'm sorry." Pamela fake a sad face.
"It's okay, she is almost like a mother, she's a friend."
"Flowers are a great gift. What kind of flowers?"
"Well, she loves flowers, every kind of flowers."
"Some one special?"
Helena looked around, a few meters from her, the ones that she knew her mentor would like. She pointed to them. "Those ones, she loves that ones."
Pamela walked to the end of the green house and took them, "I can do a nice arrangement with them." She took some of them and went to a table to make the arrangement. "Since when are you a crime fighter dear?"
"A while."
"What do I call you? I told you that you can call me Pamela."
"Huntress."
"Huntress, well, well, it's an original name." Pamela began to prepare an arrangement. "You are very good."
"Thanks." Huntress looked around curious about the plants.
"I imagine that you are meta."
"Did you know about metas?"
"I have many friends that are meta," Pamela said cutting some parts of the flower. "In this business I meet so many interesting people. You remind me a feline friend."
"Well, that would be an interesting coincidence." Huntress raised her elbows.
"Your abilities are the most incredible I have ever seen."
"Some people have great powers. I'm just fast and hit hard."
"But I saw you fighting very well in the dark room." Pamela said.
"A little advantage, I can see at night." Huntress smelled some flowers next her.
".Like a cat." Pamela was trying to confirm her suspects, the kid had her body and atittudes.
"Looks very nice" Huntress said changing the conversation "What are these?"
"Are a Bletias purpureas."
"Bleta what?"
"Orchideas."
"Ah. " Huntress raised her brows, she wasn't good with botany
"How is your business? No problems with bad guys?"
"No, you scared them; you fight very well. The friend that I knew was a cat, she called her self Catwoman." Pamela looked her eyes on her waiting her reaction as she gave her the flower arrangement.
Helena moved her jaw and cooked her head "Well, it would be interesting meet her."
"Yes. would be."
They looked in silence a few seconds.
"I need go." Huntress said "How much is it?"
"Nothing, it's a pleasure, you helped me last night. Take it as a thank you present."
"Thanks."
"This weekend my precious and rare plant arrives, maybe you would want see it. It's very expensive and unique."
"Okay, yeah, maybe I could come back to see it."
"I'll be waiting for you."
"Okay, thanks." Huntress smiled and walked out the greenhouse.
Pamela smirked; now she was sure; that smile, that way she moved. She couldn't be wrong.
* * * * * *
Huntress walked out happy with the flowers in her hands. It was a very nice arrangement. She looked at it carefully and turned on her com to listen to her mentor's voice.
::Helena where are you?::
"I'm here, near New Gotham park. What happened?"
::Problems, a robbery at the big liquor store::
"On my way" Huntress jumped to the next building taking care to not break the flowers. She swept between the buildings and stood up in front of the street where the robbery was. She put the plant on the cornice of the rooftop and jumped down.
She fell in behind both of the men and kneeled. Smiling she said, "Hi guys."
She finished with the three guys in less than three minutes and jumped back up the building. She picked up the flower and fixed the ribbon. "It's done Oracle" she said distractely. She hoped Barbara would like the gift.
::Well now we have more problems, in a supermarket five blocks from where you are now::
"Okay" Huntress took her gift and ran between the buildings.
::They are trying to escape Huntress, go to the alley that is to your left:: She heard Barbara's voice over her mic. She obeyed and jumped down into the next alley. She put the flower on a wood box for the moment as two guys ran towards her. She put her hands on her waist. "Time to have a little fun."
"Out of my way!" one of the gusys shouted but Huntress stopped him with a blow on his nose.
She jumped and kicked the other man. Immediately the man that she had hit in the nose charged against her. Huntress ducked twice and kicked him in his knees. The man fell down.
"That hurt." She smiled.
"Bitch." The man said as he stood up immediately. Huntress bent down and the man crossed over to her and smashed the wood box where the flower was. It moved and fell to the floor. She almost flew to catch it before crashed against the floor. She sighed with relief and stood up with it in her hands. Her eyes changed and she bent down in time to avoid a punch aimed her face. She turned and kicked him making him fall unconscious..
::How is it going?:: Barbara asked.
"Very well, but they almost ruined my night." She said looking to see if the plant had any damage.
::Why?::
"I'll tell you later. I'm a little busy now." She put the flower on a trash container and turned to block the fists of the second man that tried to hit her again.
::Okay::
She punched and kicked the man in his stomach and in the face. He smashed against the wall unconscious too. Helena smiled and went to take her plant again.
"It's finished,call the police," she said.
::Okay, Alfred is asking me what do you want for dinner?::
"Pop tarts would be good."
::Done.::
* * *
After a long night of patrolling, Helena come back home. Barbara was sat in front of the Delphi. She saw Helena walk in with the flowers in her hands. The kid stood up in front of her and put the small arrangement on her desk.
"What is that?" Barbara asked.
"It's a Bletia purpurea" Helena said fixing the ribbon of the flower on the desk again. "An orchid."
"What?"
"The owner of the garden told me that. Is not an orchid?"
"Yes is an orchid. Very beautiful, did you buy it? It's strange, I didn't know that you liked flowers."
"Hey, it's not for me. It's for you" Helena put her hands on her pockets.
"For me? Thank you very much. They are beautiful." Barbara picked it up with her hands. She kept silent for a moment and looked at Helena with suspicion. "Why?"
Helena wrung her hands nervously, "Well. I was thinking. that maybe. you could forgive me." She bit her low lip.
"Forgive you?" Barbara felt touched.
"I'm not perfect, I know that I create a lot of trouble for you. I hurt you and."
"Oh Helena, I'm not mad at you."
Helena lowered her head. "I thought you were still mad at me. "
Barbara gave her a big smile. Those details of the girls were nice, and moved her, especially since she knew that Helena didn't like to show her feelings. "I was mad with you. Sometimes you are difficult."
"I know, sorry for that."
"You must accept that I was angry with you for a very good reason. But it was many days ago, now I'm not mad at you."
"Well. You didn't tell me that you forgive me yet."
"Okay, I forgive you. Does that make you feel better?"
Helena smiled lightly and nodded. She turned her back and looked in her pockets. She took out some money and counted it. She turned again to see Barbara.
"May I invite you to dinner?"
"Dinner?" Barbara raised surprised one brow. "Alfred prepared pop tarts for you as you asked:"
"Well... He will understand, we almost never go out. Christmas is close, maybe we can have some fun... What do you think?"
"Well, I..."
"You never want to go out, come on." Helena said looking her feet. "You are always in oracle mode..."
"Oracle mode?" Brabara laughed.
"Well, when you are working at Delphi's is almost impossible talk with you."
Barbara knew that she was right, she didnt like to go out often and that maybe it would be a good idea. She smiled.
"Come on, I'm paying."
"You're paying?"
"Yes, I can pay for it today." Helena said bitting her lip. "I did some small jobs after classes in the High School cafeteria and I earned a bit of money."
"It's okay Miss Barbara, Miss Helena is right." Alfred interrupted them handing Barbara her coat and gloves. "You two never go out to have some fun. It would be good for you two and for me, I could go to bed early."
"Okay" Barbara said taking the coat and wheeling to the elevator. Helena couldn't contain the big smile as she followed her. Helena felt the heavyness lift from her heart when she realized that Barbara had truly forgiven her.