Hey sorry for no updates but this chapter I think is long so it evens out. In this chapter A LOT of stuff happens, but I don't think any of it requires a warning, although I did just give oneâ€kind of.

The Family Business
Chapter 7
I Breckin It's Gonna Rain

Two weeks had passed since the duo's first watch. Everything had gone by as casually as expected, Ira's stitches were removed at ten days so now she only bared a scar, which neither of her parents knew about.

They sat on an old gothic style church in downtown Gotham, blending in amongst the gruesome gargoyles which stood along the edge staring protectively over the city, like a certain bat-type superhero used to.

Ira's green eyes scanned the horizon though her thoughts were on a different matter, how can he act like nothing happened? She contemplated to herself, and then saw the incident two weeks ago at a different perspective, maybe he didn't mean anything by it, and I'm just taking it that wrong way and that's why he hasn't mentioned anything.

"Hey," Ethanial broke the her train of thought, "Remember that favor you owe me?"

"Huh? What favor?" Ethanial could've sworn he saw the daydream cloud pop above Ira's head.

"The favor from when I stitched you up, spent the night, cleaned your house, and then didn't tell anyone about the whole thing. That favor?" He reminded.

"Oh, that one," she rolled her eyes.

"Yeah, well tonight is the twentieth annual midnight summer's dream ball. I have to go with my family, but I'm supposed to have a date, and I did until she cancelled. So I'm kinda stuck."

"You want me to go?" she asked surprised.

"Well only if you want to, I mean it'll be a big help to me," he shrugged it off.

"Sure I'll go, the only problem is who's going to watch over the city tonight?" she questioned.

"Dad said he'd get some old friend to help him out, a Barbara something or other, I don't know I didn't pay that much attention," he replied honestly.

"Oh, then what time should I make it over to your place?" she asked.

"Oh I'll pick you up, say quarter to eleven?"

"Okay, I promise I'll be ready this time," she guaranteed.

He smiled and turned his head back out to the city, scanning it the best his eyes could, he didn't see any disturbances.

A loud sound caught his attention, but it came from above him. Thunder rolled off the dark, gloomy clouds. Speckles of rain fell randomly at first, but then became more common until it formed a thick sheet of water covering all.

Ethanial let out a laugh and looked at his partner who was less then amused. She sat irritated, her cape and wings soaked and dripping with access water. Her hood was doing little to keep her dry. She sighed angrily and took it off, placing it on the edge beside her. Ethanial did the same with his mask.

There was no use in wearing a soak and wet costume when it was ten minutes until your duty was over.

Thunder cracked and lightening flashed across the sky now and then. Water rolled down his face and dripped off of the broad chin he had inherited from his father. He moved a hand up to wipe his face, but it didn't matter the rain wouldn't stop anytime soon.

He chuckled again when he saw Ira, totally soaked, but in better spirits then before.

"So you realized there was nothing you could do?" He asked loudly over the hard falling rain and haphazard thunder.

She nodded, "At least your hair's not going all crazy like."

He smiled, her hair basically absorbed the water like the soil covering a potted plants roots. He imagined her wings were heavy as well as her feathers did the same thing.

"Well, at least you look good wet," he said optimistically.

"Excuse me?" she asked astonished.

"Remember from the shower, in your apartment?"

"Oh that one," she said sarcastically.

"Hey, déjà vu."

The wind began to pick up, blowing the rain around with full force. Ira raised her hands to block her face. Instead of a refreshing summer rainfall, it now felt more like they were drowning in the cold depths of the Pacific.

"Don't think I'm enjoying this anymore," Ira enlightened. Ethanial grabbed her hand and lead her into a dome found architecturally between each gargoyle.

The space was cramped and rather shallow, but it was a shelter out of the storm. There was just enough room for each of them to sit with their legs out, backs against the concrete.

"When do you think it'll let up?" she asked, her arms around her shoulders trying to keep warm.

"With the weather these days, who can really say? A minute, an hour, forty days or forty nights," he chuckled at his last response.

She rolled her eyes and looked at her wet cape, "A lot of help this was," she sighed throwing it against the side of the wall, it replied back with a 'sploosh' sound.

"How can you not be cold?"

"I used the same material my dad used, it's insolated for occasions such as this," he explained.

"Uh huh," she looked up at him, her teeth chattering like the wind up toys.

"Aww, come here," he told her, sliding his arm around her waist, slightly pulling her closer.

She leaned her head against his shoulder and frowned. He took notice, "What the matter?"

"I just keep screwing up, I mean how are we supposed to be good heroes if I'm always around fumbling everything up?" she asked.

"Oh you're not messing things up," he comforted her, "You're just learning, and besides we all make mistakes."

"Yeah, some more then others," she agreed closing her eyes and moving in closer.

Ethanial smiled, leaning his head a top hers. Her hair was still soaked and dripping, and on his cheek he could feel the top of her forehead, freezing of course. He smiled.

('.')

"Now I see why you wanted me to come," Ira said quietly through clenched teeth as she smiled at people, waving.

"Oh it's not that boring," he argued.

"Please Ethanial, I know like four other people here, and they are your family."

"You need to get out more then," he smiled, "Oh great," his eyes got and angry look to them, but it quickly vanished when the person who made him feel this way approached him.

"Ethanial, so nice to see you around. You've been making yourself pretty scarce, eh Buddy?" A man about Ethanial's age asked as he elbowed him playfully.

"Ha ha, yeah," he groaned obviously faking interest.

"Ah you haven't changed a bit since university buddy," the man laughed, then took notice of Ira, "And who is this vixen?" he asked clearly interested.

Ira raised an eyebrow questioningly.

"Oh this is my friend Ira," he explained, "Ira this is my friend from high school and university, Breckin."

She stuck out her hand to shake his, but he grabbed it and kissed it, "En Chanter," he said quietly raising an eyebrow.

She looked at Ethanial and mouthed the words 'you've got to be kidding'.

"Well it's been fun Breckin, but we have to meet up with my parents. We'll see you later," He cut in grabbing Ira's hand.

"I'll definitely see you later," he said winking and pointing Ira's way.

When they were a safe enough distance away she graciously said, "Thank you."

"No problem, I don't blame you, that guys a rube. He was in high school, but now he's a dangerous rube. He's the leader of the underground mafia in Gotham."

"If you know this then why don't you arrest him or something," she asked adjusting her dress straps.

"There is no evidence because he's either destroyed it all, or threatened to destroy anyone who knows anything," Ethanial explained, "Uh oh he's coming back, come on," he grabbed Ira's hand, leading her into the middle of the dance floor.

"Ethan," she quietly mumbled, "I can't dance."

"It's okay, just follow me," he said slowly dancing, "Anyways, Breckin has

Always wanted what I've had, therefore he became a mafia boss to get all the money. And it would probably explain his interest in you."

"But you said I was just your friend," she reminded.

"Well maybe he wants you as his friend, but judging by the way he's bulldozing through the crowd I'd say he wants something more," Ethanial enlightened.

"Man, I wish he'd leave. I don't know him but I can tell I don't like him," she said leaning in closer to Ethanial.

"So you'd do almost anything to get free of him?" he asked deviously.

"I guess yeah. Why?"

"Nothing. By the way I'm sorry," he apologized.

"For what?" she asked.

"For this," he explained as Breckin moved closer. Ethanial pulled Ira closer, sliding his hand from the small of her back downwards. He put his face in the crook of her neck, and kissed it gently.

"What are you doing?" she whispered harshly.

"Shut up and play along," he whispered back still kissing her neck lightly.

"Play along?!" she whispered louder through clenched teeth.

"Just giggle."

She complied and giggled, trying to shroud her nervousness, "Ethan, we shouldn't be doing this here," that was spoken with truth behind omnipresent mindless giggles.

"Well then," he said elaborately spinning her, then bringing her back in close, "Maybe we should get out of here," he motioned towards the door, then quietly whispered, "He's coming back."

Ira looked around nervously. If they left now, they would surely spark his interest so she did the first thing that popped into her mind.

She placed one of her gloved hands on his cheek then pulled his face towards hers. Kissing him passionately she moved her hands to around his neck, and he moved his to rest on her hips.

Bruce and Diana entered the room followed by Tomothy who was waving to a fleet of guests; apparently he seemed to know everyone.

"Well we just have to find Ethanial and Ira now," Diana told Bruce, who was fixated on something, "Bruce?"

"I think we found them," he said lamely pointing to the dance floor where the 'scene' was taking place.

"Ethanial," Bruce murmured angrily, "you idiot."

"Hey Mom can I go get some" Tomothy's voice fell short when he saw what his parents were fixated on, "Now, I'm no doctor yet, but I can tell you that is totally unhealthy."

"They're not blood cousins," Bruce sighed.

"Still Bruce, making out in the middle of the dance floor a public event is not the best thing to do to be unnoticed. He's disgracing the family! Do something!" Diana practically hollered.

"What's he supposed to do mom? Turn the hose on them?" Tomothy asked laughing.

"Not now Tomothy, go do something, Diana go sit down, I'll handle this," he sighed angrily.

Ira opened her eyes and broke the kiss, looking into Ethanial's eyes, "At least I think we got rid of him," she illuminated, smiling sweetly.

"Well it was the most enjoyable of all the plans," he told her, now continuing to dance with her, "By the way if you need to do that again, please feel free. I'm here for your using and abusing."

She laughed, as he spun her. She felt his hand move down once again, realizing that Breckin was gone, she cocked an eyebrow. Ethanial smiled cunningly and returned the raised eyebrow.

Then suddenly the smile was wiped clear from his face, as the color drained. He stopped dancing but held Ira still, both of them looking terrified in the direction of the party pooper.

Bruce looked unamused at Ethanial's hand on Ira's backside. Ethanial instantaneously removed his hands off Ira's body and fixed his tuxedo jacket. Ira squirmed uneasily at Bruce's hardcore glares.

He said all but four words and instantly the duo knew they were in for it.

"You two, outside, NOW!"

('.')

"What did you two think you were doing back there? What were you trying to prove? Not only did you embarrass yourselves beyond recognition, but you also embarrassed the family in the process! Well do you have anything to say? Any explanation? Or do we all agree that you to are idiots!" Bruce was screaming at Ira and Ethanial outside the gala. He waited, red-faced fuming for an answer.

"Dad we were just trying to get close to Breckin," Ethanial tried to explain.

"Oh really, and you figured sucking Ira's face was the best way to do that?" his question dripped with sarcasm.

"Actually, That was my idea," Ira piped up, not taking her eyes off the ground.

"Of course it was, Ethanial's idea would've been stupider, probably involving a stripper pole, or some idiotic item," Bruce was still screaming.

"Dad, we're sorry"

"You're damn right you're sorry. You acted so irresponsible tonight, if you ever pull a stunt like that in public- No even remotely near public again you can forget about funding for your late night stake outs," he shouted at the twenty-two year olds. Then turned to return to the party, but not before adding, "Go home, you're both done here."

He closed the doors to the balcony. Ira looked up at Ethanial guilt written all over her face. She smiled weakly, "I'm really sorry Ethanial. And I think it's a bit late for apologies."

"Don't worry about it, he only yelled at us, because my mom probably yelled at him to. He'll be fine in the morning," Ethanial explained taking a seat on the solid concrete bench placed on the veranda.

"You think?" she took a seat beside him.

"Yeah, and if he's not, and he disowns me, it was totally worth it," he smiled.

She smiled and he placed his hand atop of hers, "risking loosing public funding?" she asked laughing.

"Well if I wanted to do that, I'd do this," he explained placing a large hand on her cheek, bringing her in closer. She closed her eyes expecting a passionate kiss, but that never happened because at the moment when their mouths would interact, the ballroom exploded.

Well there you have it, Oh No a cliffhanger!!! The horror, lol actually I already have the next chapter written.

To answer some questions, Diana's character wasn't supposed to be that of a rich stuck up lady (I switched a very bad word for lady). Her character does change drastically. In the later chapters although she still retains her Princess high horse.

Ira name origin is explained in the first story of the series, 'Reflecting on a Mess'.

Thanks for the reviews and the questions (hey it shows you're interested). Next chapter coming soon.