"That was quick." I muttered under my breath. I was looking down at my phone at the latest news article. It looks like the press finally released information on mine and Bruce's date from the night prior.
The rumor mill was already running at full speed. The comments on the post from the public weren't much better. Some of them made me do a double read for how absurd the rumors really were. One of the commenters dug way too deep on what Bruce had said about being wrapped around my finger. The commenter took that as proof that I was pregnant with the Wayne heir. Won't that person be disappointed when nothing about my figure changes to indicate that.
I lightly spun myself around in my office chair at the warehouse. I kept scrolling through the comments. Only reading the ones that caught my eye. A text suddenly popped up on the top of my screen.
'Have you seen it yet?'
I stopped scrolling seeing it was Bruce that had texted me. I felt relief wash over me. This was the first time he's contacted me since he stormed out in the early morning hours. It was already almost the next day. I tapped on the message and typed out a reply.
'Yeah. I'm reading through the comments right now. Rumor mill is already spreading like wildfire.'
I bit my lip in anticipation as I could see he was currently typing out a response.
'No surprise there. Don't read too much into what those people are saying.'
I let out a laugh and sent a quick reply.
'Some are so outlandish they're entertaining. Have you read any of them?'
'A few… What are you doing right now?'
I furrowed my brows and typed in a quick response.
'Nothing.'
His next response made my breath catch in my throat.
'Can you come over?'
He must want to talk now. My rapid heart beat sped up even more. I felt nerves rack my body. This would be the moment of truth.
'Yeah. Heading over now.'
I closed out my phone and grabbed the keys and helmet to the bike. I walked out of the warehouse and placed the helmet over my head. I threw a leg over the bike and started the engine.
I kicked back the kickstand and took one last large breath. This was more nerve wracking than any other situation I've faced the past five years.
I released on the throttle and the engine roared as I took off down the docks. I needed to talk to Bruce regardless and needed to work with him. I had to tell him about the auction tomorrow night.
I drove the bike up to the gravel driveway of the lakefront penthouse. I stuck out the kickstand and turned the engine off. I could see Bruce walking out from the penthouse. The engine on this was loud so I wouldn't doubt that he heard it.
I unclipped the chin strap and slipped the helmet off my head. I ran my hand through my short blonde hair in an attempt to rid it of the helmet hair look.
Bruce said nothing as I got off the bike and placed my helmet on top of the seat. He kept his hands in his pockets and his face remained neutral. I hated that since it meant I couldn't read him.
I walked over to him slowly, "So…" I trailed off and pressed my lips tightly together. This was awkward.
Bruce's neutral face finally broke when a small amused smile replaced it. He took one hand out of his pocket and gestured over to the lake.
"Do you want to take a walk around the lake?" That sounded like a good sign.
I gave a small smile and nodded, "Yeah. A walk sounds great." I walked towards Bruce now with more confidence. Bruce began to walk next to me. Making sure he wasn't taking too big of strides so as not to get ahead.
"I never got to congratulate you on making that fiber today. Detective Martin again?" Bruce asked.
"Thank you and yeah. I need to talk to you about that actually. Him and Gordon found the mole. Turns out Penguin used the mole's kid's life as a way to get what he wanted. Ten thousand dollars to pay for a life saving surgery and in return the cop would play double agent." I looked up at Bruce and I could see his jaw muscles tense. It pissed him off just as much as it did to me.
"I did some digging of my own last night. I got the location of Penguin's main hangout. He works out of a nightclub in The Narrows." I looked at him in surprise.
"How'd you get that info?" I asked curiously.
"I paid a visit to Cyclone." I halted in my tracks and stared at Bruce in disbelief.
"You did what?" I was not comfortable with the idea of Bruce being alone with Ryan.
Bruce stopped and looked behind him at me, "He's still in the decompression chamber. Gotham PD are keeping him there on the ship until they can safely transfer the chamber. We only talked or rather played his little game." Bruce said spitefully.
"Ryan enjoys toying with people. He gets a sadistic thrill out of it." I said in disgust and continued walking.
"I noticed. He seems obsessed with you. He wouldn't stop bringing you up in conversation. I know you two have history but exactly how deep does that go?" Bruce asked curiously.
I gave a deep sigh, "We worked together for a scientific institute that studied weather patterns. One day, we got tasked to go to New Mexico. The same day Thor showed up and I got struck by his lightning. Ryan was there when I got hit. He's the one that called the ambulance. He called our boss at the time and told him what happened. Our boss was more interested in recording data for the storm than my well being. So he had Ryan go back out there while I got transported to the hospital. Apparently, a tornado had formed and Ryan got sucked in." Bruce stopped and looked at me with a raised brow.
"Isn't that an old myth? A human being obtaining superpowers from getting sucked into a tornado?" I chuckled and nodded.
"It is and it happened. Just like the lightning bolt that hit me, the tornado was formed by magic. It wasn't natural. I was still in my coma when Fury found Ryan. He tried to recruit him into the Meta-Human program like me but Ryan refused. Fury said he didn't know why until a year later." A look of remorse formed on my face.
"Ryan had learned to control his powers enough and he went to our old company." I looked over at Bruce, "He killed anyone working that day as revenge for what happened to him. He blamed the company sending him back into the storm. Then he went searching for me."
"He said he blames you but it sounds more like the company was at fault. Your former boss didn't care that you were struck by lightning, Mel. That tells me exactly what kind of person he was." I shook my head.
"I'm the reason why we went out into the storm in the first place, Bruce. I wanted to get a closer look at it. If I hadn't done that then none of this would have happened. I wouldn't have become Voltess and Ryan wouldn't have become Cyclone. All of those people would be alive today. He's right. I am to blame." Bruce narrowed his eyes and held a stern look.
"Mel," I averted his gaze, "Look at me." I inwardly flinched at the harsh tone of voice he used.
I looked back to him, "None of that is your fault. You were just doing your job. What Cyclone has done is nobody else's fault but his own. He's the one that chose to harm while you chose to help. From what you've told me about your world…if you never became Voltess there would have been a lot of good people that would have lost their lives." Bruce said gently.
"You were meant to become Voltess. Nobody else could have filled that role. Don't beat yourself up so hard, Mel. You said it yourself, Cyclone enjoys toying with people. It seems like you happen to be his favorite." I gave a slight nod.
"I know I am and he's good at getting under my skin. He knows exactly what to say because he knows me too well." Bruce tilted his head slightly.
"What do you mean?" I grimaced thinking back.
"We had tried dating months before the storm. It didn't work out and it was a mutual agreement to break things off. We decided to stay friends." Bruce got a dark look in his eyes.
"It doesn't seem very mutual to me." I frowned at that.
"What makes you say that?" I asked.
"The way he talked about your relationship with Tony and how he believed there was something more going on. Him trying to get you to his side and he got very interested in Batman's relationship with Voltess. Mel, he still has some feelings for you. They're twisted emotions now but they've made him obsessed with you." My face scrunched up in disgust.
"I'll say they're twisted. He's threatened to kill me…multiple times. Can we change subjects now? Talking about Ryan for too long makes me sick." I pleaded with Bruce. My stomach was tying into knots at this point.
Bruce gave me a sympathetic look, "I'm sorry. I didn't realize he was a sore subject."
"It's okay. I do need to tell you more about what Martin said to me. It's about the ruby statue. The last one." Bruce perked at hearing this.
"Where is it?"
"It's being sold at a private auction held for Gotham's elite tomorrow night. The mole got word that Penguin himself will be attending the auction. Martin and his men can't make a move without alerting Penguin but I know somebody who can. You, Bruce. Nobody would question it if you went to a high price auction." Bruce gave a prideful smirk.
"It looks like we'll be going to an auction tomorrow." I was taken aback at the "we" that he mentioned.
"We?" The nervousness was back again. Did this mean..?
Bruce raised a brow, "Yes, why wouldn't it be?" He sounded confused.
"Because of what happened yesterday, you were so upset that you left for hours. You didn't contact me let alone see me. I thought you were hurt and angry. Angry enough t-" My rant was interrupted by Bruce placing his hands on my shoulders.
"To what? To end this? Us?" I gave a brief nod and Bruce hung his head with a sigh.
"It was not my intention to make you think that, Mel. I just needed to clear my head. It was a lot to take in all at once. I was hurt at first that I found out from Cyclone and not yourself…but I realized that it was out of your control. I'm not angry with you…I never was." I gave a large sigh of relief. I could feel a weight being lifted off my shoulders.
Bruce pulled me to him and held me in a tight hug. I wrapped my arms around his midsection and hugged him just as tight.
"So, if you weren't angry with me then why didn't you try to get a hold of me?" I asked with the side of my face still pressed against his chest.
I could hear and feel Bruce chuckle, "I tried. Alfred told me you left early for work this morning. I tried calling you but it kept going straight to voicemail." That's right, I put my phone on 'do not disturb' when going to the lab. My bad.
"I thought that was your way of telling me you wanted to be left alone. I slept at my usual time. The board meeting was the first time I saw you. I wanted to talk after the meeting but then you got pulled away by Martin calling you." I heard a slight edge to his voice when he said the detective's name.
I paused and broke from the hug. His arms now only loosely around my waist. I looked up at him, "Are you jealous?" Bruce went rigid. A smirk grew on my face. Now he knows how I felt with Miss America.
"Huh, you were right. When it's not me, I kind of like it." My smirk grew seeing the narrowed eyed look Bruce was giving me.
"You know the lake is right behind us. I could easily throw you in." Bruce warned. A playful smirk adorned his face now.
"I'd like to see you try." I taunted back with my own playful smirk.
In one fluid motion I ducked down as Bruce went for a grab and my leg swept his feet from under him. Bruce fell to the grass beneath us with a thud.
"That was cheap." Bruce commented. He began to get up and I kept my distance with a smirk on my face.
"Sometimes the cheap hits are what keep you alive. Or in this case, not getting thrown into the lake. I don't feel like getting shorted out today." Bruce chuckled with a grin on his face.
"I'll remember that for next time." I didn't like that mischievous look in his eyes.
"Next time?" I asked wearily. Bruce took a step forward and my guard went up immediately.
I recognized the body language of someone getting ready to pounce. That was the first thing Nat taught me. Always anticipate your opponent's moves.
I quickly blocked the grab that Bruce had gone for. The two of us paused and looked each other in the eyes. The corner of my mouth turned up to a small grin. It's been a while since I've sparred with anyone. From the look on Bruce's face, I could tell he was thinking the same thing.
I raised my other fist up for a blow but it was pushed aside by Bruce's free arm. We traded blocks back and forth. Neither one of us actually landed a hit on the other.
I went for another hit but Bruce grabbed my wrist. In one quick motion he pinned my arm behind my back and pulled me towards him. His other hand was quick to grab my other wrist.
The two of us stopped and made no other intention of moving. Both of us panting slightly from the workout. Bruce said nothing as he smiled and leaned down.
I tilted my head up and closed my eyes as I met him for the kiss. I felt him let go of both my wrists. He wrapped one arm around my waist and I felt his other hand at the base of my neck. I simultaneously wrapped my arms around his neck after freeing them.
We both pulled away from the deep kiss but now rested our foreheads together.
"I love you." My eyes shot open hearing Bruce. I backed my head up in complete shock.
"What?" I whispered. Bruce gave a loving smile and moved the hand that was on my neck to cup my right cheek.
"I love you, Mel." I was completely floored right now. The ability to talk suddenly vanished. I would open my mouth but no words came out.
Do I say it back, yet? I'd be stupid to deny that I was falling for this man, but I wasn't sure if what I was feeling was love.
"You don't have to say it back if you're not ready." His voice broke me out of my thoughts. I gave a slight nod.
Bruce planted a kiss on my forehead, "Let's go inside. It's starting to get dark." I let Bruce lead me to the penthouse.
I was still completely caught unawares. My brain was trying to register what just happened. Bruce Wayne just told me he loves me.
"You can set it right over there, gentlemen." I instructed the delivery men. I pointed to a spot by the wall not too far from the center console.
The two men rolled the large machine in with two furniture dollies below it. I had sent the list of what I needed yesterday to Mr. Fox. One of them being a 3D printer and a top of the line one at that. I just needed to modify it myself so it could craft the fiber into what I wanted.
The men unloaded the printer and grabbed their dollies. I nodded thanks to them as they walked past me. I let the door close behind me and walked over to the 3D printer.
I started to roll up my blouse sleeves, "Athena." I called out.
"Yes Mel?" The AI answered as I grabbed the tool kit off my desk.
"I'm feeling sentimental. Play Tony's playlist." I smiled hearing Black Sabbath's Paranoid begin to play over the speakers. Might as well play his playlist if I'm eventually crafting a new suit from this thing.
I rolled over the creeper's seat over to the 3D printer. The control box was located to the back of the machine. I'd have to be laying down to reach it so it might make it easier.
I laid down on the creeper seat and pushed back with my feet. I grabbed some tools from the tool kit. Time to get to work.
I had wires coming out of the 3D printer while I worked on adding whatever parts I needed. I had helped build a similar model for Tony to have on the private jet. The amount of times my suit got ruined and I had to make another happened way too often. That's a thing of the past now with the vibranium suit. I had an idea on how to improve the Batman suit but it would take a while.
I suddenly felt something tap the bottom of my shoe. I jumped and banged the back of my head on the 3D printer.
"Ahh." I seethed through my teeth and held the back of my head.
"I'm so sorry. I thought you heard me. Are you okay?" I heard Bruce's voice.
I pulled myself out of the 3D printer while still holding the spot I hit. I turned my head to look at Bruce.
"What the hell? Why didn't you say anything? Don't just go tapping at somebody's foot when they're working!" I scolded him.
Bruce put his hands up in defense, "You normally hear the door open. I thought you knew. I didn't mean to scare you. Are you okay?" He asked again.
I rubbed the back of my head before looking at my hand. The only thing adorning my palm was my scar. No blood.
"It's not bleeding, I'm fine. Why are you down here?" I asked. I rolled down and sat up on the creeper seat.
"Fox told me he hadn't seen you since this morning when you walked in. That told me that you were working on a project again." I raised a brow at him.
"That's it? You scare me and interrupt my work to see me?" I asked him.
"Well that is a reason." Bruce said with a smirk.
I gave him a look and laid back down and pushed the creeper seat back where it was.
"Bye Bruce." I said in a monotone voice.
I suddenly felt the creeper seat move back. I looked over at Bruce who had his foot on it. Really?
"I found the night club Penguins operates out of last night." I sat back up on the seat.
"You could have started with that." Bruce held his hand out for me to take.
"What? Me wanting to see you wasn't enough?" Bruce joked as I took his hand.
He helped me stand back up on my feet, "I see you all the time, Bruce." I corrected him. I let go of his hand and stepped over the creeper seat.
"Athena, pause music." The music playing in the background stopped.
Bruce shrugged, "Not all the time." He leaned his hip against the center console, "We have opposite schedules." I raised a brow at him.
"May I remind you whose idea it was for Voltess during the day and Batman at night?" I reminded him as I took a seat on a barstool by the console.
"I also mean the warehouse you stay at." I furrowed my brows. Where was he going with this?
"What about it?"
"I want you to be closer." He said cryptically.
"How close?" I probed him. Please tell me this wasn't going in the direction I thought it was.
Bruce sighed and looked me in the eyes, "I'm asking you to move into the penthouse with me, Mel." I abruptly stood up from my spot on the barstool. The force making the barstool almost tip over.
"No," Bruce opened his mouth but I quickly shushed him, "Stop. Let me talk." Bruce obliged and nodded his head.
"I remember you being the one saying we could take this slow. We've known each other for two close to three weeks tops. I'm fine with the dates, spending the night, kissing and all that. That's how most relationships start."
"I'm sensing a 'but' here." Bruce said with a look of concern on his face.
I let out a sigh, "Bruce you told me that you love me yesterday. I'm not going to lie. It freaked me out." I said honestly.
"I know and that's why I said you don't have to say it back until you are ready. I'm not going to force you to say it just because I have. I know what I feel for you is real. More than I have ever felt for anybody else." Bruce assured me. He walked around the corner of the console and stopped.
"And I'm grateful, I really am. It's just, I don't know how that feels. Any relationship I have had never got to the exchange of "I love you's". It's…scary, terrifying in fact. Now, you're asking me to move in with you." I shook my head, "I can't do that, Bruce. That's too fast."
A regretful expression formed on Bruce's face, "I'm sorry, Mel. I got a little overzealous." Bruce let out a sigh and walked towards me. He stopped right in front of me.
"It's just… I don't like the thought of being away from you for so long." He said honestly. He brought a hand up to cup my cheek. His thumb lightly stroked the soft skin.
I grabbed his hand off my cheek and placed my other hand to hold his in both of mine. "That's sweet Bruce, but you do realize just how independent I am…right?" Bruce leaned his head down as he smiled and chuckled. He looked back up at me with the smile still on his face.
"I'm aware and I know you are more than capable of defending yourself. It still doesn't mean I have to like it." I rolled my eyes. I stood on the balls of my feet to plant a kiss on his cheek before returning to the machine.
"Now are you going to tell me anything else about Penguin or can I get back to work. You do realize this is the machine that's going to craft your new suit?" Bruce tilted his head in interest.
He pointed at it with a finger, "A 3D printer is going to make the new one?" I nodded.
"You'll see what I mean once I finish modifying it. Bruce," His head turned to me, "Penguin?" He let out a huff.
"Penguin runs his mob and drug deals through a nightclub owned by a man named Oswald Cobblepot. He's one of Gotham's elites." Bruce stated.
"Any chance he'll be at tonight's auction?" Bruce shrugged.
"There's a high chance." Bruce mused.
"Have you done a background check on Oswald?" No answer from Bruce, "Then there's your homework for tonight then. Now if I could please get back to what I was doing." I said and pointed to the machine.
Bruce rolled his eyes, "Alright, I get it. I'm leaving. Come to the penthouse straight after you're done. I'm driving us." He walked by me and planted a kiss on my cheek.
"I love you." He whispered against my ear.
"I know." I whispered back. Bruce gave me a small smile and turned to walk out of the office.
Once he left, I let out a big sigh. I know he wants to hear it back but I'm still unsure. I'm lucky that Bruce is a very patient man. I don't think any other guy would be handling this like he is right now.
"His background check came back clean?" I asked as I flipped through the file on my lap.
"Considering he's one of the elites in Gotham he could easily pay off any judge. There's a chance he has gotten into legal trouble just off the books entirely." Bruce answered. He kept his hands on the steering wheel of the Lamborghini.
He was in a suit and bowtie and I had a navy blue dress with two wide straps going across my shoulders. I had Oswald's file in the passenger seat to look over.
"Penguin is running his mob and drug deals through Oswald's legal business. It's the perfect cover. It wouldn't surprise me if Oswald got a cut for any illegal activity happening at his nightclub." I said and stopped at a picture of Oswald.
The man was short. Only standing at 5'2" and he wasn't exactly in shape. He was much older. He looked to be in his early 50's. His dark hair was balding at the top and he had blue eyes with one eye holding a monocle. He had a cigar hanging in his mouth and his nose looked like it almost came to a point.
"I was thinking the same thing. Batman might have to visit Oswald after we're done here. I could get more answers out of him then." Bruce mentioned.
The car came to a stop at the red light and Bruce turned on the turn signal to take a left.
"I don't remember you telling me what exactly the plan is supposed to be tonight." I closed the file and looked at Bruce.
"Not much of a plan for an auction. I just have to make sure to bid on some things other than the ruby statue." Bruce stated. He glanced at me before seeing the light turned green.
I grimaced at the thought of the prices, "There's going to be way too many zeroes at the end of these prices." I muttered as Bruce took the turn.
Bruce grinned and chuckled, "This is a private auction for the richest of Gotham." He reminded me.
"I need to stop hanging around billionaires." I muttered under my breath.
I never could get use to the amount of money that Tony threw around. One Iron Man suit alone cost him fifteen million dollars to make. He tried to tell me how much it had cost to make my suit with Athena installed and I refused to hear it. I did not want to know how much Tony spent on me.
"It's a little too late for that now, Mel." Bruce mused with an amused smile on his face.
"Yeah, I realize that. So, are you planning on winning the bid on the ruby statue yourself?" I asked.
"I'll let others bid on it first. Those that do are all potentially Penguin. I'll get the winning bid at the very last moment. I'm hoping that Penguin doesn't want to make himself obvious who he is." Bruce said.
The building hosting the auction came into view. Bruce drove up to the valet parking.
"I hope you're right. This is our last shot." Bruce and I shared a look before exiting the car.
I stepped out of the car and looked around. No press since this was a secretive auction happening today. Bruce handed the valet driver the keys before coming to stand next to me.
He held out his arm and I looped my arm through his. The doorman held open one of the glass doors.
We walked into the main hall of the building where many people were already gathered. I could tell this was very high end. Even more so than Mayor Graham's party.
Bruce dropped both of our arms as we tried to blend into the crowd. "The auction doesn't start for another ten minutes. Split up and find Oswald." Bruce whispered into my ear.
I nodded and the two of us went in opposite directions. I silently observed the crowd as I walked my way through. I wasn't seeing Oswald anywhere. Maybe he really wasn't here?
"Miss Moser?" I heard a familiar voice behind me. I turned my head to see the retired Major from the board meeting.
"Major, I wasn't expecting to see you here." The old man chuckled.
"Just Leroy is fine, Miss Moser. My wife and I attend these types of auctions all the time. Are you here alone?" Leroy asked.
I looked around, "I'm here with Bruce but I kind of lost him in the crowd." Leroy nodded.
"I read about that in the paper. That young man had me going there for a while thinking he'd never settle down." Yeah, something tells me that's not happening anytime soon. For Bruce or for me.
"I was surprised when he asked to become an official couple." It wasn't a lie. It did catch me off guard.
Leroy smiled fondly, "Ah, to be young and in love again." There's that damn word coming up again.
"I wouldn't say that just yet and I thought your wife was here, Leroy?" I asked with a raised eyebrow.
"She is. She ran into an old friend and an old man can handle only so much talk about the latest fashion choices." My ears caught the sound of Bruce laughing.
I turned my head slightly to see him mingling with some other people. He had his act playing through right now.
"I take it none of you have said it yet?" I looked back at Leroy.
"What?" Leroy chuckled with an amused grin.
"Your previous comment made it seem like you two have yet to exchange those three little words." I gave out a sigh.
"Actually, he has. Just yesterday." I stated.
Leroy raised an eyebrow, "Did you say it back?" I shook my head.
"I freaked out." I said with a grimace.
Leroy gave a laugh, "That sounds normal to me. My wife did the very same thing when I first told her. We were out on a date and it had kept her quiet the entire rest of the night. How long has this actually been going on? Before making it public?" Leroy asked.
"Almost three weeks. It feels way too fast." Leroy nodded in thought.
"I've known Bruce since he was a young boy, Miss Moser. You never met him but he reminds me a lot of his father, Thomas. Thomas loved this city and his family even more. Especially, when it came to his wife Martha. I had personally seen Thomas be in some of the worst moods a man could be in. Martha would walk in and Thomas was suddenly a changed man." I frowned out of confusion.
"Why are you telling me this?" I asked.
Leroy smiled fondly, "I'm saying like father, like son. Thomas was quick to fall in love with Martha when they first met. If memory serves I believe Thomas proposed to her after only two months of dating. Anyone who ever doubted that their marriage wouldn't last was proven wrong. Thomas was madly in love with Martha and everyone could tell. This old man can certainly tell. The way Bruce looked at you during the board meeting was the same look I had seen on his father many times." I wouldn't have known that since I had tried to avoid looking at him overall at that meeting.
"Do you feel the same?" Leroy then asked.
I bit my lip and I turned my head slightly to look at Bruce. He was still talking to somebody else at the auction. He must have felt eyes on him because he glanced up.
His eyes landed on me. In an instant his fake smile was replaced with his genuine one. I could feel a tightening in my chest from that smile. I could feel my rapid heartbeat as stared at each other. I gave my own small smile to him. I could see Bruce excuse himself from his talk and started to work his way through the crowd. I looked back to Leroy. Maybe I do feel love for him. No other man has made me feel this way before.
"I think so." I said.
Leroy chuckled, "Then tell the young man, already. You've already got him, no need to play hard to get." I looked up at the stage as a man walked up to the podium.
"Looks like it's about to start. Good luck, Miss Moser." Leroy winked at me and left.
"What was that about?" I heard Bruce's voice behind me.
I looked behind my shoulder and smiled, "We just had a nice talk is all. He reminds me a lot of my dad." I said and looked back at Leroy.
He had taken a seat next to his wife. I always wondered about my dad's relationship with my mom. It was always hard for him to talk about her. The wedding photos I grew up seeing were the only things that showed me how much my parents loved one another.
I felt Bruce's hand lay on my far shoulder and pulled me against him. "Let's take our seats." I nodded. He knew my dad was a sore subject for me.
We took some seats in the back row. We needed to keep track of the numbers that we would see pop up. As people were filing into their seats, workers began to hand out the assigned numbers to everyone.
My sensitive hearing then picked up on the sound of a rhythmic clicking sound. It was getting closer too. I looked over my shoulder as a worker handed Bruce his number. I stared at the entryway as the clicking sound came closer.
I watched as a man I recognized to be Oswald Cobblepot walked in. He had a suit and bow tie on. His monocle sat on his right eye and he held an umbrella in his left hand. That was the clicking sound I was hearing. Why did he have an umbrella? I didn't feel any drop in pressure today so there was no chance of that tonight.
My eyes followed the short man as he walked over to an empty seat across from us.
"He decided to show up at the last possible second." I heard Bruce say under his breath.
"Welcome ladies and gentlemen!" The auctioneer announced from his spot at the podium.
"We have some very unique items that would go perfect in many collections. Let's get started shall we?" A worker brought up what looked to be a vase and placed it on the table. Here we go, let's just hope we can snag the ruby statue when it's up.
I let out a drawn out sigh through my nose. I was slightly slumped back in my chair. I was bored out of my mind. I was practically falling asleep at this point. I needed a break.
"I'll be right back." I whispered into Bruce's ear.
He looked at me concerned, "Everything alright?" He whispered back.
"I just need some fresh air." He nodded and I stood up. I brushed past Bruce and walked out of the room while the auctioneer was listing the bids.
I took one step out of the building when I heard the sound of car doors slamming. I stopped and turned my head. My eyes widen seeing men climbing out of a van with guns. Penguin's men.
I quickly hid behind a pillar. I silently cursed in my head. I regret Bruce and I not wearing our earpieces tonight.
"Alright, remember the plan. Get in, cause a scene, grab the statue and get the hell out of here." I heard one of the men say.
Penguin didn't intend on leaving here without the ruby statue one way or another. I was not letting this last statue slip through our fingers this time. I looked down at my bracelet. I'm the only one that can suit up. I looked back at the double glass doors. Looks like my break isn't much of a break now.
I tapped my bracelet and the vibranium armor scaled up my arm. As I took a step from out of the pillar the suit formed over my head. My eyes saw the UI of my lenses.
"Took you guys long enough. Don't you know it's rude to keep a lady waiting?" I quipped.
The men froze in place, "Voltess. How the hell did she figure out our plan?" One of the men asked.
"Radio the boss!" Another man ordered. The rest of the men aimed their guns at me.
I sent a stream of electricity to all of the guns. I forced them out of their hands. I clenched my hand into a fist that was currently at the stream of electricity coming from it. As I clenched my fist tighter, the guns began to pile together and get crushed.
I ended the stream and a mass of crushed guns fell to the pavement below.
"I don't care for guns too much, fellas." The men then took different weapons. Some had knives while others with brass knuckles.
Electricity crackled in my hands as I sent bolts at the men. Some of them hit and others were dodged.
The ones that dodge made it to me and a fight started ensued. I caught one man's punch and kicked him in the gut. Another ran at me with his knife.
I held up my arm and the blade snapped in two when it met the vibranium. I sent a swift punch with electricity coming from my fists. The man hit the ground and curled into a ball while he held his abdomen. The thing about getting hit by my punches with electricity…it causes muscles to convulse and cramp.
I dodged and blocked hits while getting singular hits on the men with my electricity. One by one the men crumbled to the floor depending on where I hit them. Some on their backs, abdomen, and I got two of them on their calves.
I canceled my electricity as I stared at the groaning men on the ground.
"Sorry guys. Penguin's not winning tonight." I stated.
"I wouldn't be too sure of that, Voltess." Before I could turn around I felt pressurized water hit my back.
The pressure knocked me onto the ground and the water continued to hit me. The familiar feeling getting shorted out coursed through my body. My limbs felt heavy and exhaustion quickly took over.
The water finally stopped. I looked up to see who exactly just doused me in water. My eyes widened under my mask seeing Oswald Cobblepot. He dropped the emergency fire hose on the ground.
He had a cheshire grin on his face as he walked towards me. His umbrella clicked as he did so.
"Penguin, I presume?" I asked in a strained voice. All of my energy had left my body at this point. I weakly lifted up the upper half of my body by leaning on my forearm.
"That's correct, my dear. You and the bat have been causing me an awful lot of trouble recently. Where is he by the way? I don't see your trusty partner with you." Penguin asked. He gestured with his arms out and looking around.
"It's just me. Sorry to disappoint." I said with a smirk under my mask.
Penguin said nothing but placed the tip of the umbrella onto my chest. He pressed a button on the umbrella and I heard a loud pop and felt something collide against my suit. He removed the tip of the umbrella to reveal a small 22 caliber bullet flattened on my chest. The umbrella was a gun?!
"Hm, so your armor really is completely bulletproof. I'm fascinated by its integrity." What did this guy want with me? He wanted those damn statues more than anything.
"What do you want, Penguin?" I asked in a more demanding tone.
"I want to get rid of the bat. Do you have any idea how many drug trades he's stopped? It's beginning to hurt my side business. I can't have that."
"Then why the statues?" Penguin merely shrugged.
"I have an association with penguins. When I learned of these figurines, I just couldn't help myself. I had to miss the auction for the last one thanks to you. But tonight's not a total loss, after all, now I have Voltess. You'll be the perfect bait to lure your partner to his death." My eyes widened under my mask. No, I couldn't let that happen.
I started to get up and Penguin glared at me, "I'm not letting you ruin another plan of mine, Voltess." He swung his umbrella at my head.
I was surprised at how hard he swung it. The metal of the umbrella clanged against my armor but I still felt the hit. It was hard enough to make me fall flat on the ground. As I looked up, all I saw was the umbrella coming towards me. Pain from the sudden blow and my world went dark.
Bruce confesses to Melody how he feels but it seems to have freaked her out. After all, they've only known each other for a short amount of time. Voltess finally meets Penguin face to face but not under the best of circumstances.