Hi guys! Happy new year everyone! Can't believe 2017 is already almost over. I know I say it every time but I'm going to say it again :) THANK you so much for liking, following and especially for reviewing my story. It's so wonderful to hear what you guys think about this story. Hope 2018 is going to be a great year for you guys! And I hope you're liking this new chapter! =)
The air in Berlin was less sweet than in Italy. It was crisper. It seemed like even the smell of the air made you realize you had just entered a different country.
The colors of the buildings were more grey than the colorful Italian buildings.
I had been to the German capital before for work. I never had much time to explore the city but I had always loved it. There was something about it that screamed new beginning. A city destroyed by war and torn apart between communism and capitalism - now standing taller than ever before.
A new beginning - a fitting theme for me right now, only I didn't know if I was going to be standing tall after it was all set and done. Right now I felt far from it.
Daniel and I made our way to our hotel.
"The Honeymoon suite?" I asked, rolling my eyes. "Really?"
He shrugged. "If you're trying to make a believable cover, you better go all out." He said as he opened the door for me. "After you."
I sighed walking into the big suite, the bed covered in rose petals.
"I'll take the couch." He said.
For a moment I felt the stinging emptiness of Bruce not being here. We never had a honeymoon suite. I had images in my head of me trying on that gorgeous Vera Wang wedding dress. It seemed like a different person.
"You ok, Hunter?" Daniel asked, setting up the laptop and a secure internet connection.
"Just peachy."
He nodded, looking at me in thoughts and then got up, checking every light bulb.
"What are you doing?" I asked.
"Sweeping." He responded quietly.
Sweeping for bugs. I still wasn't used to living the life of a spy or a masked vigilante for that matter. I was used to living under a warlord. That I was an expert in.
After half an hour he was done with checking the room.
"Ok, I'll finish up setting the internet connection and then we can continue looking into our guy." He said.
It felt weird using his equipment but now I officially didn't have any equipment anymore. Not that Bruce wouldn't give me anything I'd ask for - but I didn't want any of his help. I broke things off, it's not like I had any right to use his gadgets anymore.
Just the thought of him made my heart ache. Could I forgive him for pretending to have died?
"He's certainly good in covering his tracks." Daniel interrupted my thoughts.
"Who is?" I asked.
Daniel looked at me confused. "Boris. Remember?"
I nodded. "Sorry."
"I don't know who he is, where he is. Nothing." He sighed.
"So let's work backwards. We don't know who he is but we do know his potential plans."
"True. We know he plans some sort of attack on the subway system."
"And we know he's connected to Medved."
"Who has gone dark. My sources have no idea where he is right now."
"Alright, let's just start by talking to security staff at the subway, German intelligence and what about those wire transfers?"
"Mi6 is checking them currently. Most of them look like dead ends."
"Meaning?"
"Meaning they wire-transfer to number accounts. No names."
"Well, let's start with talking to some of the security personnel and take it form there."
"I have already arranged a meeting with the BND, the German…"
"…intelligence agency. I know."
He nodded. "For obvious reasons you can't come to that meeting. But I'll tell you everything afterwards."
"Alright, I'm going to check out the subway."
An hour later I was riding the subway, observing the security measures here. Public transportation was always vulnerable. How can you keep bad guys out when millions use the subway every day?
There's no security check, no metal detectors.
I looked for security cameras, which there were plenty of. I also looked for vulnerabilities. Where could a terrorist strike for major impact?
I checked the map, trying to figure out where most people would be at. But I wasn't even sure what I was really looking for. It was unnerving that - even with all the information we had found - we were still searching for a needle in the haystack.
I was walking back to our hotel room, still nervous about not knowing where Boris was or what he had planned.
Back in our silly Honeymoon Suite, I checked the files again for any other clues we might have overlooked.
Daniel walked in.
I stood up in anticipation, hoping he would have all the information we needed from Interpol and the BND to take down Boris.
He was quiet and his face looked stoic.
"What? Did the Germans not tell you what they know about him?" I asked in anticipation.
"No they told me everything."
"Spill the beans."
"That's just it, they don't know anything. I spent three hours there and they ran every bit of information through their systems, cross referencing it with anything useful."
"And nothing? How is that possible?"
"It isn't. Something is off."
"What's next?"
"Mi6 wants me to stay on the ground. Interpol and BND are performing sweeps and checking anything for unusual activities."
"Makes no sense that he's not leaving behind any trace."
"It doesn't."
"I did find something that could be of interest."
Daniel looked intrigued.
"Might be nothing but at this point we might as well chase every lead."
"Agreed. What have you got?"
"When I looked at the files I noticed there is an address in Berlin."
"What? How did I miss that?"
"It's on one of the copies of the money transfers." I said as I zoomed into the picture. "It's mostly cut off but you can still make it out."
"Let's go."
The apartment the address referred to was in a nice area in Berlin. The buildings looked newly renovated. The grass freshly cut.
I rang the doorbell to a different apartment.
"What are you doing?" Daniel asked confused.
"Getting us in the building." The door to the house buzzed open and an elderly woman stepped out of her apartment door down the hallway.
"I'm sorry, wrong apartment." I said apologetically and the woman shook her head and went back in her apartment.
"Third floor." Daniel said as we made our way up the stairs.
Using a hairpin, Daniel cracked the lock and quietly opened the door. He pulled his gun from his holster as he slowly opened the door all the way. Holding the gun in front of him and with me behind him, we walked through the apartment. It was a nice two bedroom apartment. But it was completely empty.
"I'm going to have them check on who lived here last." Daniel said as he holstered his gun again.
"Do you think it was him?" I asked, slowly walking through the empty room.
"No."
"Neither do I. Too high up to have his address even remotely shown on any transfers."
"You're good at this for a civilian, Hunter."
I smiled and shrugged. "I do what I can. Let's ask your buddies if they know who this belongs to."
He nodded.
As we left he knocked on the door of the neighboring apartment.
"What are you doing now?" I asked.
"Practicing my German."
A man in his early 50s opened the door. "Guten Tag." Daniel said.
"Hallo. Kann ich Ihnen helfen?"
I really needed to start learning different languages. I just stood there as they were talking.
"Vielen Dank." Daniel said and the man nodded with a smile and closed the door.
"What was that all about?" I asked as we walked down the stairs.
"I asked him if he knew who lived here. He said it was a quiet guy. He never said a word to him. Only lived here for a few months. He's not sure when he moved out. One day he was just gone."
"Mystery apartment with mystery guy. I was hoping this would lead us to something."
"It's all pieces of the puzzle. We just need to put them together."
"Yeah, luckily we're not in a time crunch or anything."
"You've had much more pressing deadlines than this."
I looked at him confused.
"You've literally had a nuclear bomb in your city." He said.
I nodded. "Doesn't make this any easier."
We walked back towards the hotel when Daniel suddenly grabbed my hand. "Shit." He said.
"What?"
"Pretend everything is normal."
"Nothing is normal."
"We're being followed."
"By who?"
"There's a guy across the street with a camera aimed at us. Ready for some acting?"
"What…?"
He just pulled me towards him and kissed me. I tried to play along but couldn't help but think of Bruce. When Bruce kissed me it always left me breathless. My heart rate hiking up immediately.
I wasn't sure if kissing Daniel was less thrilling because it was Daniel or because we were just pretending. He let go off me his eyes looking at me deeply.
I was hoping he wasn't starting to have feelings for me.
"I think we gave them enough of a show at this point." He said.
We walked back into the hotel.
He didn't want to let her know he was in Berlin because he knew how she'd react.
But he had no other choice. Something was going to happen in Berlin and he didn't want Cat to have to face it alone.
"She isn't alone, Master Wayne." Alfred kept reminding him.
"Some random guy doesn't count as protection. Not with what she's up against."
"Good thing he isn't a random guy, sir. He's one of the most highly-trained counter terrorism experts in the world."
For that reason, and many others, he had left Alfred in Italy.
He needed to have a low profile. He flew economy, using a fake passport. His face would be recognizable but at least he wouldn't raise any flags in the system under his name.
He had already figured out which hotel Cat and Daniel were staying at.
Sitting in a cafe across the street, he wore a baseball cap and sunglasses as his disguise and cheap clothing. He was waiting for them to come back to the hotel, hoping it would be just her so he could talk to her alone.
But that wasn't the case. Instead he saw them walking down the street together, hand in hand.
For some reason he hadn't expected that. Maybe there was a reasonable explanation for them walking hand in hand?
Then Daniel pulled her towards him, his lips hitting hers. Bruce's hands instantly formed fists, his teeth were biting together so hard, it hurt his jaw.
Fucking sleazeball agent. But then again, he couldn't hold it against the guy that he fell for her. She was hard to resist.
Was it a fling? Was it love? Was she in love?
He felt his heart shatter.
Maybe Alfred was right and he had to finally move on from her. He still wasn't sure if that was possible.
He watched them walk back to the hotel.
Taking a deep breath, he got up. He needed to focus of why he was here.
We had just gotten back to the hotel room when we heard a knock on the door.
"Expecting company?" I asked.
He sighed. "I think I know who this might be."
He opened the door and a woman in her late 50s with short platinum blonde hair was standing in front of him. She was wearing a dark blue suit with a crisp white blouse.
"And here I was thinking I don't need a babysitter anymore." Daniel said with a sarcastic smile to the woman.
She walked in with determined strides, looking at me with a stoic face.
She turned to Daniel again. "Trust me, I don't want to be here."
"We finally agree on something." He said.
"Unfortunately you force my hand when you act based on what's in your pants." She looked at me again.
"Mi6 director Cohen this is…"
"Please…" she shook her head vehemently. "Don't insult me by thinking I don't know who she is. Everyone knows who she is. Which is precisely why I recommend you find a somewhat more low-key fuck buddy."
"Ouch." I injected.
"I'm sorry Hunter, she left her manners in London."
"We both know I have no manners, Goodwyn." She responded coldly.
"True. Listen, I appreciate you making the trip down here, but all is well. I haven't endangered the operation. Everything is fine."
"Fine - until they snap the first picture of the two of you and then all tabloids are going to be covered with the question of who the guy next to the grieving American widow is."
"I'm not a widow…I was never married." I said, knowing very well she wasn't even paying attention to me.
"And wouldn't that in itself be a great distraction?" He asked her. "Nobody suspects a spy on the cover of a magazine."
"Goodwyn, don't test my patience."
"Now, where would be the fun in that? Safe travels back to London." He said as he opened the door again with a smile.
She looked at him angrily for a moment and then left without saying anything else.
He closed the door.
"Well, the cover worked." He said.
"Yeah, only that your boss seems not very thrilled with it."
"Oh I didn't expect her to be thrilled. In fact, I don't think she ever is about anything."
I laughed. "Yeah, she seems lovely." I said as I got up. "I'm going to take a shower."
I had just gotten out of the shower, a towel wrapped around me, when I heard another knock on the door.
Daniel immediately walked out of the bathroom, wearing only pants. He had planned to use the shower next, which was still running.
"More of your friends?" I asked, suddenly feeling very aware of the fact that I was standing in front of him in only a towel.
"I would guess someone from Mi6 is back checking in on me. She probably sent one of her guys to come check up on us." He said quietly, walking over to the door and opened it.
"If you wanker were sent here by…" He stopped when he realized who it was.
"Bruce?" I asked completely surprised and felt that instant spike in adrenaline which I always got when I saw him.
He looked past Daniel, directly at me. His eyes piercing through me.
It took him a second to say something, his jawline hard. "Sorry if I'm interrupting. I just wanted to talk to you when you get a chance. It's important. I'll be downstairs."
I realized just now how this looked. Me in a towel, Daniel half naked.
"Bruce." I said, walking after him as he was leaving. "Wait."
He stopped in his track and turned around. "I'll just get changed and we can talk. Come in."
He shook his head. "I shouldn't have come here unannounced in the first place."
"Look, you said it was important."
"It is." "Then get your ass in here."
He sighed and walked in.
Daniel had turned off the shower and put on a shirt.
"I'll be right back." I said as I walked into the other room to get dressed.
He was standing in the room, which he only now realized was the Honeymoon Suite. His hands in his pockets, he tried to look at anything but Daniel.
He was still trying to erase the image of them when he opened the door out of his memory.
"Ok I think I need to say something here." Daniel said.
Oh God, here we go.
"That's not necessary." He said.
But Daniel continued anyway. "It's not at all what it seems."
Bruce held up a hand to signal him to stop talking. "Whatever is going on between you two is not my deal. That's not why I'm here."
Daniel nervously cleared his throat. "She still loves you."
The words rang through his body like an emotional tidal wave. But coming from Daniel, they also made his blood boil. Was he trying to make him feel better about him sleeping with her? What was this?
"Listen pal." He turned to Daniel with disdain in his voice. "I am here to speak with her and as far as I'm concerned you're a waste of air. You're supposedly one of the best in your field, yet here you are, losing sight of why you're here. While you're in the honeymoon suite, I found out more about your boy Boris than you have. That's why I am here. To warn her. So let me be clear: If I want to hear from you, I'll let you know."
"Oh I haven't lost sight of why I'm here. Seems like you have. Come on! Don't pretend you're not still head over heels in love with her and that's why you can't let her go. That's why you're here."
The anger in him exploded and before he knew what he was doing he pushed Daniel against the wall with full force, putting his arm against his throat and leaning against it.
"You obviously don't know me. Because if you did, you'd know not to cross me." He let go off him and turned around.
"I get it, you're not a fan of me." Daniel said, coughing as he was able to breath normally again.
"You catch on quick." Bruce said sarcastically, not looking at him.
In that moment Cat walked in, wearing black yoga pants and a white long-sleeve.
She quickly caught on to the nervous energy in the room.
"Everything ok?" She asked.
Both of them nodded.
"So what is so important?" She asked.
He fought the urge to pull her in his arms. To smell her hair. To kiss her lips. For a moment he was imagining they would get their happily ever after.
"Bruce?" She asked again.
He took a deep breath. "I found some information. I'm not sure how much you know but I needed to warn you."
"Warn me?"
He nodded. "What do you know?"
"We're looking for a guy named Boris." She said. "He's connected to Medved in some form. We found a flash drive with all sorts of blueprints in the pocket of one of Medved's guys. The flash drive data keeps referring to Boris. All the blueprints are of Berlin. Subway, electrical grid and what have you."
He nodded again. "Any information on who Boris is?"
"None so far. That's where we're striking out. I'll show you the data."
She walked over to the laptop on the coffee table and sat down. He took a seat next to her, leaving enough space between them so she wouldn't feel like he was too close.
"Check this out." She said, bringing the laptop on his lap and moving right next to him.
He could smell her freshly washed hair, the scent of her skin. He watched her lips closely, looked into her eyes deeply, as if he was trying to take in every little bit of her.
"See the address on the wire transfer. That's where we just went but it was a dead end."
He nodded again, studying the piece of paper he was looking at.
"Ok, now I've been talking this whole time and I have yet to hear your important information." She said, crossing her arms.
"Right." He acknowledged. "I also came across the name Boris."
"Do you know who he is?"
He shook his head. "But I know that all of Medved's top men were pulled from Berlin within the last week. Cat, they have something big planned here."
She swallowed. "I know, I've had that feeling for a while now."
"Here is the data I've got." He said, handing her his iPhone. "It's several transactions on Medved's end."
"How did you get access?" She asked. "Oh right!" She interrupted herself. "The casino!"
He nodded. "In his emails he's referring to Boris. Never a last name. Never a location."
"Can I keep copies?" She asked.
"Of course." He said. "Already sent you a copy a few minutes ago."
"Thank you."
He smiled at her and nodded. "Alright, I've already taken up enough of your time."
He got up and she walked him to the door.
"How much longer are you in Berlin for?" She asked.
"Not sure."
"Where are you staying?"
"The Ritz Carlton."
She nodded. "Thank you for the information."
"Cat?" He asked her and her eyes focus on his. "Be careful out there."
"Always am." She smiled.
He didn't want to leave her. But reality caught up with him and he smiled at her before opening the door and walking out.
Every time I saw Bruce it messed with my head. All the new information didn't help either.
"Ok, so where does this leave us now?" I asked, running my hands over my face in frustration.
"It's definitely helpful information." Daniel said.
"Another fucking puzzle piece."
Daniel nodded as he went through the files Bruce had given us.
"Let's look through everything we have again. Make sure we're not missing anything." He said.
"Fine."
After 30 minutes Daniel got up and brought us both a glass of water.
"Thanks." I said.
"I would clarify things with Wayne if I were you."
"What do you mean?"
"I believe he's under the impression we're an item."
I laughed. "I doubt that."
He took a deep breath. "He believes we've had sex."
"Because he saw me in a towel?"
He nodded.
I rolled my eyes. "Why does that matter to you what he thinks?"
"It looks like we're going to be working with him and I'd rather not die."
"Die?"
"You're oddly oblivious about anything regarding Wayne."
"Well, enlighten me then." I said annoyed.
"For starters - you're both in love with each other, which feels odd that I have to point that out but apparently it's necessary. Second, he thinks we're an item and it's killing him. Let me just say, I briefly saw the Batman make an appearance."
I remembered when he had punched Josh in the art gallery. "What did he do? Are you ok?"
"Oh I'm fine. He was just drawing a line and put me in my place rather obviously, you might say. My point is, talk to him."
I nodded.
It was past midnight when Daniel fell asleep on the couch. But I was wide awake.
I got dressed again and wasn't really sure what I was doing. Maybe if I told Bruce that nothing was going on between me and Daniel it would make me stop thinking in circles.
I was standing in front of, what I assumed, was his hotel room. I knocked on the door but nobody answered.
Maybe he was still out? Out where though? Was he patrolling the streets?
Was it smart to be here? Probably not.
I knocked again and then Bruce opened the door.
He was just wearing a black t-shirt and black pants.
"Hi." I said.
"Everything ok?" He asked concerned.
"Yeah, I just…can I come in?"
"Of course."
I immediately felt nervous again. Like a teenager. I was annoyed with myself.
He closed the door, waiting for me to say something.
"I just wanted to make sure you didn't get the wrong impression. I mean…not that you care…or whatever."
God. What am I babbling about? Just now I realized I wasn't really sure why I was even telling him any of this.
He looked confused. "I don't care about what?" He asked.
"Ok that didn't come out right. I just wanted you to know that there is absolutely nothing going on between me and Daniel."
He sighed. "Cat, you don't owe me an explanation. Whatever it is between you two, that is not my deal, you made that abundantly clear."
"But there is nothing going on between me and him. We're pretending to be somewhat of an item because Mi6 is watching us."
He nodded. "Ah. The only way you can be around classified information is if you're his fling."
"Exactly."
He laughed and shook his head.
"What?" I asked.
"It's just that - he could have chosen a different cover for you than being his girl."
I hadn't thought about that.
I tired to play it off and shrugged. "It's believable."
"Just be mindful of the fact that the guy is falling for you. You could do all of this by yourself. You don't need him. Seems pretty useless, as far as I can tell."
"I kind of like the life of a spy. You're fighting for justice, using all the fancy tools, all of it without wearing a mask."
"You're not a spy, Cat."
"Why not?" I asked angrily. "I can fight just as hard as…"
He interrupted me. "I'm not saying you're not good enough to be one. You would kick everyone's ass. I get how the intelligence community seems appealing. But trust me, the bureaucracy in those institutions will soon become like shackles to you."
"Just because you don't know how to play nice with others doesn't mean I can't."
"You can, I'm just saying it wouldn't suit you. Not after you've put on the mask."
"Is this a jealousy thing?"
I didn't know why I had to be such an ass to him. Probably because he knew me too well and got under my skin quickly.
"No." He simply said.
"So, you almost killing Daniel, that's not a jealousy thing?"
"That's a grave exaggeration. I didn't almost kill him."
"Whatever happened."
"He went on my nerves."
"By doing what? Breathing?"
He sighed in frustration and continued in a slightly raised voice. "Am I jealous? Yes. That's no secret. But I'm not in Berlin because I'm jealous. I'm not telling you about the agency's bureaucracy because I'm jealous."
Now I felt like a jerk.
We just stared at each other in silence for a few seconds.
"Why are you here?" I asked.
His eyes locked on mine. He didn't answer.
Something about him made me forget all reason. I walked over, quickly closing the distance between us. He saw where this was going and pulled me forcefully towards him. He kissed me and I felt the fireworks inside of me. I slung my arms around him, my hands in his hair as our tongues met.
I could feel the desperation in our kiss as his lips demanded more.
I pushed him back to the bed and he sat down as I took off my pants. He pulled me towards him in one quick move, positioning me on his lap as he continued to kiss me as his hand went between my legs.
I stopped the kiss and took a sharp inhale. His eyes studying my every move.
I moved my hips in agreement with his touch. His mouth slightly open, his eyes glistening. Then he stopped and grabbed me by my legs. He got up and put me down on the bed.
He quickly took off his clothes, as if every second counted. The anticipation killing both of us.
I looked at him closely as he moved over me. He looked at me quietly, both of us breathing heavy, before he entered me very slowly.
I bit my lip, closed my eyes and exhaled as I felt him slowly in me. He didn't move.
I opened my eyes. "You're killing me here."
He smiled. "Always so impatient."
He kissed me again as he started his movements and I felt my fingers holding on to his back tightly.
His head right next to mine, I could hear his deep breath intensify with every movement. There was something about him that made the world stop around me. For this moment, my worries were swept away, my concerns all gone. His hot kiss hit my neck, our bodies perfectly in harmony.
He got up, spun me around on the bed, grabbed me by my ankles and pulled me closer to him. In another swift motion, he pulled my midsection closer to him before he entered me.
His hands were holding onto my hips tightly.
I leaned into his movements and immediately felt his reaction. His hands held on even tighter, his breath hiked up.
With the next movement he pulled my upper body up, holding me gently by my neck, his face next to mine. Never stopping his movements, his other hand went down on me as he kissed me. That's when I went over the edge, collapsing against him. He followed me over the edge quickly.
We both collapsed on the bed, catching our breath for a moment.
Then I got up.
"Let me guess…" He said as he slowly got up and put on his pants and watched me get dressed. "You're not staying?"
I smiled at him and shrugged. "Friends with benefits, remember?"
He sighed. "Cat…this is getting ridiculous."
I didn't say anything. He might be right but for now this was as much emotional involvement I could handle.
Once I had put on my shoes I got up, his eyes still studying me closely as he was leaning against the wall, his arms crossed.
"I'll let you know if we make any headway on Boris." I said as I walked closer to him and the door.
He nodded, his eyes studying me closely.
I leaned in and kissed him. "Sweet dreams Mr. Wayne." I said before I left.
Back at the hotel I swiped the keycard and quietly walked in.
To my surprise Daniel was standing fully dressed in the living room, looking at his phone.
"Ah!" He said with a smile. "Welcome back Hunter. How's Wayne?"
I ignored the snark comment. "Where are you going?"
"Glad you're asking. They found something in the sweep. They want me to check it out. Care to join me?"
I nodded. "Let's go."
"What did they find in the sweep?" I asked as we left the hotel.
"They didn't tell me much. They found an oddity in their sweep. Could be nothing."
"I feel like we're running out of time."
"Well, I think the information provided by your boyfriend might help speed up the process."
"How many times do I have to tell you - he's not my boyfriend. Where exactly are we going?"
"One of the men named on their list during the sweep. It's someone with ties to the Russian mob. I cross referenced the address with the names on the list Wayne gave us and voila. It's one of Medved's men."
"I thought he said they all left Berlin?"
"I'm sure they have. Hopefully he left something behind."
We arrived at the apartment, which was completely empty.
"I guess it's another dead end." I sighed.
"Maybe." He said in a concentrated manner. "But there's always some clues in everything." He pulled out a map from his pocket and unfolded it on the ground.
"The last address we checked was in the north end." He said, marking the location with a red cross. "And this is where we are right now." He drew another red cross on the map.
"Are you seeing a pattern? Because I don't."
He drew a line from one cross to the other. "Not a pattern." And then he drew one to the central station of the subway. "But an access point."
"I still don't get it. So what, they're both relatively close to the central station."
He grabbed his phone and pulled up one of the maps we found on the flash drive.
"I was right." He proclaimed. "They're both near an electrical grid hotspot for the train station."
"Are they trying to blow up the electrical grids? But what would that do?"
"Maybe." He said as he pulled out his phone and dialed a number. "This is Agent Goodwyn, can I speak to Agent Schmidt?"
"What did they say?" I asked later that night when Daniel returned from his meeting with the DNB.
"They're not sure."
"Great." I said, rolling my eyes. "Well, I took the liberty to check out the power grids. They looked fine to me. No bomb or anything. They were untouched."
"Back to square one."
"Not quite." I said.
He looked at me confused.
I showed him a picture on my phone. "Recognize these people?"
He looked at the picture of two men closely. "Only one of them. He's with Interpol. He works on the terror unit."
"Next to him is a gentleman known to have very close ties to Medved." He looked at me shocked.
"How do you know that?"
"Through the magic of facial recognition and databases."
"Which databases?"
"All of them."
"And you have access how?"
"I've always had access."
"Let me guess, Wayne gave you this picture."
"Does it matter where it came from?"
"I take that as a yes."
"You're missing the point, Sherlock. Interpol is obviously involved. They tipped off these men to leave Berlin."
"Or the other way around?"
"What do you mean?"
"What if Medved's informant told the Interpol agent that something was going to happen soon. Maybe he asked him to wipe the databases? That's why we can't find a mention of Boris anywhere."
"So what's our next move?"
He picked up his phone again. I sighed. "More phone calls that lead to nowhere. Time is running out."
"Sorry Hunter, that's how it works. We have to follow the chain of command."
Bureaucracy that becomes like shackles. Bruce's words rang in my head. Damn it, did he have to be right about this?
"Who knows maybe half of Mi6 is also involved? We're just sitting around doing nothing and waiting for this whole thing to blow up." I said.
"That's how the intelligence community works. I'm not a masked vigilante. I can't just put on spandex and jump from building to building."
"Right. But I can." I said and marched to my suitcase and grabbed the Viper outfit.
Who had I been kidding? I wasn't a spy. I wasn't going to follow someone else's order.
"So what is your plan?" Daniel asked as I grabbed the costume.
"Paying a visit to our friend at Interpol."
I walked out of my bedroom now as the Viper and I recognized the look on Daniel's face. I knew that expression well. I had seen it on my own face when I looked at the Batman for the first time, knowing who was under the mask. That feeling that you know someone but then you truly don't.
"Turn that frown upside down, sweetheart." I said in my Viper voice, smiling at him.
"Sorry, it's just…I know it's you but it feels like I'm looking at a different person."
"Magic. Anyway, I'd love to talk story but I'm running on a deadline here. So what, are you coming?"
"You know where the Interpol agent is?"
"Of course. He's currently in a apartment in Berlin. You in? I swear I won't tell your parents." I grinned at him.
"Mi6 told me to stand down for now."
"Alright…"
"But fuck it. I'm in."
We arrived at the apartment. It was the middle of the night and the agent was probably asleep.
"What's the plan?" He asked me.
"To say hi." I said with a grin.
I cracked the lock on his window and pushed it open and got in. Daniel followed me.
Slowly and quietly we made our way to the bedroom.
He was in his bed, asleep. The room only ever so slightly lit up by the moonlight shining in from outside.
I hit the light switch. "Time to wake up."
But he didn't even turn around. His face still toward the other side of room.
Daniel grabbed him by the shoulders and turned him around. His face was almost completely gone. His eyes were removed, his tongue ripped out.
"See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil." I said.
"That would work but his ears seem fine."
"No, they stabbed his eardrum." I said, pointing to the blood coming from his left ear. "Looks like they didn't want any lose ends."
We hadn't gotten much sleep. Daniel was angrily on the phone for most of the night talking to his superiors.
I was looking through everything we had found and was mad at myself for still not being closer to Boris.
At the end of the day we took a ride on the subway on our way to check another lead. The subway train was packed with people. All I could do was think how oblivious they were of the danger that was hanging above them. Silently.
"Boris…" I mumbled to myself as the train was moving through the tunnel. "Never a last name. Why not?" Bruce had said that Boris was never mentioned by last name.
I remembered seeing emails were Boris was spelled in all capitals.
BORIS.
Then it hit me with full force. I felt the color drain from my face and Daniel stared at me.
"What?" He asked me nervously.
"We've got this all wrong."
"What are you talking about?"
"Boris…it's not…it's not a person."
He stared at me in confusion.
"It's an acronym." I said.
"For what?"
"I don't know yet."
He sighed. "Hunter, you're not very specific."
I shook my head. "You don't get it. Boris is not a person it's a plan." I pointed at the subway map. "It's a cyber attack."
"A cyber attack?" He asked.
In that moment the lights started to flicker in the subway train and then they turned off completely. The train came to a complete stop.
People around us nervously muttered and looked around.
"It's fucking happening." I said quietly.
"Hunter, we don't know that. This could be a coincidence."
"Really?" I turned to him.
He looked at me for a second as if he was trying to convince himself of that.
"Ok, fine. It's most likely not a coincidence." He said.
"We need to get out of here."
"Well, that's relatively simple." He said as he pushed the manual door opener, sliding it open. "After you."
"Thanks." I said climbing down into the tunnel.
"Someone will be with you shortly." Daniel told the stunned passengers.
I turned on the flashlight on my iPhone as we made our way down the tunnel. "So say it is a cyber attack…" Daniel said.
"It is." I interrupted.
He sighed. "Alright. So if that's the case let's run through what we know with that new angle. Medved's men organized the cyber attack. His men were pulled just day before BORIS was launched."
"I'm guessing our two boys in the apartments next to the electrical grids, they inserted the trojan right into the heart of the city's electrical grid."
"Right. But we still don't know who is behind it and who could stop it."
"We know our Interpol guy knew too much."
We finally reached a platform which was filled with confused passengers, shining flashlights into the darkness.
"Let's get back outside and you should call your superiors. Maybe for once they actually have something useful to say." I said as I pushed myself up on the platform.
Outside the subway station people were visibly confused.
Daniel dialed a number and was talking to what I assumed was Mi6.
"…no it's a cyber attack… no I don't have proof yet but it's just obvious…yeah I'll hold."
I couldn't stand here and wait. I had to do something.
My phone rang. NO USER ID
"Hello?" I asked when I picked up though I already knew who it was.
"It's a cyber attack." Bruce said.
"Yeah I figured that one out."
"Where are you? Are you ok?"
"Fine. Just got out of the subway station."
"Which one."
"Brandenburger Tor. We paid the Interpol guy a visit last night."
"So have I. Not a pretty picture."
"No. A message though. He obviously knew too much."
"Whoever killed him was from Medved's gang."
"Why do you say that?"
"Too gruesome of a killing for agency. Not their style."
I nodded as I watched the people around me getting more and more confused and the hint of panic spreading on their faces. The worry that this could be more than just an inconvenience.
"I just hope I can stop it. Whatever comes next. I hope we're not too late." I said in almost a whisper.
"One step at a time. That's all you can do."
"Yeah." I said, taking a deep breath.
Daniel got off the phone and walked towards me. "My source tells me a Medved's informant, who is also working for Interpol on occasion, is working in a butcher shop downtown."
"You hear that?" I asked Bruce on the line.
"Loud and clear."
"I'll let you know how it goes." I said as I hung up.
"I have to change before hand." I said to Daniel.
"You're going as…her?" He asked.
"My days of playing spy are over. Things are getting done a lot quicker when you wear a mask. You should try it sometime."
He laughed. "I think I'll pass."
The smell of raw meat being cut in the butcher hall was strong and all encompassing. It was the smell of death.
We walked through the rows of dead pigs hanging from the ceiling.
"Let me handle this." I said to Daniel before we walked in. "You don't want to get your hands dirty."
We saw our guy in the distance cutting a pig with a big knife.
"Hello." I said loudly behind him. He turned around and his eyes widened.
It was always fun to see the reaction on people's faces who had never seen me before. It was weird to see someone dressed in a mask and costume.
"Who are you? How you get in?" He asked in an Eastern European accent.
"What do you know about our good little friend here?" I said holding up a picture of the Interpol agent.
"What should I know. I just work here." He said, turning around and continuing to cut the pig.
"That's a shame." I said. "Because I really didn't want to get my outfit dirty tonight."
Using his body weight against him, I grabbed him and smashed him on the ground, his head hitting the floor loudly.
"Never fought a girl? Come on big guy." I said.
He got up with a smile. "This should be fun."
"I'm counting on it." I said with a big grin.
He came at me with full force. I grabbed his arm and dislocated his shoulder. He screamed in pain.
"Don't cry. It's not even broken." I said.
"What do you want?"
"I hate repeating myself. But because it's you." I held up the picture again. "Who is this guy?"
"Agent from Interpol."
"It speaks. Congratulations. Why is he working for Medved?"
"Lady you don't know who you messing with. Scary people."
"Do I look like I don't know what I'm doing?"
"I help you but you can't tell anyone or I'm dead."
"You have my word, buttercup."
"He's working with Medved because he was preventing authorities to know about cyber attack."
"He wiped it clean. Smart. Go on."
"I don't know much more. I swear."
"Then what was your role?"
"I am just middle man."
"Double spy would be the better term." Daniel said. "I have chosen side long time ago. Interpol have rules. They not going to kill me and torture me. Prison maybe. Medved…I'm not going to cross him."
"Well, this has been lovely." I said. "Tell me how to stop the cyber attack."
"Not from Berlin. Not anymore. I heard them talk about head of operations is now in Istanbul."
"Istanbul. I'm getting over this treasure hunt bullshit. You wouldn't have a more specific location for that, would you?"
"I have address."
Daniel and I were on the next flight out to Istanbul. As we landed at the airport I saw the headlines of the news on the TV screens.
"Berlin is now without cell and phone service and no electricity. The whole city is in chaos." I said.
"The next phase." Daniel said absently as we were getting a cab. "Soon they're going to call it a terror attack by ISIS."
"Only that's not who is behind it. Why a cyber attack? Why not blow up a building instead?"
"They're soon going to bring the whole city to a halt. Hospitals will have to run on generators. The stock market will crumble. An entire city held hostage."
We went to the address the man had given us. I had changed into the Viper and was prepared for a much larger operation. Who knows how many people might be in this building?
Daniel suddenly stopped close to the building and looked at a man far away, sitting in a car.
He nodded three times and the man got out.
"Are we expecting company?" I asked.
"He's an old friend of mine. Worked in the agency."
"Which one?"
"Interpol. Specialized in cyber terror. Speaks fluent Turkish which might help us. My Turkish is rusty."
"The more the merrier." I said as he walked up to us, looking at me carefully.
"Ali Tarlaci…this is…" Daniel said as he was about to introduce me.
"Code name Black Viper." Ali finished his sentence. "I've read about her. Didn't know you ran with vigilantes now."
"I can tell you're a fan." I said sarcastically. "Let's get on with it boys."
We started walking when a voice emerged.
"The ground floor is completely secured by his men." The familiar gravely voice said from the darkness.
For a second I couldn't believe it was really him, until he walked into the light and I could see the Batman in full shining kevlar.
"Well, well, well… Look who is back from the dead." I said with a smile.
He didn't respond.
I couldn't deny how good it was to see him again in cape and cowl.
He was back. I felt my heart skip a beat.
"I didn't know you'd bring your boyfriend." Ali said.
I rolled my eyes. "He should be so lucky."
Batman's angry eyes shining through the dark mask were as much response as I would get.
"What's your plan then, handsome?" I asked Batman.
"Go in from the top floor. Have the element of surprise since we're completely outnumbered."
"Sounds good to me."
"If we get you to the computer, can you stop the cyber attack?" Batman asked the two agents.
Reluctantly Tarlaci answered, obviously not comfortable working with us.
"Yes I can. I'm not sure how much time it will take."
"We will see how much time we can give you." Batman said before he turned to me. "Ready?"
I smiled at him. "Oh you know it."
His dark eyes lingered on me with worry for a few seconds before he nodded. He pulled me towards him, held me closely to his body, grabbed what looked like a gun from his utility belt and shot a line into the air. The line hooked on one of the buildings and with one click, we shot into the air, his arm pressing me tightly against him.
We landed on the roof.
"You know you can drop the voice." I said with a smile. "Since I know who you are and all that good stuff."
He didn't respond. Suddenly I understood - the voice wasn't just part of his disguise, it was part of him turning into the Batman. More monster than human.
"So, since you're a person in the know, what's the party looking like inside?" I asked him.
I could tell he didn't care for my playful tone. His eyes looking straight ahead as if they wanted to tell me: This is not a game.
He pushed a button on his wrist and suddenly his eyes were covered with bright blue, glowing glass.
"Who do I have to sleep with around here to get one of those?" I asked.
He didn't say anything for a while. "It's sonar." He finally responded in a grumpy tone as he focused on the building.
"There are about seven men downstairs." He finally said. "Four on the second floor and ten on the top."
"Ten on the top?" I asked confused. "Then why the hell are we going in there?"
"Because that's where the computers are. We will have only one chance to trick his men."
"I don't buy it." I said, crossing my arms.
"Buy what?" He asked, turning off his sonar glasses.
"You fought an entire army of Bane's men. These guys are nothing compared to that. Between the two of us, we can easily take them all out. So why are you trying to be so extra careful."
"If they know we're coming, they could easily fry their hard drives with the press of a button."
"Ah!" I said, understanding what this was all about. "We need to surprise them so we can get them away from their computers."
"We go in, take out the guys on the computers and then worry about the rest."
"Roger that."
We walked closer to the edge of the rooftop, looking straight across to the building.
I took the moment - the calm before the storm - to appreciate us working together for the first time. Yes, at the very end in Gotham he had asked for my help. But this was different. This was not his last resort. This was us actively working together.
"Four guys at the computer, six guys standing watch." His raspy voice interrupted the silence.
"So, we each get two computer guys?" I grinned in excitement.
He nodded. "You take the ones on the left. You have to be fast."
"Don't worry, handsome."
We were getting ready to make our way inside when he suddenly grabbed me by my arm.
His dark eyes fixed on me with urgency. "Be careful."
I softly smiled at him. "Always." I said as I leaned in and kissed him. The last time I had kissed him in costume was moments before he pretended to die.
He pulled me towards him, the kevlar of his mask covering his nose carving into my cheek.
We broke the kiss.
"So, how are we doing this?" I asked.
Without any warning he grabbed me and jumped off the building, the wings of his costume expanding above us. My arms were tightly around his body as we were quietly gliding towards the building. Right before we hit the window, he brought his wings around us. We smashed through the glass and landed on the floor. I got up and was standing right in front of the two guys on the computer. They were eagerly typing as the other six men were approaching us quickly with guns.
"Hi guys." I said and smashed one's head against the screen. He was immediately unconscious.
In that moment a security guy came running towards me, grabbing me by my throat. I pushed my legs up and locked them around his neck, freeing myself from his grip and spun backwards, landing on my two feet again.
I grabbed his gun, using the bottom to knock out the tech guy before shooting the security guard in the knee.
He screamed and fell to the floor, another one came charging at me.
As I fought that one off as well, I realized that Bruce was fighting four at once but the two guys at the computer were already knocked out.
Watching him, I felt like I still had a lot to learn. His speed and his fluid movements. Once all four on the floor, he looked at me out of breath.
"It looked like you had it under control." I said with a smile.
He activated his sonar glasses again and looked downstairs.
"Four below us, they're waiting by the door." He said. "Seven downstairs but they're running up the stairs."
I sighed. "Looks like the party is getting started."
He pressed the button and his eyes returned to normal. He handed me what looked like a flash drive. "I need you to copy everything over from these two computers."
"And leave you with all the fun, I don't think so."
"I wasn't asking." He said, grabbing my hand and putting the flash drive in it before he walked downstairs.
Annoyed I walked to the computers, plugged in the flash drive and started transferring files.
"10 minutes? That's a long time." I sighed.
I heard some noises from downstairs but it was fairly quiet. Ten minutes felt like a lifetime as I watched the status bar slowly increase, transferring the files onto the flash drive.
When it was done I grabbed the flash drive and was about to head downstairs when the door suddenly opened and Daniel and Tarlaci walked in.
Tarlaci took off his jacket and sat down on the computer and began his work, typing feverishly.
I looked behind Daniel, waiting for Bruce to appear.
"He's fine." Daniel said.
It irked me that I looked like I cared. "Oh I don't doubt it. Where is he?"
"I don't know, he opened the door for us and told us to come in and then…" He shrugged.
I tried to hide the feeling of hurt. He just left? I guess he accomplished what he came here for.
"Alright, I better stay watch until your friend is done here." I said.
He nodded.
I walked downstairs past several unconscious men. Some of their faces were badly injured. One's lip had burst open. Another's eyes were swollen completely shut. Another one had a broken arm.
I got outside and looked down the street. It was empty and quiet. I turned back to the door and jumped when I saw him stand in the door frame.
"Do you have the flash drive?" He asked in his raspy voice.
"Whatever happened to 'pretty please'?"
Again - no response.
I sighed, handing it over. "Here you go, big guy. What are you planning to do with it anyway?"
"We might be able to stop the cyber attack in Berlin now but I want to know who is behind it. Hopefully this will give us better insight."
"Isn't that what those two nerds upstairs are doing?" Once again - no response.
I sighed in frustration. "Man, you're really not talkative are ya? Ok, I guess you're not trusting them."
"I learned long ago, trust nobody but yourself."
"Is that an inspirational quote I can buy somewhere?"
He didn't respond, instead he pulled me towards him and we were flying up into the night sky again, landing on the rooftop.
"If you're standing watch, you need to be invisible." He said. "You need the element of surprise."
"I needed that when I didn't know how to fight."
"No, you always need it. I always need it. Don't underestimate your enemies and don't overestimate yourself."
"Did you start living by that after you underestimated Bane and let him beat you to a pulp?"
I regretted the words as soon as they left my mouth. He looked stoic but I could tell in his eyes - the comment stung.
I was too much of a chicken to apologize. Instead I tried to quickly switch topics as I looked downstairs to the door.
"So, do you think we'll get company soon from Medved's men?"
I turned around and he was gone. The darkness of the night surrounding me.
The cyber attack had successfully been stopped. Officially by the work of Interpol and Mi6.
No mention of the Batman or Black Viper anywhere which I was grateful for.
I was nervous for him that someone might have seen him, taken a picture and leaked it to the press.
But no, the Batman was officially still dead.
Daniel and I were back in London.
I looked at the London Eye from my hotel room. This time I didn't need to share a hotel room with Daniel. I didn't need to pretend I was someone I wasn't anymore. At least not during the daytime.
It had been a week since that night in Istanbul. We were still running data and making sure we officially shut operation BORIS down.
"Who is Sam?" Daniel asked when we were at lunch.
I looked at him confused where he got that name from.
He pointed at my phone. "I keep seeing you ignore, I don't know how many calls by this Sam person."
Suddenly I stared at my phone, guilt washing over me. "She's a friend of mine." I said, taking another fork full of pasta.
"A friend…but you never answer her calls?"
"I call her back later." I lied.
"Have you ever since I've met you?"
"We've been a little busy with saving a city."
"But that's not why you're not answering her calls."
I sighed. "Drop it. I can't deal with the psycho analysis over lunch."
He didn't say anything for several seconds but still looked closely at me.
"Pushing those you love away isn't healthy. I know you're doing it because, after everything you've been through, you feel like you can't connect with her anymore. It is as if you have changed and she hasn't."
I didn't say anything, poking my fork around in my food and being annoyed by the fact that he was once again so spot on.
"Give her a chance to be part of your life again." He said. "She might surprise you."
He was back in Italy. Back to trying to find a way to live a normal life.
The days passed by somehow. He tried not to get involved with the Medved situation.
It was hard not to start investigating and following leads. Even harder - not tracking where she was.
He knew she was somewhere in London but he had no idea where and what she was up to.
She didn't want him to know. He had to accept that.
All those thoughts were roaming around in his head as he was sitting at the bar of his favorite restaurant, overlooking the ocean. A glass of scotch in his hand, he slowly swirled the ice cubes around, looking at the circular motion of the liquid.
It was going around and around - just like the thoughts in his head. On endless repeat.
Maybe he wasn't able to leave Batman behind after all. Maybe he was meant to die in the suit rather than slowly die of age.
Right now the latter sounded like torture.
"Tough day?" The voice pulled him out of his thoughts.
He looked up from his drink to the pretty bartender in front of him. She was wearing an all black uniform. Her long blonde hair in a high ponytail. She looked like she was in her late 20s. She softly smiled at him.
Tough day…what was he supposed to answer to that?
He smiled back. "How can you have a tough day here?" He responded, thinking back to the last time he had a normal interaction with another human who didn't know about his secret or who wasn't a mafia boss. It had been a long time.
"You American?" She asked in an Italian accent.
He nodded. "Where?" She continued.
He took a sip of his drink before answering. "Gotham." He finally said, waiting for her reaction.
Her eyes widened. "Oh my God. Did you lose anyone?"
He liked her candor. She certainly wasn't holding back with her questions.
Her question would be easy to answer for anyone else but him. He didn't lose anyone. Nobody he loved had died during Bane's reign. But he felt he had lost a lot. His life forever changed. Maybe he had lost Cat.
"No." He finally responded. "I was lucky."
He was surprised she didn't recognize him but then again he wasn't as famous outside of Gotham, let alone outside of the states.
"No wonder you look so depressed." She said, filling another glass with scotch. "It's on the house."
He was about to protest the free drink but then thought better of it, finishing his glass first before taking the second with a thankful nod.
For a moment he tried to imagine what it would be like to be a regular guy. Someone without the emotional baggage. Someone who would just enjoy a drink in the Italian sun with a pretty bartender flirting with him.
It was a foreign concept to him.
He felt bitterness in his heart.
The bartender was looking at him softly with her pretty blue eyes. It wasn't the empty stare of a superficial women who wanted him for his money. There was genuine curiosity in her eyes.
It felt good to have someone look at him with fresh eyes, not knowing about his past, not knowing about his mask or his past mistakes. She didn't know how many people he had hurt and disappointed. For a moment, it felt good to be looked at as just another guy in a bar. No baggage. No history.
In that moment it was like he could see Cat sitting next to him, smiling, rolling her eyes at him: "You just like her accent."
He smiled at the thought. His smile vanished, making room for the pain in his heart again. He couldn't even put it in words how much he missed her.
All he wanted was to hear Cat's laugh again. To be with her. No more back and forth.
He took a deep breath and swallowed hard. When he looked up he saw the bartender look at him concerned.
He just smiled at her, finished his drink and put a 20 Euro bill on the table. "Have a good night." He said as he got up.
"You too."
He walked back to his apartment, emptiness following him like a shadow through the narrow streets.
It had been three weeks since the cyber attack in Berlin and now the media had shifted focus away from it.
The official line was much different than what actually took place.
Daniel and I were just tying up loose ends, making sure nothing slipped through the cracks. He was now part of a special task force, arresting Medved's men across Europe.
I was at Daniel's apartment as we were discussing the latest leads.
"Question Goodwyn."
"I'm all ears." "
Why are you still keeping me around? Our agreement ended a long time ago."
"Why? Because as much as it pains me to admit it, Hunter, you're damn good at this. I couldn't have solved the cyber attack without you."
I smiled triumphantly. "Finally you're making sense."
He laughed.
"I think it's time for me to go back to Gotham." I said.
He nodded. "I figured as much. But let me ask you this - why go back to Gotham? What's there for you?"
"You're not the first to ask me that. I don't know. Maybe I'll get there and realize I don't need to be there anymore."
"What about Wayne?"
The doorbell rang.
"Saved by the bell." I smiled.
He sighed and got up and answered the door.
I took another sip of wine, staring blankly at the kitchen table, wondering what was next.
In the distance I heard Daniel talk to whoever was at the door.
"Can I help you?" Daniel asked.
"I'm so sorry to bother you. I'm looking for Catherine Hunter."
The familiar voice ripped me out of my day dream.
"Yes she is here. Come on in. You must be Sam."
"Yes, that's me."
I just stood there, unable to move.
Her eyes locked on me when she saw me. For a few seconds she didn't say anything and then she ran towards me, hugging me tightly.
"I was so worried about you." She said under tears.
I felt like she was hugging an empty shell.
Daniel was standing at the door, his eyes locking on mine as I was hugging Sam. He just nodded at me as if he wanted to say "go ahead, try to be a normal human again."
Sam broke the hug and looked at me. "Are you ok?" She asked.
"Yes, yes. I'm fine." "I was so worried when I never heard from you. All I knew was that you went to Europe and I get it after everything that happened with Bruce. You needed time to yourself. But when I never heard anything from you I got worried so I called Alfred. He told me you would be here. I was so worried."
"I'm fine."
She wiped tears from her face. "I don't want to lose you."
I hugged her. "You could never lose me."
"It feels like I am."
I broke the hug and took a deep breath. "I'm sorry I was AWOL. The truth is after everything that happened with Bane… I just feel like I'm broken goods."
"I get it, you think you can't connect to me anymore because I didn't go through what you have. But I'm always here for you."
"I know. I'm sorry I ghosted you." She smiled and then gestured behind her mouthing "Who is he?"
"Oh, I'm sorry. Sam, this is Daniel Goodwyn."
She eagerly shook his hand. "Nice to meet you."
"You as well."
My phone rang. "Sorry, I have to take this." I said. "I will be right back."
Daniel and Sam were standing in silence, but not for long since Sam had a million questions.
"So, are you guys…?" She didn't finish the question, hoping he would fill in the blank.
He cleared his throat. "No." He shook his head and smiled.
"Huh. Sorry, I'm incredibly nosy but I haven't seen her in forever and feel like I don't know what she is doing anymore, so pardon the questions."
"Go right ahead."
"So…may I ask why there's nothing going on between the two of you?"
He laughed, feeling a bit awkward. "Well, I'd say there are probably plenty of reasons. For most of them you'd have to ask her. But I think Wayne would kill me if I made so much as a move on her."
She looked sad. "I'm sure he would want her to be happy."
"Sure. But he made it pretty clear to me he isn't a fan of me. He was ready to fight me for just stating the obvious. Batman made an appearance you might say."
She looked confused. "Wait… I think I misheard. I thought you were talking about Bruce Wayne."
"Yes."
"But…"
In that moment he realized Cat had never told her that Wayne was still alive.
"Oh boy." He said. "This is awkward."
"What is?" I asked as I walked back in.
"I'm just…" Sam looked like she had seen a ghost. "I'm just trying to understand."
"I may have mentioned something about my last interaction with a certain someone who is declared dead." Daniel said.
I widened my eyes realizing that I had never broken the news to Sam.
She looked at me confused. "What is he talking about, Cat?"
I closed my eyes, biting my lips. "He is…" I cleared my throat. "Bruce is alive."
"What?" Sam asked in a high pitched voice. "That makes no fucking sense… You buried him."
"I thought he was dead. He left me thinking he was. Then I found this stupid clue that he had hidden for me. That lead me to Italy and that's where he is. Alive and well."
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"I…I don't know." I said, avoiding eye contact with her.
"But why was this guy…" she pointed at Daniel. "…talking about Batman and Bruce in the same sentence?"
My eyes snapped up at Daniel. "Yeah, very sorry about that one as well." He said sheepishly.
Sam crossed her arms in front of her body. "Catherine Victoria Hunter."
"I didn't know your middle name was Victoria." Daniel said, leaning against the wall with a smile. I wanted to yell at him - are you fucking serious right now?
"Well," I said. "I guess there is no reason to hide that from you anymore. Bruce is Batman."
Sam looked like someone who was just told that a person they knew very well wasn't only alive but was also Batman. "Are you fucking kidding me?"
"No." I said, feeling badly for not telling her sooner. "I wanted to tell you but it is his secret to share."
"But this random British guy knows?" She asked, pointing at Daniel. "No offense."
"None taken." He assured her.
"He…just guessed it. I would have never told him."
"This is fucking insanity." Sam said. "And you knew all this time?"
I shook my head. "When I told you, he had cheated on me…he never did. In reality I had just found out who he really was."
"Holy shit." She said still overwhelmed with all this information. "Now it all makes sense. That's why you were so hesitant to tell him you were pregnant."
I immediately looked at Daniel who looked at me carefully and concerned with that new information. I wish Sam wasn't thinking out loud right now.
I cleared my throat. "Again…sorry I didn't tell you. I just couldn't."
"So, it was Bruce who saved my life." She continued. For some reason I had almost forgotten that he had.
"Yeah." I said quietly.
"Do you know how badly I wanted to thank whoever the Batman is for saving my life? And he was right there and you never said anything."
"I'm so sorry. I just…it wasn't my…"
"…secret to tell. Yeah, yeah. I had just hoped that I was the exception. I tell you everything."
"I'm sorry. I wanted to. I got back to Gotham and then Bane appeared."
She nodded. "I'm not mad. I understand. I hope going forward you can just tell me things."
Daniel raised his eyebrows at me. I knew what he was getting at.
"There may be one more thing." I said. Sam just looked at me in anticipation.
"Do you know…Black Viper?" I asked.
"The girl-Batman version?" She asked.
Daniel chuckled at the comparison.
I sighed in frustration. "Yeah, that's the one."
"Yes. And…?"
"Well…you're looking right at her."
Sam looked at me for a second without an expression. Then she started to laugh. "You're funny. That's a joke, right?"
Reluctantly I shook my head.
"But…you don't know how to fight."
"Oh she does." Daniel offered.
"Holy shit. I saw some of the footage. That's you?" Sam asked.
I nodded.
"My best friend is a fucking bad ass." She said proudly.
I smiled at her.
"Wait, have you been working on the whole cyber terror attack?" She asked.
I nodded reluctantly.
"That's amazing. I only have like a billion questions for you." She said and laughed.
I smiled and knew the feeling only too well. But now I also understood Bruce better. When I asked him all these questions about Batman and he grew more quiet and uncomfortable with each question - it was not natural for me to share anything about my masked personality. Only this was a fairly new side of me. He had lived years, hiding who he was.
He heard a knock on the door early in the morning.
Opening the door, he saw Alfred standing there with a sly grin on his face.
He sighed. "What now?"
"I thought I just might help you with the move, sir." Alfred said as he walked in.
"What move? What are you talking about?"
"May I remind you of the fact that you're rich, sir?"
"Alfred…" He sighed, rubbing his temples. He wasn't in the mood for Alfred's weird games. "What is this about?"
The old butler was still grinning from ear to ear. "The fact that you have money, a lot of money, makes me question why someone like you would stay in a place like this."
"What's wrong with this place?" He asked and shrugged.
The butler just raised his eyebrows at him, not even dignifying it with an answer. "I have already rented a better establishment for you, sir."
He sighed. "Alfred I don't need a better place. I'm not playing the role of the arrogant billionaire anymore so there's no need to show off my wealth."
"Correct, sir. That's why it's time to just live and enjoy the lifestyle of an arrogant billionaire."
"Alfred…" He started to protest.
"Respectfully, sir, I'm not taking no for an answer. Looks like you don't have much to pack."
Alfred drove him to his new house at the ocean. He had to admit, it was a lot nicer. It was fully furnished. Marble floors. Tall ceilings and wide open windows. He could smell the salty ocean breeze.
"I also took the liberty to buy you a new wardrobe since I'm assuming you haven't done much shopping." Alfred said as he opened the full closet.
To his surprise, this time they were only two suits. The rest was linen shirts, t-shirts, shorts, pants.
"You do realize - you can't make me into a normal person by bringing me here? You think I put on these clothes and I'm changing into a person who can just sit by the beach and read a book?"
"I don't presume to think anything, sir. But you need to make an attempt at figuring out what the life of Bruce Wayne looks like now. Maybe it's this. Maybe it isn't. You can only know once you try it."
It had been close to a month when he last saw her. That night in Istanbul when she reminded him of one of his biggest failures. She was right, he had underestimated Bane. His mistake almost cost the life of her and millions of others. If it hadn't been for his mistake - he would be a father now.
He had not forgiven himself for it. And it seemed - neither had she.
As the sun was setting, he took a walk on the beach. His hands in his pockets, he was watching his feet in the sand - taking one step after another. It was a metaphor for his life in many ways. He was walking away from his old life, but not sure what he was walking towards.
He looked out at the ocean and then suddenly had an image of him and Cat in L.A. How she was laughing in his arms as he almost dipped her in the water. He closed his eyes as if to preserve the memory better that way.
The sound of the waves hitting the shore were the perfect soundtrack to the images in his mind. It made it more real, as if he could feel her legs around his waist, feel her hair in his hands before he let go and leaned over and she was screaming and laughing.
"American?" The voice interrupted his thoughts.
He turned around and saw the blonde bartender. She was wearing workout clothes and wiped sweat off her forehead.
She smiled at him. "I thought it was you." She said out of breath. He nodded at her, forcing a smile.
"Aurora." She said, stretching her hand out.
He thought about what name he was going to go with for before taking her hand.
"Phillip." He used his middle name. Most people didn't know he had a middle name. Using his first name wasn't an option - he didn't want her to know who he was if he could avoid it.
"Nice to officially meet you." She said.
He didn't say anything else, waiting for her to keep on jogging. She didn't.
"What's your deal?" She asked.
"Excuse me?"
"You said you didn't lose anyone but here you are, looking like you did."
"Maybe I'm not used to the European conversation style…" He said annoyed. "Don't you think you're assuming a little much? You don't know me and we've just met."
"Ah yes." She smiled, tilting her head, her high pony tail bouncing to the side. "I forgot I was supposed to do mindless chit-chat, no?"
He didn't respond, hoping she would simply leave.
"Come on," she said. "Walk with me."
He was taken-aback by her confidence. He had given her absolutely no indication that he was interested in continuing this conversation. But she kept pressing on.
"I was enjoying a walk by myself." He said.
"Sure you were. Come on."
He sighed and started walking, realizing there was no getting rid off her.
"So, since you're not sharing much of yourself let me." She said.
"You don't have to…"
"My dream is to own my own bar in Rome. My drinks have won awards you know? So maybe next time order something more extraordinary than a scotch on the rocks."
He smiled. "I'll try." The reality was he was already thinking there would be no next time. He wasn't going back to that restaurant.
"What do you do?" She asked.
"I retired."
"Retired? How old are you?"
He laughed.
"Right. Wrong question." She said. "I guess I should have asked: how rich are you?"
He shrugged. "I've done well for myself."
"Banking?" She asked.
"No, I own a big company."
She nodded.
They continued their walk until the sun set. It was nice to just talk to someone as if he was a normal person. But at the same time, she only reminded him how much he missed Cat. There shouldn't be a reason for it. Aurora seemed perfect. She was smart, funny and undeniably pretty.
But she wasn't Cat.
As he was thinking that, Aurora suddenly came closer to him, looking him deep into his eyes. "I wish I could take that sadness away for you." She said quietly as she softly placed a hand on his face.
He didn't respond and before he could react he felt her lips on his. Soft and gentle. For a second he let it happen, hoping for a moment he would feel the fire in him he did when he kissed Cat. But there was nothing in him that responded even remotely like that.
Maybe he had to give it a real effort? A real test?
He pulled her closer, opening his mouth, invading hers with his tongue. She leaned against him.
That's when he realized what he was doing. He was using her to test if he could get over Cat. If he was ever able to be with anyone else. As if he wanted to prove to himself that he would be ok without her.
How pathetic was he?
He stopped the kiss. Her blue eyes looking at him confused in the dim light.
"I'm sorry." He said. "I just got out of a relationship."
"Ah." She nodded. "I see. That explains it."
"Sorry I should have said something earlier. You seem like a great girl…"
She held her hand up to stop him. "We can skip this part."
He nodded.
"It's a shame." She said with a smile. "You seem like a great guy. Good night American."
With that she was jogging away on the beach.
He ran his hands over his face, feeling disgusted with himself. What in the world was he doing?
He took off his shirt and jumped into the ocean. Five aggressive butterfly strokes and he was out pretty far. He flipped on his back and looked at the stars that were slowly appearing on the darkening sky. Floating for a moment he realized now more than ever how lost he was. He had no idea what he was going to do with his life.
It was good spending some time with Sam again. Just the two of us - just like old days. Except for the fact that I wasn't the same person anymore, even if I was trying.
Sam had to go back to work in L.A. After I had dropped her off at the airport, I met up with Daniel at my apartment to discuss another lead we had gotten.
I knew it was time for me to soon leave and go back to Gotham but I was unsure of what I was going to do there. Here - even if it was just for a brief moment - I felt I had purpose.
The sun had just set on London, the city bustling with commuters trying to beat the rush hour.
I heard a knock on the door and opened it.
"I have your favorite Thai food." Daniel said, holding up the bag with food.
I laughed. "You realize I would have let you in without it, too." "Sure but having some bargaining power is always better."
As we were eating, setting up our laptops and notes, Daniel suddenly looked serious.
"What is it?" I asked.
"Why are you still here, Hunter?"
I bit my lips, hoping we could quickly switch topics. "In London?"
He nodded.
"Who doesn't want to live in London?" I responded with a smile.
"I'm serious Hunter."
"Are you trying to get rid off me?" "
No, not at all. If I had my way you'd be signing up with Mi6 right now and work with me. But I don't think you're here because you want to. I think you're here because you don't know what else to do."
"Stop analyzing me."
"What about Wayne?"
I rolled my eyes. "What about him?"
"When are you going to get over yourself and forgive him?"
I sighed in frustration. "I don't have to get over myself. I don't love him anymore. We're done."
"Is that so?" Daniel said in a tone that promised no good news.
He simply turned his laptop around, facing it towards me.
I froze, looking at the picture on the screen. I bit my teeth together, trying not to show emotion.
"Remind me why you're showing this to me?" I asked in a casual tone, as if seeing a picture of Bruce kissing a blonde woman on a beach didn't get to me.
"I was just wondering if you wanted to know." He said, looking carefully at my reaction.
"I don't." I said in a matter of fact tone, trying to erase the image from my head. But my attempts were useless. It had burnt itself in my mind. The woman leaning into him as their lips met. This time he wasn't playing a role. He wasn't fake kissing a woman.
But what was I expecting? I broke up with him. He was a single man. A handsome single man.
"Really?" Daniel kept asking.
"Really. I don't know why you're so obsessed with this." I was telling myself that she had kissed him and he had not immediately reacted - that he was about to stop the kiss. That was a version I could live with.
"Because you're trying so hard to convince yourself that you have no feelings for the guy… It's like a challenge for me."
"That's the most childish thing I've ever heard in my …"
"Challenge accepted!" He smiled.
"I didn't challenge you." I said as I crossed my arms in front of me.
He showed me another picture, which looked like it was taken a few seconds after the first one.
Now Bruce held the woman in his arms as they were kissing passionately.
I felt my blood freeze, my heart sink - but I tried hard not to show any of it to Daniel.
"Fine, you want to play dirty? Two can play that game." I said, taking my time to say the name I knew would hurt him. "Anna." His facial expression darkened by the mention of her name.
"Let's play a game." I said with a smile as I opened the bottom shelf of the desk where the vodka was hidden. "You're so desperate, trying to figure out how I feel… Let's raise the stakes." I put down the bottle.
"What's the game?" He asked.
"We drink when it hurts."
He looked not thrilled by the idea.
"Me first." I said as I took a big sip. "That's for the fucking pictures. Your turn." I handed him the bottle.
He sighed. "That's for mentioning her name." He said as he took a sip and then handed the bottle back to me. "Bruce Wayne." He said and watched me wince at the simple mention of his name.
"An eye for an eye I guess." I said, taking a sip. "Anna is the love of your life."
He nodded and took a sip. "Wayne broke your heart when he pretended to die."
I took a big sip, the vodka burning in my throat.
"You never got over Anna's death."
He took a big sip. "You haven't dealt with your feelings for Wayne."
I bit my lips together, grabbing the bottle and taking another big sip. "You blame yourself for her death."
He looked stoic for a moment before he took another big sip. "You lost his child and you can't forgive yourself for it."
"Anna is still alive." I said the words, knowing what they would do to him and already hating myself for it.
I had become this different person - at times heartless. This was one of those moments. I was hurting so much all the time that I had grown numb to hurting others, it appeared.
I had been intentionally hurting Bruce and now I saw what my words did to Daniel.
His face froze, he looked a shade paler before getting up and charging at me, stopping just an inch in front of my face.
"Don't you dare joke about her." He yelled at me with an amount of anger I had never seen in him before.
"I'm not." I said. "I tracked her down a week ago."
"Bullshit. I'm not even going to listen to you anymore." He said, grabbing his jacket. "You're fucked up, you know that?"
"I'm sure I am, but it's true. I have proof." I loaded the picture of her, that the security camera had picked up, on my phone and held it towards him.
He stood far away enough that he couldn't see it, but suddenly he stopped and looked at me, calculating if he wanted to see it.
I had started to investigate his past and had found out about Anna. That had triggered my interest in finding her. I wanted to know more about his emotional background since he knew so much about mine.
"I tried to find her for months." He said quietly, still not moving any closer. "Then I found a death certificate. She is dead."
"I found that same certificate." I said. "But something seemed too convenient about that. An agent, one of the best of her kind, suddenly died in a car accident?"
"Convenient?" He asked, looking at me in disgust. "Nothing about her death was convenient."
I realized my choice of words wasn't very sensitive.
"I kept searching." I continued. "Her last official post for Mi6 was…"
"Florence, Italy." He finished my sentence.
I nodded, realizing that he had probably memorized every little detail about this. "The last guy she worked with over there was this guy who owns this carpet shop."
"Yeah, nice guy, I talked to him."
"I did as well and so you know what I'm about to tell you next."
He nodded. "That he saw her on August 3rd at 6:45 in the evening. She was wearing a flower dress and heels and said she was going to have a walk through the city. Her mission with Mi6 was accomplished and she was scheduled to go back London the next day." He stopped because the next chapter of the story was that Anna got into a cab which collided with a truck at 7:32 p.m., practically pulverizing the small FIAT. According to the medical examiner's report, she died instantly due to blunt force trauma.
"I looked at the surveillance camera footage." I said after a few seconds of silence.
"So have I." It showed Anna at a street corner, ordering a cab and then her getting into the cab. Moments later you see that car a few blocks south, getting hit by the truck.
"Then I noticed who she was with." I said.
He looked at me confused. "She wasn't there with anyone. It was just her at the street corner.
I nodded. "That's what I thought at first."
I opened my laptop and flipped the screen towards him. He still hadn't moved, standing close to the door with his jacket in his hand.
"Nobody is standing next to her. But then I looked at this window." I pointed at the window and there was a reflection of a man next to her.
He walked slowly closer to the screen, looking at it.
"I ran his ID through the system and it turns out he's a former CIA guy. I think Anna wanted out of the agency and this was the perfect way to do it. Fake her own death. They obviously still have good connections within the agency since they got him to be erased from the footage. Anyway, I followed his moves, credit card transaction etc. And voila, suddenly I found her." I said, holding my phone toward him with the picture of Anna.
Slowly he walked towards me and looked at it. She had changed her hair dramatically. She used to have long blonde hair, now it was a short brunette bob.
"She's in Morocco." I said.
He didn't say anything for a very long time, his face stoic and pale.
I felt awful about how I had presented this to him, but in my head I was already trying to justify it.
"You've had this for a week?" He said barely audible, still looking at the picture.
"Yes."
He looked at me with despise in his eyes. "What the fuck is wrong with you?" He said putting my phone back into my hand with force.
"You told me to know all weaknesses of who you're working with." I said, defending my actions. "Imagine your enemies had found her and used her against you."
He was extremely calm - eerily calm. "Don't dare trying to justify this shit to me."
"What?" I shrugged. "You just showed me pictures of Bruce just because you wanted to get a reaction out of me."
He shook his head. "You're right. I told you to get to know who you working with and apparently I severely misjudged your character." He left, closing the door loudly behind him and I felt awful.
Yes, he had shown the pictures of Bruce to me - but I knew why he actually did it. He wanted me to confront my inner demons. Daniel had been nothing but supportive to me. Why did I have to be intentionally hurtful?
Anna had been declared dead a year ago. A year he assumed the love of his life had died and here I was, telling him she was alive and faked her death and never informed him about it. It wasn't like Bruce - who made sure I would know he was still alive. She let him go through all of this and never came back to him.
I sank onto the couch, feeling disgusted with myself for putting Daniel through this, but more so for treating Bruce the way I had.
Suddenly it all came crushing down on me - my hateful words towards Bruce and how I kept blaming him for everything.
I wiped away tears of bitterness and loathing towards myself. Just now I realized I had projected all my pain onto Bruce and wanted to make him pay for all of it.
I got up, washed my face with cold water and headed to a dive bar around the corner. I couldn't handle being alone with my thoughts right now.
I sat down at the counter and the bartender looked at me with a smile saying something in Italian.
"Sorry, I don't speak Italian." I said.
"Boyfriend trouble?" He repeated in English. I guess that was the normal reason for a young woman to come here, looking around, it was me and a group of older men, all sitting in silence, drinking their drinks.
"Yeah." I nodded. "Gin and tonic please."
Four drinks later, I stumbled back to my apartment. I still felt awful about everything but now it seemed further away. My worries were blocked by the mushy feeling of booze.
"Who does this?" I said quietly, talking to myself. "Hey - by the way this is your dead girlfriend. She's still alive. And if you didn't know it - I'm really fucked up." I laughed to myself, almost falling over my feet, but catching myself, leaning against the wall. "Fuck you're pathetic." I said as I slid down the wall and sat on the floor for a moment. Closing my eyes, the whole world was spinning.
I saw that stupid picture of Bruce and the blonde in my head on an endless loop. I wish my imagination would stop there but instead my brain forced me to see what might have happened next. Them walking back to his room, getting undressed…
Was he happy? Was he moving on? Was he in love?
I opened my eyes and shook my head as if that would erase the images. I tried to get up, which wasn't easy since everything was spinning. Finally I stood on my two feet again, slowly moving. It started raining and I didn't mind it one bit. I didn't care anymore. I felt so awful for how I had treated Daniel, and even more so Bruce, that anything that was coming my way was justified punishment.
I made my way home and fell into bed with my clothes still on.
In the morning, the bright sun rays outside slowly woke me up. I checked my watch - it was noon. My head was hurting, I felt sick to my stomach and my mouth felt dry. I walked to the kitchen, squinting my eyes from the bright light. The cold water wasn't sitting well with my empty, upset stomach.
I closed my eyes, feeling all sorts of mad at myself.
How had I become this person? What was wrong with me?
"Don't go there." I reminded myself, trying to stop my train of thought right there.
Enough feeling sorry for myself. I had to apologize to Daniel.
I grabbed a toast with butter and headed out the door.
Once at Daniel's house, I rang the doorbell but nobody answered. I knew he wouldn't answer if I texted or called him. Instead I tracked his cellphone. To my surprise he was at the airport.
I quickly hailed a cab and got to the airport, realizing it was like finding a needle in the haystack in here. I called him but as predicted - he didn't pick up. I looked up to the departure board, already thinking there was no way I would find him. And then I saw Casablanca, Morocco on the departure list which left in less than an hour.
He had to have already cleared security.
I knew I had to buy a ticket to get through security so I quickly bought the cheapest ticket to a destination close by.
I ran through security and to the gate where his flight would leave. Breathlessly I arrived, seeing him sit in one of the chairs, his bag next to him, his coat neatly folded over his arm.
He just looked at me and just now I realized how insane I must look.
"We need to talk." I said, catching my breath as I sat next to him.
He didn't say anything.
"I'm so sorry Daniel." I finally managed to say. "I don't know…I don't know this person that I've become. I don't recognize myself."
He nodded silently.
"I have no idea what's wrong with me or why I would do that to you." I said.
"I pushed you and wanted to find your breaking point and it appears I've found it. It also appears, you've found mine."
"I just can't tell you how sorry…"
He interrupted me. "If you're waiting for a 'no hard feelings'…"
I shook my head. "No, no. I don't expect you to forgive…"
He interrupted me again. "There are no hard feelings, Hunter."
I looked at him shocked for a moment.
"You are broken-hearted and suffered quite a bit of PTSD. I think you're only just now coming to grips with that." He said in a calm manner. "I'm not mad at you. Without you I wouldn't know she's still alive."
I swallowed hard. "My delivery sucked though." I said quietly.
He laughed. "Yeah, that it did."
"Are you going to look for her?"
He nodded. "She probably doesn't want to see me but I have to get closure."
I nodded.
"Hunter?" He said and I looked at him. "You and I both know you're apologizing to the wrong guy here."
I bit my lips together, trying to avoid getting emotional.
"He's out there." He continued. "He might have lied to you about dying but he didn't lie to you about being alive."
I wiped away tears, nodding.
"Final boarding call for flight 783 to Casablanca." The voice said over the speaker.
"I guess that's me." He said as he got up. I stood up, wiping away my tears.
He looked at me with a sad smile before he hugged me tightly. "Take good care of yourself, Hunter."
I nodded, trying not to cry out loud. My silent tears were embarrassment enough. "You as well."
He let go off me and grabbed his bag. He turned towards me and nodded at me with a smile before boarding.
I stood there for a while in the busy airport, people rushing by me and I felt truly lost. What was I doing? Where was I going? Was I becoming a vigilante by myself? Without anyone to support me? I didn't have an Alfred or a Fox. I had no money. No way to buy expensive toys. But more importantly - who was I becoming? This cold hearted person who hurts others? Who doesn't let anyone close to her?
Bruce had been right - I was afraid of letting him close and getting hurt again. In addition - all the balled up fear, anger, hurt - I had directed at Bruce.
After several minutes of me standing in the airport, unable to move, I finally walked out, never having felt quite so defeated.
He had a new routine. He woke up early and went for a run. Then he had a long breakfast on the balcony, overlooking the ocean, while reading the New York Times, international papers and catching up with news from Gotham.
His city had been slowly getting back to normal. Buildings were being rebuild. Bridges repaired. The city was healing. Slowly.
After breakfast, he would start his new workout routine that lasted for about 2 hours. Then came a high-protein lunch.
Around 3pm he checked the wires just to see what was going on and if he needed to help Cat.
Protein shake.
Then he would go for another run, take a shower, go have dinner at one of his favorite restaurants, walk down the beach to a bar in town. Have a drink. Go home.
Alfred had told him over and over again that his obsessive workout and daily routine wasn't healthy. Maybe not. But it kept his mind pre-occupied. He couldn't just do nothing. He couldn't just relax. That wasn't in his nature.
Going to a restaurant and a bar had been Alfred's idea - so Bruce wouldn't close off the world again like he had after Rachel's death.
He had protested at first but actually liked to be among people. He didn't want to talk to anyone - or let alone meet a woman - but it felt good to be among people who were talking, laughing.
He imagined that people in Gotham sounded similar as they were rebuilding their lives. The image of Gothamites having dinner together and enjoying life gave him a sense of purpose - he accomplished something. It was all worth it in the end.
When he walked back from the bar to his home, listening to the ocean, he thought of Cat every night. He missed her more than words could describe but he had come to the realization - there was never a 'happily ever after' in the cards for him. It was either death or this - whatever this was. Sometimes he wished it had been death.
Alfred wanted him to have a normal life with a wife and kids. But he didn't see that in his future. He didn't see 'normal' in his life at all. The only time he had been able to envision a future was with Cat.
No happily ever after - he reminded himself.
I had wolfed down some food, took a shower and changed into nicer clothes, packed my bag and headed back to the airport.
For the first time in a long time I felt like I had cleared my thoughts when it came to Bruce. I knew what I had to do.
I took the first flight to Amalfi. This all felt like dejavu in a way. Like the time when I flew back to Gotham to tell him I was pregnant, feeling guilty for not telling him sooner.
Of course those problems seemed insignificant now.
Amalfi was beautiful and I felt like I didn't belong here. Everyone seemed happy. Couples on vacation. Local families eating dinner. It was like out of a commercial. And then there was me. I wasn't sunshine and roses. I was dark and twisted.
I checked into my hotel, then walked around the area. I knew what I was doing, I was trying to postpone having to talk to him.
Then I turned on the link of the security cameras on my laptop, which allowed me to see where he would be. He still didn't use a trackable cellphone which was really annoying.
I could have just asked Alfred where he was but that would have meant him knowing I was there. This way, I could still leave without a word if I decided to chicken out last minute. It wasn't rational, but it's what I needed right now.
I saw him leave his house and it still had the same effect on me. Just the sight of him made my adrenaline hike up instantly.
He was wearing a white linen shirt and dark jeans, his hands in his pocket, his dark hair combed back.
He walked down a few streets to a restaurant.
An hour later, he left said restaurant and went a few blocks down the street to a bar. I had never seen him go to a bar without there being a mafia boss he needed to talk to. But this was the new Bruce Wayne. Maybe he liked going to bars now?
I closed my laptop, freshened up and went to the bar. Enough waiting around. I would just walk in there and talk to him.
I got to the bar which was not fancy but not a dive bar either. I walked in, trying to spot Bruce. It was certainly busy in here.
I walked around, still looking for him, when my eyes locked on him. He didn't see me. He was standing in the corner, talking to a woman with red hair.
I kept walking towards him when she suddenly leaned in and kissed him. I stopped, waiting for him to stop her. My blood freezing. But he didn't.
As if I had seen a ghost I ran out of the bar.
Had he become the playboy he always pretended to be? Now that he was single, was he just going from one woman to the next?
My breath was hiking up, I was swimming in a pool of mixed emotion, between hurt and anger, embarrassment and frustration.
I drove back to the hotel. Coming here had been a mistake.
Dinner was delicious but it all felt like something he needed to check of a list. He wasn't living life, he was going from one event in the day to the next.
Morning run - check.
Breakfast - check.
Dinner - check.
Did he enjoy any of it? The answer was staring back at him definitively from his half empty glass.
He was here at the bar, not because he wanted to, but because he felt he had to. His new role as Bruce Wayne was trying to live a normal life. As with everything he did, he would give it a hundred percent of his effort.
He wandered to the corner of the bar, looking at an old picture of the building from 1943.
"You're not from here, are you?" A distinctly American voice asked him.
He turned around and the woman with red hair, wearing a green dress, smiled at him.
"What gave me away?" He asked with a smile and was surprised to find himself react with the old facade of Bruce Wayne. It was suddenly as if he needed to pretend again.
It was probably because the woman in front of him seemed fake so it was easy to respond with being fake.
It suddenly reminded him again of how he was never fully able to pretend in front of Cat. From the get-go, she was able to see right through him.
"I don't know." The woman said with a smile. "I guess it's good to spot another fellow American in the crowd." She said, brushing her hair to one side of her neck.
"Look," he said, seeing where this was going. "I just got out of a serious relationship…"
"Good. I can help you forget her." She smiled at him seductively.
He sighed - apparently he needed to be more direct. "I'm flattered, but I'm just here to enjoy a drink by myself."
"Have it your way." She said with a smile.
Suddenly she leaned in - her lips hitting his. He was taken aback for a second before he pushed her away.
"Ok, enough." He said annoyed but suddenly felt really dizzy. He felt the color drain from his face,
"You alright, cowboy?" She asked with a smile.
He wasn't so sure - the room was spinning. He was trying to focus but white lights were flashing in front of his eyes. His knees were giving in but he held on to the wall.
"Careful there." The woman said as she stabilized him. "Looks like someone had too much to drink."
Definitely not.
He only had half a drink and these effects were not those of alcohol - at least not with such sudden potency.
He was fighting to not black out.
"Shhhhh." The woman said as he leaned his body weight against the wall, at this point unable to see anything anymore.
"What…" He tried to speak, which was getting harder and harder. "What did you put in my drink?"
"Oh honey." She laughed. "I didn't put anything in your drink."
He lost the grip on his glass, which shattered as it hit the floor.
That's when he realized his lips were tingling. He wiped his lips but his efforts were too late.
His knees buckled as he fell to the floor. The last thing he heard before he went unconscious was her talking to someone else: "Oh yes he's fine, he's just had too much to drink."
The next morning I was ready to slap myself. Why was I so childish? I seriously couldn't get over myself?
I had to finally just go over to his house and talk to him.
I walked up to Bruce's new house, which looked even more impressive in person than it had on the surveillance footage earlier.
I rang the doorbell and Alfred opened. He smiled at me and hugged me.
"It is so very good to see you Miss! Come in."
"I can't stay long."
"Long enough for a tea, I hope?"
"I was just here to talk to Bruce."
He looked uncomfortable. "Master Wayne isn't home right now."
Oh God! He stayed the night with the red-haired girl? I suddenly felt sick to my stomach - but then again, what did I expect? He was single. I had pushed him away.
I nodded, trying to wrap my brain around that and trying to not seem too flustered.
"I can just leave him a message." I said.
"Certainly. But are you sure you don't want to tell him yourself? He would be delighted to see you."
"I don't know if I will get a chance to see him in person this time around. Just in case I don't, could you give this to him?" I handed him a letter.
He looked concerned as he took the letter. "I hope it's not bad news that I need to prepare him for?"
"No, it's an apology." I said, biting my lips together. "For how I treated him after everything."
Alfred looked at me surprised but didn't say anything.
"Well," I said awkwardly. "It was really good to see you again."
He nodded with a fatherly smile. "You're missed around here."
I smiled at him and hugged him goodbye.
I was sitting by the ocean for an hour, watching the waves come and go, trying to center myself.
It was hard to do, especially since I couldn't shake the fact that he - most likely - had sex with another woman last night. Why else would he have spent the night? Was that the definitive end for us? Or could I get over that? Again - I had been the one who ended things between us. But whether I wanted or not, I felt hurt and betrayed.
I spent the day in Amalfi, hoping he would contact me after reading the letter. Maybe he wouldn't?
Hours felt like days as time slowly passed and still no word from him. I packed my bag as the sun set, trying to come to grips with all of this. That's when the phone rang.
"Hello?"
"Miss Hunter?" It was Alfred. I closed my eyes. Was this Alfred trying to apologize for Bruce? Trying to make up an excuse?
"Hi Alfred." I responded.
"I'm sorry to disturb you but I have a favor to ask of you."
A favor? I didn't see that coming.
"Of course." I said. "Anything."
"I still haven't heard from Master Wayne."
I bit my lips together. Great. His date was apparently going well.
"I'm sure he's fine." I said. "I saw him with a woman last night. I'm guessing the two hit it off."
"A woman?" Alfred asked as if the concept of Bruce with a woman was foreign to him.
"Yes."
"That doesn't sound like him."
"I don't know, Alfred. First a blonde woman, now a red-head… Sounds like he's living up to his name after all."
There was silence for a moment and then Alfred spoke again. "I do realize I'm asking a lot, but, for old times sake…"
I took a sharp inhale. "Of course Alfred. Anything for you."
"I appreciate it, Miss. I just can't shake the feeling that something is wrong. Maybe that is just my worried old heart getting the better of me."
"I'll look into it."
"Thank you."
"You don't need to thank me, Alfred. Not after everything you've done for me."
Great. Now I was investigating Bruce's love life.
I was hoping him and that girl at least closed the curtains. I didn't need an actual picture of that. The image in my head was vivid enough.
I sat down, pulling up my laptop. I guess it was a good thing now that I had been stalking him before.
I looked at the security footage of the outside of the bar. I fast forwarded it, looking for Bruce and that woman to leave.
On the footage, I saw myself enter and shortly after get out of the bar. I sighed.
But there was no sign of Bruce leaving.
"There must be a back entrance." I said to myself.
I googled a map and looked for a camera pointing at the back entrance. Sure enough, after some efforts, I found it.
I fast forwarded the footage once again and saw a black car pull up in front of it. Then shortly after, I saw the door open. It was hard to tell but I was pretty sure two men were carrying Bruce out of the bar and into the car. I couldn't see his face but I was sure it was him.
I held my breath, suddenly scared.
Then I saw the red-haired woman get in the car as well. What the hell was going on?
Whatever it was, Alfred had unfortunately been right. Through the security footage, I followed the car until it came to a stop outside of town. The men carried Bruce into a house.
My adrenaline was through the roof. I got up in one fast move, grabbing my bag and opening the secret second compartment of it. I hadn't thought I would need it here - but I never traveled without my costume.
I got changed and called Alfred and told him what I had seen. I also sent him over the picture of the woman in the bar, in hopes of him being able to ID her.
I jumped into the rental car, driving to the location as far as I could.
Parking a few blocks away from the house, I made my way there as quietly as possible, moving from one rooftop to the next.
I cracked the lock on a window in the house and got in.
Who are these people? What do they want from him? Do they know he's Batman?
"Good morning."
The voice slowly woke him up from what had felt like a feverish dream. He was sitting on a chair, his hands tied behind his back, his feet tied together. He was only wearing pants.
"Actually, it's the middle of the night." The red-haired woman in front of him corrected herself as she took a seat in front of him.
"Who are you?"
"Whoever you want me to be." She said, crossing her legs and leaning back in the chair.
"Why am I here?" He asked.
"See, I like money and I'm being paid the big bucks to get you here."
"Why? Who wants me here?"
"Who wants you here? Nobody. They want you dead and they chose a secret spot to do it at because - after all - you're Bruce Wayne. Can't risk killing Bruce Wayne in public."
His head still felt dizzy. "Who wants to kill me?"
"Didn't you go to an Ivy League school?"
"Why does that matter?"
"I mean, aren't you supposed to be smart?"
"I never graduated."
"Ha! You have a sense of humor. Look at that."
"Are you going to tell me who wants me dead?"
"Think about it. You're officially dead but you told someone you still have a lot of money. Now - nobody knows you're actually still alive."
Medved. He was the only one who knew he had money and the only one who knew he was still alive.
"Even so, my money isn't in my mattress. Even if I'm dead he wouldn't get the money." He said.
"True. But they tell me they're very close to getting the last bit of information to drain those accounts."
"That's a bluff." She shrugged. "Honestly I don't care either way. I'll get my money once I'll hand you over to them."
"If they'll drain my accounts anyway - then why kill me?"
"Can't have any loose ends." She smiled. "Or so I've been told."
She slowly walked over to him. "It's a shame." She said as she suddenly eased herself onto his lap. He took a sharp inhale, biting his lips into a tight line, leaning back against the chair as far as he could. He knew what she was capable of, although he still wasn't sure how.
"I really don't want to see you get hurt, pretty boy." She said as her hands moved through his hair, her green eyes studying him, her voluminous lips forming a seductive smile.
"What was it you poisoned me with?" He asked.
"I thought you'd never ask." She said and leaned in closer to his lips. He tried to move away, struggling against the rope around his wrists and ankles.
"Easy tiger." She said laughing. "The poison is not on my lips. I'm not doing the same trick twice. Besides, I'm not going to kill you. I'll just have to keep you weak so you don't struggle when they get here. And by the looks of it…" She touched his bicep. "…it's probably a good idea on their part."
He thought about his options. He didn't have many. He could headbutt her but even if she was unconscious…what would do that for him? Medved's men would get here and then they would just shoot him anyway.
She wasn't still here because she needed to keep him weak, she was here because she wanted to be.
"It's not the money you're truly after, is it?" He asked.
She looked surprised. "What is it I'm after then?"
"I don't know. But if it's the money, you said yourself that I'm rich…"
She rolled her eyes. "Here comes the part where you tell me that you're going to pay me double what they're paying me if I help you."
"Exactly."
"Sure, let me just help you to get out of here and then you're going to write me a check, right?" She said sarcastically.
"I was thinking more like an immediate wire transfer… But a check works too." He smiled.
She laughed. "Funny. No, I'm gonna stick with the guaranteed paycheck. But I appreciate the offer."
It wasn't only about the money. She was worried about getting on the wrong side of Medved and he couldn't blame her.
She looked at him for a while, not saying anything.
"You're not begging for your life." She said confused.
He didn't respond. Maybe his time had come after all. He had never feared death. If it was here, by the hands of Medved's men, so be it.
She ran her hands over his pecks and then leaned against him, bringing her lips even closer to his.
"Such a waste." She said before she kissed him. Her lips were soft, her breath hot. This might be the perfect distraction - he thought - and replied the kiss. His tongue finding hers and she agreed to his invasion, responding with fervor. One of her hands was running through his hair, the other one on his chest.
Hoping the distraction would work, he brought his wrist to the side of the chair, where he had found something sharp. He was moving the rope against it, hoping it was sharp enough to cut through.
She interrupted the kiss and he stopped his attempt to cut himself free.
"I wish we had more time." She whispered in his ear, before he could feel a small sting in his neck, like that of a tack.
"Sweet dreams." She said as she stood up.
He couldn't believe how quickly her compounds worked. He already could feel his hands and feet turning numb and his vision getting blurry. It was a different feeling than last time. Whatever she gave him, it was not what she had used in the bar.
He tried to fight it, tried to stay awake but within seconds, everything turned black.
I had found my way to the room where Bruce was. It was a large, empty warehouse.
Through a window in the roof I could already see him. He was tide to a chair, not wearing a shirt. The red-haired woman was walking towards him, and then moved on his lap.
I bit my teeth together as jealousy was overcoming me.
She moved her hands through his hair and over his body while he was leaning back as far as he could.
I was looking at the best way for me to make it down there. She was too close to him for me to make a big entrance. She could easily just kill him. I needed her to step away from him.
Instead - she continued to run her hands all over him. What was she doing?
Then she leaned in and kissed him. What kind of criminal was she? Was she a crazed stalker? I was confused. Even more confused when I realized he was replying the kiss. This better not be some kind of weird bondage thing that I'm getting in the middle of.
I felt my stomach turn as I watched them kiss passionately. As if the images of him kissing the blonde on the beach hadn't been enough. I suppose this was my punishment for pushing him away.
After what felt like eternity, she stopped the kiss and got up. Finally! I was about to jump through the window and make my way down there when I suddenly saw his body go limp..
Fuck! Had I come too late?
Bruce's head was sinking within seconds and he appeared to be unconscious.
I moved through the window, slowly and carefully and watched the woman.
She put Bruce's face in her hand again and looked at him.
"Too bad they have to kill you, pretty boy." She said quietly to herself.
She let go off him and walked away a few steps, looking at her watch. That's when I saw my chance. I jumped off from the ceiling and landed right beside her.
"I don't think you're his type." I said with a smirk as I kicked her straight into her face.
She tumbled to the floor, her head hitting the ground hard, blood streaming from her noose.
I wasn't playing around. Whoever she was, she apparently knew her poisons. I didn't want to risk anything. Sure enough she turned around and was about to spray something at me when I kicked the bottle out of her hand and then stood on her hand.
She yelped in pain. "You're going to tell me what you poisoned him with." I said in a threatening voice.
She laughed. "It's not like you could fid the antidote to it or anything, sweetheart. But here's the good news - it's not going to kill him."
In that moment I felt a burning sensation in my leg that was spreading fast through my veins.
I checked my leg and saw she had stabbed something in there. I pulled it out and got up, my leg feeling completely numb. When she got up, she sprayed me with something else but I had already prepared myself, activating the full-facial respirator Fox had installed.
"I knew this would come in handy one of these days." I said.
Then she pointed the spray at Bruce. That's when I saw red.
I grabbed the dart from the bottom of my heel and yanked it in her neck, calculating not to kill her, hitting right next to her artery.
She held the dart with her hand, blood running down her neck, her eyes widened, staring at me in shock and then I knocked her out. I untied Bruce and tried to wake him up.
"Bruce!"
But the second I freed his hands he fell forward, collapsing into my arms.
"God, you're heavy." I sighed, trying to lift him up. There was no chance. He was a mountain of muscle mass. I tied a rope around his midsection. I would have to lift him out of here and do so fast before whoever wanted him dead walked in here.
I also tied the rope around me and then shot a dart with a line at the window. Pressing a button, the line yanked us up and onto the roof.
Now what? We couldn't stay here and I could barely move him.
But I had to - at least a little further. I grabbed him under his arms and dragged him across the roof. Suddenly my leg gave in. I stumbled and almost fell. Out of breath and in pain, I ripped open my costume at the side where I got stabbed. There was a black circle around my wound. I better not lose my fucking leg because of this!
I cut off one of my sleeves and wrapped it below the wound, tying a knot, hoping it would prevent the poison from spreading any further.
I grabbed Bruce by his arms again and continued dragging him, limping on only one leg. She better be right that this poison will not kill him. I couldn't lose him again.
I got to the end of the roof and then I used the line again to slowly let us down on the side of the building.
From there I dragged him two blocks to my car. I was on my way driving back, completely out of breath, when I called Alfred, telling him what had happened and also telling him to get Fox.
"Whatever she poisoned him with, I think it's beyond what you and I can do."
He woke up, his head dizzy. Alfred was sitting by his bed.
"Is this a dream?" He asked slowly. The words seemingly having trouble leaving his mouth.
It certainly felt like it was. Dejavu. Reminding him of when he was poisoned by Scarecrow.
Alfred smiled. "No, Master Wayne. This is very much reality. Welcome back." He said as he handed him a glass of water.
He took it eagerly, his mouth was dry. As he took a sip, he noticed Fox appearing next to Alfred. This really must be a dejavu.
He just stared at him, not sure if it was his mind playing tricks on him.
"I have to say, I've never brought anyone back from the dead." Fox said with a big grin on his face.
He laughed, glad to see that his old friend wasn't mad at him for faking his death.
"Were you out for some kicks again?" Fox asked.
Bruce smirked. "You know how it is." And shrugged.
He sat up straight, still feeling lightheaded. "What was I poisoned with?" Fox was about to give a lengthy, complicated answer when Bruce interrupted him. "In English please." Bruce said.
Fox smiled and nodded. "It's similar to date rape drugs, but much more potent."
"I say so. It knocked me out almost instantly."
"I also found a second compound in your blood."
Bruce nodded. "She drugged me twice. Once with a substance on her lips…"
Fox and Alfred both raised their eyebrows.
He sighed annoyed. "Give it a rest you two, she just leaned in and kissed me. I stopped her and then I felt dizzy. Seconds later I was out. I could feel my lips tingling though."
"Certainly an interesting way to poison someone." Fox said.
"Do we have any idea who she is?" Bruce asked, slowly getting out of bed.
Alfred pulled up her image on the computer. "Dr. Pamela Lillian Isley, a botanist from Seattle."
Bruce looked closely at the screen as he put on a t-shirt. "That's her."
Her piercing green eyes and her red hair were unchanged. But in the picture she was wearing a white lab coat and was wearing only minimal makeup.
"She said she's working with Medved." He continued. "Why would a botanist work with the Russian mob?"
"She's no regular botanist." Alfred said.
"Clearly."
"About eight years ago she was in love with her professor and he convinced her to go with him to steal an Egyptian artifact containing ancient herbs. Fearing she would implicate him in the theft, he poisoned her with the herbs, which are deadly and untraceable. But she survived and discovered she has acquired an immunity to all natural toxins and diseases. The FBI eventually found out about those events. She is on the most wanted list."
"Of course she is." He sighed.
"Her potions, which by the way are all derived from plants, are among the most deadly in the world. FBI agents gave her a nickname." "Which is?" "Poison Ivy."
Fitting - he thought.
"What happened to the professor?" Bruce asked.
"Oh she killed him." Alfred said. "At least that's what the FBI thinks. But they could never prove it."
As he looked at the screen, studying the pictures of her past, he suddenly realized he had no recollection of what happened after she poisoned him the second time.
"How did I get here?" He asked, turning to Alfred and Fox.
Alfred cleared his throat. "When you didn't return that evening I called for help."
"You called for help?" He repeated the sentence trying to understand where this was going.
Alfred nodded. "I called Miss Hunter."
He felt his blood boil. "You did what?"
"She found you and fought Poison Ivy."
"Where is she? Is she ok?" He asked, anger in his voice.
Fox answered his question. "She suffered a stab wound with a poisoned blade but I was able to isolate the poison. It will take some time to heal but she should be fine."
Bruce was furious. "You sent her to risk her life?"
Alfred shook his head. "No, I sent her to save yours. And she did."
"By risking hers! Don't ever put her in that position again."
The old butler didn't say anything else.
"Where is she now?" Bruce asked angrily.
"I don't know, sir." Alfred said. "She waited until she heard that Lucious had found an antidote for you and then she left. I asked her to stay but she declined."
She didn't want to see him. Only now did he realized that she probably saw Poison Ivy kiss him. As if he needed anything more to push her further away.
He bit his lips together, understanding he couldn't go after her. She decided to not see him. He had to let her go.
After several seconds of silence, in which Alfred and Fox looked at him like parents at their son who was just stood up by his prom date, he focused at the task at hand.
"So, what we do know at this point is that Medved wants me dead. Poison Ivy also mentioned that they would be hacking into my off-shore accounts. We need to move the money to a safer location."
I hobbled to open the kitchen, my leg still in tremendous pain.
Every step I took felt like a million little shards shooting through my leg.
With my glass of water, I hobbled back and reached the couch again and took a deep inhale as I grabbed my laptop.
Poison Ivy.
Alfred had sent me her file. Now it all made sense. The potent poisons were her own creation.
I needed to find her before she found me or Bruce. Their mission wasn't over. And now - because I had helped Bruce - I was on their kill list as well.
It was hard to concentrate, the pain in my leg increasing. I took a deep breath, trying to breathe through the pain but to little success. I touched my forehead and felt hot, despite the cold sweat.
I walked to the bathroom and looked at myself in the mirror. I was pale, my eyes looked almost bloodshot.
"This isn't good." I mumbled to myself and looked at the wound again. It was black - that couldn't be a good sign.
I felt dizzy. I had no choice, I had to act fast.
I grabbed a cab and the driver dropped me off at Bruce's house. I needed to see Fox.
The cab driver kept yelling at me, telling me not to throw up in his cab. Apparently he thought I was drunk.
I ignored him, which was easy to do since his voice was getting further and further away. I was fighting to stay conscious.
I paid the cabbie and got out, barely able to walk anymore. Why was this suddenly getting so much worse again?
Holding on to the wall, I stabilized myself as I rang the doorbell. Alfred opened the door and looked at me worried. "Miss, are you alright?"
"Is…Fox still here?" I asked, barely able to speak.
My vision was getting blurry and that's when I saw Bruce in a black t-shirt and black pants walk up. He looked worried.
Then everything turned black.
He had heard the concern in Alfred's voice when he opened the door. Then he heard her voice. It was weak and out of breath.
He walked over and then he saw her. Her face was as white as a wall. Her eyes seemed glazed over.
She was holding herself up against the wall before her knees gave in.
He snatched her up before she could hit the ground, pulling her body into his arms, carrying her to the bedroom.
"Get Fox." He said to Alfred, who was already on it.
He placed her on the bed, ripping open the side of her black yoga pants. He removed the bandage and felt his heart sink when it revealed a horrendous looking wound.
"There must have been a second toxin in there that I overlooked." Fox said as he walked in.
"Can you find an antidote?" "I'm going to work as fast as possible." Fox said, inserting a needle into her arm and taking her blood.
Bruce cleaned her wound, something that he definitely had developed an expertise in over the years. But the wound seemed clean, it was the poison that was spreading fast.
Fox analyzed her blood. The old man didn't say a word, concentrating on the task at hand and not giving him any idea if he was making any progress or not.
"Lucious." Bruce finally said, waiting anxiously for him to tell him if she was going to be okay.
He looked up at him as if he had just ripped him out of a daydream. "Oh she is going to be fine."
Bruce felt as if a ton of weight was lifted from him. He took a deep inhale. "Couldn't you have said that earlier?"
"I didn't know earlier." Fox smiled at him, preparing a mixture and administrating it to her. "Poison Ivy's compound worked in two stages. I caught the first stage yesterday but then the second stage just kicked in."
"What was the second stage?"
"The first stage was just to slowly numb the whole body so the person can't walk or move anymore. The second stage is a poison that inflicts pain. The idea is that the person can't move anymore but is still fully conscious and aware of everything. As the pain is taking a hold of them, they can still feel every little bit, they just can't do anything about it. Then the poison spreads through the entire body until it gets to your heart and kills you."
He felt sick to his stomach. "But she is going to be fine?"
Fox nodded. "Now, because I gave her an antidote against the first stage of the poison she was able to call help and she was able to fall unconscious, a good protective method from our bodies when we're in too much pain. The first part of Poison Ivy's poison had adrenaline in it, meaning it would have kept her awake. The heart can only take so much before it just pumps too hard. But I gave her painkillers and I gave her the antidote to the poison. She should wake up and feel exhausted but other than that she will have a full recovery."
"Thank you, Lucious."
"Don't mention it." He smiled at him and walked out.
He sat by her bed, looking at her closely. Here he was, not even being the Batman anymore, and he still put those he loved in danger.
I woke up feeling like absolute shit. For a second I was disoriented and forgot how I got here. Was I hungover? If so, this was by far the worst hangover of my life.
But then it came back to me. I looked to the side of the bed and saw Bruce, asleep in a chair.
Slowly I sat up. My mouth was dry, my head still spinning. I got out of bed, standing up for a second. That's when Bruce woke up.
I was about to say that I'm fine and he should go back to sleep but as I was standing fully on my legs, they almost gave in and I caught myself on the nightstand.
He jumped up, pulled me towards him and stabilized me before he maneuvered me back to the bed.
I sat on the bed again, trying to downplay it.
"Head rush." I lied with a smile.
He didn't buy it. "You have to take it easy." He said as he sat next to me, looking at me worried. "What she poisoned you with is not to joke around with."
I nodded. "I noticed."
He didn't say anything for a moment. "Cat?"
"Yeah?"
"Thank you."
"For what?"
"For saving my life."
I hadn't even thought about that. I guess I had.
"Don't mention it. You saved mine like 20 times. So guess I only owe you 19 more times." I said with a smile.
He smiled but was still emotional. "You don't owe me anything."
I bit my lips and looked to the ground, feeling awkward. Was now a good time to apologize? If not now, when would there be?
"Bruce…I need to…"
That's when Fox and Alfred walked in.
"We heard voices so I assumed it wasn't just Master Wayne talking to himself." Alfred said with a smirk on his face.
"How are you feeling?" Fox asked me.
"I'm not gonna lie, I feel like shit."
Fox laughed. "I didn't expect anything different. You need to rest. Your body needs to regain strength."
"Understood."
"Let me take your blood again, just to double check that there isn't a third stage that I wasn't aware of."
He took my blood and Bruce was watching me closely. His eyes full of concern. I knew this was killing him - that I was injured because of him. I didn't care but I knew this was his worst nightmare.
Bruce touched my forehead. "Your fever seems to be gone."
I just nodded feeling very aware of his touch and the close proximity to him.
"Looks good to me." Fox said, taking off his glasses. "There are trace amounts, as I would expect, but there is no third stage poison in there. You should be in the clear."
"Thanks."
"Now, if you notice anything unusual…"
"I'll let you know." I finished his sentence.
He nodded with a smile.
"Time to give her some rest." Alfred said.
"Good to see you up and about." Fox said as he left.
"Master Wayne?" Alfred asked after Bruce who assumed he didn't have to leave the room. He looked at Alfred confused.
"Which part of - she needs rest - did you not understand?" The butler asked.
"Alfred…"
"I will hear no more on the matter." He said and I started to chuckle at their interaction.
Bruce laughed. "Alright, you heard him." He got up. "No matter what time of night it is, if you don't feel good let me know."
"I will."
"Ok." He said reluctantly, looking at Alfred who was still standing by the door, waiting for him to leave. "Have a good night."
"You too."
In a move that seemed second nature, he kissed me on my forehead then smiled at me again before he left.
It took only minutes for me to be back in a deep sleep.
When I got up again I was feeling much better. For starters, I was able to walk. I checked my watch. 3pm. Dear God, how long had I slept?
I walked out of the bedroom towards the kitchen and grabbed a glass of water. I heard Bruce talking with Alfred in the living room.
Alfred noticed me first and smiled at me. "How are you feeling miss?"
Bruce turned around and got up the second he saw me. "Take a seat."
"I'm fine." I said.
He walked closer to me. "You sure?"
I nodded. "Where are we on locating her?"
"We're working on it." Bruce said. "I think she left the area. This is not her fight. She didn't want to be on Medved's bad side but she doesn't want to kill me."
"I saw that." I said, not looking at him as the image of them kissing replayed in my head.
He got the reference immediately, his jaw in a hard line.
"You two might be interested in another character in all this." Alfred said.
We both looked at him in anticipation.
"My research showed that this man…" He pulled up a picture on the screen. "Is Medved's right hand man."
"Why do you say that?" Bruce asked.
"Because he's his son." Alfred answered.
"He has a son?" I asked surprised.
"Yes, and he's trying to keep it on the down low. As you can imagine, revealing he's Medved's son would come with certain implications."
"He would be a target." Bruce said.
"Precisely. While Medved has gone dark, I located his son yesterday in Paris."
I sighed and rolled my eyes. "Are we in a fucking Jason Bourne movie? Are we seriously chasing bad guys from one European city to the next? Couldn't they for once just be in the city we are already at?"
Bruce didn't say anything. Once again, he was far too serious. In situations like these he never joked around. It was like he snapped into a different mode.
"What is he doing in Paris?" Bruce asked Alfred.
Alfred pulled up some other pictures. "He owns a nightclub in the city. But that's just a front. In reality he's using the club to smuggle drugs and to launder money. He goes by a different name. His real name is Suad Medved but in Paris his name is Jacque Emanuel. He got back yesterday after a long absence." "Where was he?" Bruce asked.
"I don't know. But I would bet he was helping his father achieve whatever it is he is trying to accomplish."
"Alright, let's go talk to him." I said.
"No, I'm going alone." Bruce responded in a stern voice. I rolled my eyes at him. "The days when you can tell me what to do are clearly over, Batsie."
He almost winced at that nickname and looked at me in disgust.
I shrugged. "What? You brought that on yourself."
He sighed. "You can barely walk. You're not in shape to fight."
"I'm not planning on fighting. I'm planning on being a distraction and get in the club."
"No." He said in an even sterner tone.
"You keep saying that…but it doesn't make the fact that I'm going any less true."
"Catherine…"
"Wow, my full name. Are you about to middle name me? So I know I'm really in trouble?"
Alfred chuckled.
Bruce sighed in anger and frustration.
"I'm coming, whether you want me there or not." I said.
