Chapter 2

She had eventually fallen asleep, but hadn't stayed asleep. Rachel saw the sun rise. Her thoughts of the past hadn't stopped when Slade left. She remembered the good times. Dates that they had shared together. Special moments that made her wonder if her friends and teammates could accept Slade as someone important in her life. It wasn't all masks and stolen moments.

I won't force you, Rachel.

His words from so many years ago echoed in her mind. But last night had been more than just passionate sex. She had said no. Would Slade have...? Did it matter that she had told him yes in the end? She felt confused and on edge. As much as she wished she could go back in time and say no to him in Africa, it wasn't an option and she had to deal with the current situation.

Besides the confusion, she was also frustrated. Dammit! She had been the leader of the Titans for years. She knew how to make a decision! If someone came to her and asked for advice, she'd know what to say. So what did it matter that it was her relationship? And if she couldn't figure it out, who could?

With a groan, she got up from her bed. It was obvious that she wasn't going to get any more sleep and, even though it was barely past dawn, she knew he'd be awake. While she had never spoken with him about relationship advice, with his history of dangerous love interests, he may understand better than anyone else.

Rachel threw on some clothes, grabbed her helmet, and exited her apartment. She quickly made her way to her motorcycle. Her helmet on, she drove off on the motorcycle. The miles flew by as she drove to Gotham.

…...

She parked the motorcycle in front of Wayne Manor and looked up. The moment the engine stopped, Rachel started to doubt why she had come here. Bruce and her had never discussed romantic relationships.

A moment passed and she remained on her motorcycle. She debated about turning it back on and leaving, but the door to the manor swung open and drew her attention.

Standing in the doorway was Alfred. Though it was still early, his suit looked like it had just been recently ironed. His salt and pepper hair, more salt than pepper now than when she had been a child, was neatly trimmed and laying smoothly against his head.

"Mistress Rachel?" Just the sound of his British accent comforted her. "To what do we owe this surprise?

"Hey, Alfie. Is Bruce around?" she replied. She knew she was caught. Even if she left, Alfred would tell Bruce she had been there.

She swung her leg over the motorcycle and walked by Alfred into the Manor. The older man shut the door. As the door shut, she had another moment of doubt. As a teenager, she had brought relationship questions to Diana or Clark. Maybe it would be better to speak with them about Slade?

"Rachel?"

The dark haired woman turned and there was Bruce, standing in the doorway of his study. Just like Alfred was perfectly attired, so too was Bruce. The dark gray suit seemed to hit the correct note. Bruce tended to avoid wearing black suits, since Batman wore black. The suit was finished with a black, silver, and sapphire blue tie.

She raised her hand and rubbed at her hair. With how well Bruce and Alfred were dressed, Rachel felt like she should have spent more time selecting her clothes this morning before coming over. She had just grabbed a pair of blue jeans and a BPD sweatshirt from the chair near her bed. Of course, she knew she was allowing herself to be distracted by clothes, rather than think about the real issue on why she have driven to Gotham.

"I'll get another cup of coffee," said Alfred. The older man stepped away, leaving Bruce and Rachel.

For a moment, neither said anything. Bruce stepped back from blocking the study's door and motioned for her to follow him in. Automatically, she walked into the room. She was only a few feet into the room when she stopped and looked around.

The room hadn't change. Bruce's desk was near the far wall, with a painting of his parents above it on the wall. Whenever Bruce sat at his desk, the painting was behind him, almost like his parents were watching his back. Closest to the doorway of the study was a small sitting area, complete with a couch, a couple of chairs, and a coffee table. The wall opposite of the desk was a corner to corner bookcase, filled with books.

"What's wrong?" said Bruce. The words were Bruce, but she could detect Batman in the tone.

Rachel rubbed a hand across her eyes. "I don't know why I came here."

Bruce said nothing in reply. A moment later, Alfred came into the room with a tray and a cup of coffee. Steam was rising from the cup. With a quick glance, Rachel could see it wasn't as dark as Bruce's. She liked a little cream and sugar in her coffee. Bruce tended to take his black.

Alfred set the cup down on the coffee table and stepped back. He slipped out of the room and quietly shut the door.

To buy herself more time before she had to answer, Rachel stepped over to the table, picked up the cup, and took a sip. Yes, Alfred had remembered the sugar.

"Rachel?" This time, it was all Batman.

"I don't know why I came here," she said. She put her cup down on the table and flopped onto the couch. Almost immediately, she got back up and paced.

"You've said that twice now," replied Bruce.

"I mean, I've always spoke with Clark or Diana about relationships before..." Her words trailed off. She glanced at Bruce. His eyes widened a little. It was the only sign that she had surprised him.

He picked up his coffee cup from the desk and took a sip. When he faced her again, his face was unreadable again.

"But, if it was just...relationship advice, you would have called one of them," said Bruce. "Though I wasn't aware you were dating anyone right now."

"I'm not," she replied. "I haven't always made the...best decisions on who I...date."

"If you are talking about Slade Wilson, I am aware," replied Bruce.

It was now her turn to be surprised. "I didn't know you knew."

Bruce picked up his coffee cup and took another sip. "I thought it ended after his youngest son died."

"It did," she replied. Rachel paced back to the coffee table, picked up her cup. "Until I settled into Blüdhaven." She quickly took a sip.

When Bruce said nothing, Rachel realized that the only way she was going to get it out was to blurt it out with her back to Bruce.

"When Joey was still alive, Slade and I would go out on dates. Even if there weren't missions that brought us together, we would find the time to be together."

Rachel could feel her cheeks growing warm and knew a blush was stealing across her face. She took another sip of her coffee. Bruce didn't say anything, but she knew she disappointed him that she dated a killer. It was fine for Bruce to date someone dangerous, but not Rachel.

"After I settled into Blüdhaven...if he's in town...he will sneak into the apartment when the lights are out and..." but Rachel found she couldn't finish the sentence. She wanted to use the term booty call, but she knew that that wasn't the correct term.

Prior to the death of Slade's youngest son, there were even times when Slade and Rachel shared a quick passionate encounter. They would be so impatient for each other that they didn't wait for the bedroom. But this was different, especially last night. Last night seemed darker. Less about passion and more about dominance.

I won't force you, Rachel...The floor of this hallway would work just as well...It will never be over between us. Slade's words echoed in her ears. He was right. She had known what he was the first time she had slept with him. But she didn't agree to a relationship where her right to decide was ignored. Or would he have ignored her, if she hadn't changed her mind?

"Rachel?" said Bruce. There was something off about his tone. Not quiet Bruce, but not quiet Batman either. She turned to face him. "Is Slade raping you?"

The word was like an emotional bomb in the room. She couldn't keep eye contact and looked down. "I...don't know," Rachel whispered.

She heard something shatter and she looked up. Bruce's coffee cup was in pieces and there was coffee all over the desk. The handle of the cup was still in Bruce's hand. He ignored the mess. His eyes were focused on Rachel.

"Prior to last night, I could have said no," said Rachel. Her voice was soft. She set her cup down and sank down onto the couch. She kept her eyes on her hands, which were clenched.

"What happened last night?" demanded Bruce.

"I failed to stop him and he killed someone. Someone I couldn't save," said Rachel. She looked up and Bruce's eyes were locked on her. She looked down again. "He showed up at my place. I said no, but then we...I mean, I said yes, after saying no."

It will never be over between us...it will never be over between us...it will never be over...Slade's words continued to echo in her head.

"Is he still in Blüdhaven?" demanded Bruce. The words and tone were all Batman.

She shook her head. "After he's done...with whatever business brings him there...he's leaves the city."

"Next time he comes to town, tell me," said Bruce. "You don't have to face this alone."

She nodded her head.

…...

Alfred wouldn't hear of her leaving without breakfast, so Rachel stayed. She wasn't sure if Bruce said something to him and if the older man just knew something was wrong, but he made her favorites for breakfast. Even though Bruce rarely ate more than a grapefruit and coffee in the morning, even he joined her.

After the plates were cleared, Rachel stared into her empty coffee cup. She wasn't a fragile woman. You didn't last long in Gotham if you were breakable and she survived years in Gotham before joining the Titans in New York. And, whatever delicateness those cities had left, Blüdhaven would have taken care of anything that remained. She was a strong, independent woman.

Over the years, she had been tortured, beaten, and almost killed on multiple occasions. She had faced it all. In her younger years, she had even faced it was a laugh. Yet the direction Slade was trying to take their relationship scared her like no one else had. Made her run to Bruce for help. It also made her doubt herself.

"I should be getting back," Rachel said, as she pushed her chair back from the table. The doubt made her regret going to Bruce. She felt awkward.

"Call me, Rachel," said Bruce. His voice was quiet. She wasn't quite sure whether it was Bruce speaking or Batman. "Night or day."

"Yeah," she replied.

Her word seemed to agree with Bruce, but her tone implied something else. The older man picked up on it. He stood up and walked her to the door.

Rachel opened the door and, if she had been paying attention, she would have noted the hesitation, but her eyes were fixed on her motorcycle. It took her by surprise when she felt Bruce's hand on her wrist. She turned her head and she looked at Bruce.

"You're not alone," he said quietly.

Bruce dropped his hand and she stepped away from the door. The dark haired man didn't close the door until even the sound of the motorcycle had faded.

…...

Rachel made her way up to her apartment. She unlocked and opened her door. Though it was just after noon, she wasn't feeling hungry. Mostly due to the large breakfast that Alfred had made. But also because she was tired from the lack of sleep.

She slipped her shoes off near the door as she shut her front door. She slipped the chain lock over the door. Since she didn't need to do anything that day and darkness was still hours away, Rachel decided a nap was needed.

She made her way to her bedroom. She almost missed the sound of feet on the floor, but she didn't turn quickly enough. Her head slammed into the door frame of her bedroom. Just as she slipped into unconsciousness, she heard his voice.

"I don't share, Rachel."