Chapter 118

With Renee, Barbara, and I officially in hiding, we lie around the hotel room we'd just checked ourselves into.

Barbara sighs as she dumps her bags down, "Ah, a home away from home!"

"Why couldn't we have just stayed with Veronica in her secret cave? Wouldn't that be safer?" Renee asks, throwing a bag onto the bed so that she can unpack it.

"Well, for starters I couldn't stand to sleep on the floor, plus, Natalie can't stand V," she counters.

I shake my head, "It's not that I can't stand Veronica, it's just that...our personalities don't clash. But Renee has a point, this hotel's one of the nicest in Gotham. People will know we're here, shouldn't we choose somewhere more discreet-"

"Oh, like those nasty motels in the Narrows you were recommending? I'd rather be killed by a Talon than die from contaminated bedsheets, thank you very much," Barbara snaps.

Renee leans against a nearby wall, clutching her shoulder, "Oh god…do we have anymore of the painkillers?"

I run over to one of the bags and open up a pocket. Grabbing the bottle, I hand it to Renee, "Here, but it's the last of it."

Barbara shrugs, "It's fine, I know where to get more. Don't worry about it."

She said that so nonchalantly, I have to wonder…

There's a knock at our door, startling all three of us. Backing away from Renee, I carefully edge my way toward the door, gesturing for the other two to get away from the door. I unplug the lamp off of the table, wielding it with both hands. With one swift kick, I knock open the door and swing the lamp, only to nearly hit Crispus.

"Woah! Take it easy!" he cries, holding his hands up,

I sigh, putting the lamp down, "Sorry, things have been...paranoid around here."

He nods as I back up to let him in, "Understandable. I just wanted to see if you guys were okay."

"Of course we're okay. Never been better," Barbara shakes her head, her tone harsh and sour.

Crispus raises an eyebrow, and gives an awkward chuckle, "Alright, that's cool. Also, I have something for you Natalie."

I perk up, turning to him, "Hm?"

He reaches into his pocket, "This was dropped off at your desk this morning by Penguin. When Ed arrived, he made a beeline for it and took it for awhile. Then afterwards he left a note with it, so, I figured I better give it to you. Ed confirmed it isn't poisonous, but he wouldn't say more."

Somewhat confused, I take the small box from Crispus's hand. It's a black box with a purple ribbon wrapped around it, with Ed's scruffled note tied onto the ribbon. I pull off the note and read it first:

Dear Nat,

I understand you're going through some troubled times as of late, and while you won't share them with me, I know you will persevere. Detective Allen has informed me that you will taking an early Christmas vacation; how he knows this strikes interest in me. Is he seeing you? I would quite like that, he's a good man and a suitable candidate for your affections. Anyway, I spotted this token lying on your desk. I don't know who it's from, but of course I had to investigate. Is your dilemma multiple suitors? Because this gift appears to be from another suitor, certainly not Detective Allen though. Regardless, don't worry, I tested one. They're not poisonous.

Sincerely,

Ed

Putting down the note, I open up the box. It's a collection of small chocolates, all in little individual slots. Chocolates? Oswald hasn't tried that before, but it's certainly his style. But why give them to me now?

I notice in one of the slots the chocolate is missing, and smile. Ha, Ed, "tested one"? He probably just ate it.

"If I didn't know any better, I'd call that sweet. What's the occasion?" Barbara chuckles.

"I don't know," I confess, putting the lid back on the box.

Renee crosses her arms, "He's not trying to win you back with cheap gifts, is he?"

Putting the box down on a nearby end table, I shake my head, "No, he's been more...forceful lately. If this is part of his plan, I don't think it involves winning me over with candy."

Barbara shrugs, and opens the box to snag a piece, "Eh, more for me then."

"Hey!" I shoo her away by closing the box, "...that doesn't mean I'm not going to enjoy them."

In the breakfast room of the hotel, I sit with Crispus, a cup of coffee sitting on the table for each of us. With breakfast having long since past, the room is completely deserted, with nothing left on the serving tables besides the complimentary coffee machines.

"Can you believe this place?" he asks, glancing around at the silk drapes and hand-carved chairs.

I shake my head, "It's like something from out of a movie."

He chuckles, taking a sip of coffee, "I'm sorry our coffee meeting has to be under such...strange conditions."

"Oh, don't let it bother you. Considering the situation the girls and I are in, this isn't too bad," I consider, leaning back in my chair.

"I guess you're right," he agrees, "but have you seen some of the hotel clientele? People like you, I, Renee, we stick out like a sore thumb. What I'm trying to say is: is this really the best place for you and Renee to stay here? I know it's where Barbara feels comfortable but-"

"We're fine here, don't worry," I assure him, "the Court of Owls never attacks out in the open. Constantly remaining in the public eye might actually have been the smartest move Babs has made so far."

Crispus nods, "Good point. So...you said you found something while investigating ACE Chemicals?"

Reaching behind me, I take out the red gemstone I found inside the owl at ACE Chemicals.

"Yeah, I showed this to Babs and Renee earlier. It looks nice, but I have no idea what it's for."

I pass it to him, and he examines it, "Hmm...there's some kind of pipe at the end of it. Like it fits into something."

"I noticed that too. But what?" I ask.

He places it down on the table, "I guess the solution is either to find where this thing fits, or find more like them. No matter what though, it's only part of the puzzle."

I put away the gemstone, and take a sip of my coffee. Crispus holds his hands around his cup, and smiles at me.

"Now, can we just sit down and enjoy our coffee?" he asks, raising up his mug.

I smirk, before raising my mug as the two of us give a toast. We sip our coffee in silence, the afternoon sun blazing in through the windows.

"I have to ask: are you and Penguin still together? Because...the chocolates are a clear indication that you two are still...seeing each other. ...no offense."

I chuckle, "...none taken, I get it. And, at least, on my terms, we're over."

"So he thinks he and you are still going steady? How? Why?" he questions, his tone concerned.

"He's...persistent, and not in a good way. I guess he sees something in our relationship that I don't," I explain.

Crispus raises an eyebrow, "Sounds pretty psycho to me."

I laugh to myself, "It is pretty psycho when you think about it. Sometimes it's hard to remember how I got tied up with him in the first place."

"Well, that's a story I would like to hear," he confesses, interlacing his fingers together to rest on them.

"Are you sure? That might be something we'll want to save for the second date," I warn him with a playful smile.

He perks up his head with interest, "The...second date? Ha...I guess there's no beating around the bush with you."

"Of course, 'going out for coffee' is practically code," I joke.

He nods in agreement, "...I understand you'd want to take things slow, considering how your last relationship turned out. I'll take the cues off of you-"

I reach across the table and place my hand on top of his, "...thank you, Crispus."

He wraps his hand around mine, and squeezes it, as the sun sets behind us.

Author's Note:

Narutoske: Thanks :)

Yes, Eel does get superpowers in the comics, although I wasn't expecting people to know that. How he gets superpowers in the comics is pretty similar to how he gets superpowers here

Questiongirl473: Well...if Eel shares the same name as Plastic Man...and has the same powers as Plastic Man...then he must be the Elongated Man! No, in all seriousness, Eel is Plastic Man, but he hasn't taken the name...yet

Guest (davinaxo): Hey, it's fine, I know the feeling. And don't worry, even if you're a guest, I'll still see your review.

And yes, no spoilers for Season 2 in the chapters

Thanks! :)