"You frustrate me, you know that?"
"Well I'm sorry… not!" I roll my eyes as I pass by the fighting couple. I think their names are Rose and John, but I could be wrong. They live in the building next to mine and have a nasty habit of always fighting outside. Luckily, I'm busy almost every day.
Today was the opening of my new store. To my surprise a lot of people showed up. Even Maggie stopped in for a quick visit. I guess a book store was needed in Gotham City. It was also Barbara's day off, so she spent all day helping me. I had never seen her so excited before in my life. Even though Maggie had been there and Stephanie, I was still hoping for a certain individual to show up, but she never made one appearance. It didn't matter anyway because I was too busy with customers. After my long and tiring day, I was looking forward to a bubble bath.
I enter my apartment and drop my stuff on the couch. Once I'm in my bedroom, I grab a towel from the cabinet and undress. I'm about to turn off the lights when I hear a noise on the balcony. Gripping my towel, I open a drawer and pull out my new Taser. Slowly, I approach the door and peek through the curtains.
"What the hell?" I throw open the doors to find Supergirl sitting on my balcony playing with a Rubik's Cube.
"Hello, Katherine Kane." Supergirl looks up from the cube and smiles.
"Um, hello Supergirl."
"May I come in?"
"Uh-huh." Supergirl stands up. Instead of wearing her traditional Kryptonian robe she's wearing her old Supergirl suit that shows her midriff. As she walks past me, she sets the Rubik's Cube in my hand. Her fingers brush against my palm and it leaves tingles in my skin.
"Where should we start?"
"Excuse me?" I ask. Supergirl chuckles and crosses her arms.
"Let me clarify, we need to talk… Batwoman."
Excuse me? How the heck does she know who I am? "How-"
"I peeked." My head snaps down to my towel as my hands reach up to here it's tucked in. Oh… She used her X-ray vision to look through my mask.
"When?"
"The second night we worked together. Batman, Nightwing, Red Robin, Batgirl, and Robin all have lead-lined masks. Only you seemed to have missed the memo."
"I started working with them a month ago. Anyway, why would Batman and the others need a lead-lined masks?"
"It's a precaution. After Superman used his X-ray on Batman, he didn't want to take the chance another member of the Super Family would come around and do the same. And he was right to do so. After he and I firs me, I looked or tried to."
"Do you do that to all the superheroes you work with?"
"No, Superman taught me better. But I had a feeling we would be working together again so I took the liberty. Sorry." She looked genuinely apologetic for looking through my mask.
"I forgive you, now what do you want?"
"Don't you think you should get dressed first?"
"Why? Does it make you uncomfortable?"
A smile tugs at the corner of her mouth. "No, but it does you."
"What makes you say that?"
"Your heartbeat. It hasn't slowed since you opened the doors." Darn her and her super-hearing.
"Fine, I'll get a robe on." I walk over to my closet and pull out my favorite blue robe. "You can wait in the living room for me."
"Thank you. By the way, you don't seem like the butterfly type." Supergirl walks out and I'm completely confused.
"I don't have a butterfly..."
Well, it looks like my mask isn't the only thing she X-rayed.
XXX
Supergirl sits on my couch with her cape wrapped around her body. This covers her legs and stomach with only her chest and up showing. I sit across from her in my favorite recliner. Perfect for make-out sessions and lazy days... relax, I'm only kidding. Maybe.
I take the time to get a good look at her in uniform. The bright colors give her a different disposition than before. She looks relaxed and in a better mood than when she was in her white uniform. It suits her.
"What suits me?" asks Supergirl.
Dammit! Did I say that out loud?
"Nice language."
I sigh then say, "Your new suit, it gives you a friendlier atmosphere than your other one."
"That's because my other suit is meant for boring and professional occasions. I wasn't allowed to change out of it until the peace talks were over."
"And they're over?"
"Yes, Wonder Woman did a lovely job of wrapping things up and Wonder Girl didn't do too badly either."
"What about you? How did you do?"
"Well I really didn't do anything. I was simply there to be a third-party observer."
"With no personal interest in the matter?"
Supergirl grins. "Ha, not quite."
"Wait, did you get that?"
"Yeah, it was a quote from She's the Man. I like that movie."
"Really? I can't picture you chilling out in sweats with popcorn and watching it on the big screen."
"I was actually eating gummy worms and the TV wasn't that big."
Oddly enough, I prefer this version of Supergirl over her more professional veneer. "I like you like this."
"Like what?"
"More relaxed, more playful."
"Relaxed yes, playful? Hmm, that's a side of me you'll probably never see." I roll my eyes and maybe indulge in a partial smile as I lean back in my chair.
"So, what do you want Supergirl?"
A scowl mars Supergirl's face. "I need your help with this Intergang situation. I already have someone helping me but there's only so much she can do. I need your help, Katherine. I need the help of Batwoman."
Huh, I didn't see this coming. "What can I do?"
"This is your city, we both know the witness is here in Gotham somewhere, but I don't know where. I would X-ray the city if I knew what he looked like, and Captain Sawyer is doing her best to not be near the witness as to keep suspicion down."
"What do you want me to do?"
"I want you to be my eyes and ears in this city."
"Why me? Why not Batgirl or Robin? I even heard Batman is back in town."
"I don't want them, I want you." I feel a blush creep up my face. Again, this is ridiculous. "Besides, I feel like this is more of a job for Batwoman than anyone else." Supergirl winks at me then leans into the arm of the couch. Her cape slips off her knees and exposes her shapely legs.
"I'll see what I can do."
Supergirl stands and gives a slight bow. "Thank you, Katherine. I appreciate it." She heads in the direction of my room and balcony. I nearly trip over my recliner with how fast I need to move to catch up to her. Just as she steps outside my double doors I grab her arm.
"Wait, how do I get in contact with you if I have anything?"
"Ask Oracle for the Reddner watch, she'll know what you mean. But don't tell her why, just that you need it." I nod and let go of Supergirl. "Sweet dreams, Katherine Kane." And before you can say 'Up, up, and away,' Supergirl is gone.
XXX
"You want what?"
"The Reddner watch? Do you have it?"
"Not with me."
"Okay, can I have it when you do?"
"Kate, that's not the point. Why do you need it?"
"I can't tell you except that I need it." Barbara and I are sitting in Benji's Café drinking coffee and eating raisin scones—my favorite—when I ask her for the watch.
"Okay." Barbara takes a sip of coffee then sets the cup down. "Who told you about the watch anyway?" I hide my face behind my over-sized coffee mug.
"I can't say."
Barbara rolls her eyes as she purses her lips. "Of course, you can't." I know Barbara knows who told me about it; shes's too smart not to. "I'll get you the watch, Kate. I just need to ask someone for it."
"Who?"
"Hey guys, did I miss anything?" Standing behind my chair is Linda dressed in her usual scruffy clothes.
"Nothing much," says Barbara. I was expecting to have coffee with Barbara alone but as soon as I got to the café, Barbara sprang the information that Linda was joining us on me. Linda grabs a chair from an empty table and sits at the end of ours. The waitress comes over and Linda orders a hot chocolate.
"I'm trying to wean off coffee." The waitress leaves to make Linda's cocoa. This leaves the three of us time to sit and talk.
I can see Barbara narrow her eyes as they flick between Linda and me. She takes a slow and measured drink before she asks, "Hey Linda, you know that watch you-know-who gave you, do you still have it?"
"Yeah."
"Great, I need it. Can you spare it for a few nights?"
"Sure." Linda takes off her watch and hands it to Barbara. The name Reddner is clearly etched on the metal.
Hold on, why does Linda have the watch? Better yet, who gave it to her?
Barbara fastens the watch to her wrist and thanks Linda. "No problem," she says. The waitress brings Linda's drink to the table. Linda takes a sip of it then makes a face. "I've had better." I laugh then take a drink of my coffee. Just then, Barbara's cellphone goes off.
"Hello?... Okay, I'll be right there." She hangs up. "I've got to go. My father needs me for something. I'll see you two another time." As Barbara wheels herself out the door, Linda follows. I try to read their lips when they talk outside, but it's a skill I don't excel in. Linda nods at something Barbara says then kisses her on the cheek. Barbara heads down the street and Linda comes back inside. I decide against asking Linda what that was about.
"So… what's with the watch?" I ask.
"It's a long story." Linda puts the other chair back and sits across from me.
"I'll take the cliff notes version."
Linda chuckles then shifts in her seat. "My ex got it from Star Labs. He used it to get in contact with someone. Later on, he gave the watch to that someone, who gave the watch to someone else, who gave the watch to me for safe keeping."
"Forget it, I want the long version."
"Ha. Look, all I can tell you, is that it's for contacting someone important."
"I understand, and you trust Barbara with it?"
"I trust Barbara with my life, so I think I can trust her with a watch." Linda smiles at me then nearly downs half her cocoa. We sit there in silence enjoying each other's company. As we sit there a thought pops in my head.
"You didn't come to my store opening yesterday."
"Hmm?"
"I said-"
"Oh, sorry about that. I make it a habit to never go to opening days. There are always too many people. I was going to visit your store today, but Barbara invited me for lunch and said you would be joining us. I thought I would have lunch with you then go to your store afterwards, if that's okay with you?"
"That's fine." Linda smiles at me and I feel fluttering in my stomach. When Linda calls over the waitress and orders her food it hits me, I have a crush on Linda Lee-Danvers.
Fan-freakin-tastic.