Wonder Boy
Chelsea was kick-boxing with a training dummy in the Bat Cave. Her moves had gotten quicker and more agile. She assumed her increase in speed was thanks to the old times she used to spend training with Wally. Her hand to hand combat skills were refined by Bruce and Bruce alone. As she moved on to a training sequence, she pressed a few buttons on the console and dummies would pop up from the floor that she would have to punch, kick, flip, or blast with her lightbolts.
Ever since the threat of her father trying to consume her from the inside had occurred, her powers had drastically increased. She tried her best to conceal it, but it didn't take long for the others to pick up on the fact that her telekinesis had become permanent upon her return from the realm inside her subconscious. Dr. XYZ had unlocked a whole different level of ability inside her.
Truthfully this newfound strength started to feel overpowering at times. To some effect it even struck fear in herself. There was so much she was capable of. It was overwhelming to think about. Instead she did her best to keep her emotions in check and sharpen her craft.
As she finished off the last dummy, she turned to the entrance of the cave. Bruce was supposed to be home an hour ago. It wasn't out of the ordinary for him to be late, but something felt different about it this time. She approached his big semi-circle of monitors when a siren started to go off with a flashing red light. It was the emergency button on Bruce's utility belt. If he pushed it, it meant he was being overwhelmed. In that instant, Chelsea flipped the switch to turn the alarm off and grabbed for her ear, "Batman, are you okay?" she asked. There was no reply, "Starlight to Batman, can you hear me?" she was already exiting the cave by this point and starting a long flight above Gotham. His tracker had lead her to an old, run down district in Gotham. It was a slum part of the city that had been reduced to a place of concealment for villains and other criminals.
It was so dark out. This late at night what else could she expect? As she carefully walked between two broken buildings, she inched closer to his whereabouts. That's when she felt it. Someone was behind her. She didn't hesitate as she kept her steady pace through the slender creeves between the two buildings, that resembled an alleyway. In one fluid motion she turned toward the figure and attempted to pin them to the wall, but the figure used his legs to walk up the wall and flip over her back, to instead try to grab her. While she was cut off guard, she was pinned only momentarily, before pushing back with enough force to slam the assailant into the adjacent wall, and then turned to throw a fist. Her hand was caught, but she used the leverage he had on her to hoist herself up, wrap a leg around his neck and drag him to ground as he flailed for air. Upon closer examination her eyes widened as she quickly broke contact with her attacker, "Nightwing?" she asked.
Chelsea had never once met Dick up until this point. Bruce used every ounce of his energy not to discuss what she only imagined was a heated argument between them that made Dick keep his distance. While he stuck around to help fill in for Bruce once and while, she could feel the anguish the young man had harbored for Batman from the moment he crept up on her.
Nightwing choked and looked up at the girl. His eyes narrowed, "You're that girl." he murmured, his voice hoarse as he choked once more. Chelsea held her hand out to him and he begrudgingly took it. Steadying himself he stood over her much like Bruce did. Take away the mask, and Chelsea was willing to venture he resembled what Bruce did at his age. That's when it occurred to Chelsea that her and Dick weren't that far apart in age. Dick looked her up and down, "So we really are close in age." he must have been thinking the same thing she was, "Looks like he brainwashed you well." he scoffed.
Chelsea raised an eyebrow, "What?"
"Where did you learn to fight like that?" he asked.
"The same place you did, Wonder Boy." she jabbed.
He breathed from his nose with a sarcastic chuckle, "Never thought he'd shoot for someone so young. He hit his mid-life crisis early." he turned away from her.
Chelsea's eyes glowed, "What are you implying?"
He looked at her from over his shoulder with a smirk, "If you're angry it must be true."
Chelsea grabbed him and slammed his back into the wall with her hands on either side of his head, "Look, I don't know what he did to piss you off, but I didn't do anything to deserve that."
"Quite the firecracker, aren't ya?" he tilted his head.
"If you're so mad at him," Chelsea started, removing her hands from the wall and starting back toward her destination, "then why are you so eager to come to his aid?"
He followed after her, "Because the one he's become so reliant on decided her time was put to better use assaulting his former ward."
Chelsea's teeth grinded together in frustration, "Have you always been such a-?" she paused, hearing something nearby. She paused, and pressed her back to Nightwing's front, putting her arm against him to stop his pace and indirectly protect him. This action surprised him a bit. They were bickering like siblings just a moment ago, and now she was being so careful. It reminded him of someone.
Chelsea took a quick peek around the corner and turned back to him, "Any idea who has him?" she whispered lowly.
He gave a simple shake of his head.
Chelsea checked the tracking device once more. He was supposed to be right in front of them, but no one was around. Blinking red in the darkness was the small bat-shaped chip a few feet ahead of them on the ground. Inside, Chelsea was growing panicked. Running her fingers through her hair nervously she tried to figure out the next best course of action. Dick went forward and retrieved the device, "I think I know who's responsible for this…" there were traces of a green substance on the pavement beside it.
Chelsea's eyebrows scrunched, "Bane…"
"So you do, do your homework," smirked Nightwing, "Bane is known not to work alone."
Chelsea mirrored his expression, "Guess it's good I have Wonder Boy with me then."
They started to scan the rooftops and look into the roof windows below them to examine the buildings. That's when Chelsea saw Batman strapped against a wall with weird glowing shackles on each limb. Her heart dropped when she noticed he was unconscious. Nightwing took note she had stopped. Her eyes widened as low and behold Bane's partner revealed himself. Chelsea's voice was soft and irritated, "I thought you guys put The Joker away a week ago."
Nightwing stood beside her and raised an eyebrow, "What are you new?"
It was a valid point. These baddies broke out all of the time. Arkham's security systems really must have been failing like Bruce had mentioned to her before. No wonder he was so busy.
"Plan?" asked Nightwing.
"Instill the fear of God in them." she growled.
"How are y-?" he didn't get his question out because she smashed through the ceiling when she saw The Joker reveal a syringe of the green venom Bane used to quadruple his size. He was getting ready to inject it into Batman's arm when the crash behind him caused him to stop.
"Drop it clown!" she hissed.
An eruption of laughter came from the pasty-faced man's ruby red lips. He turned around to look down upon her, as he stood tall on a three step platform. However, when they made eye contact, his laughter seized. There was anger inside the eyes of this madman, "You…" he grimaced.
Batman stirred at the sound of Chelsea's voice. He wanted to yell, "Get out of here!" but when he tried, thousands of volts coursed through his body. His body hung limply in the shackles.
"Ah ah ah Bats!" protested The Joker, "We both know that's against the rules!"
"What is that device!?" Chelsea barked.
The Joker turned back to the girl and started spinning the syringe of venom in his fingertips gracefully, "That machine reacts to muscle movement. Unfortunately, because the body is always in motion internally, it's like a hot-wired circuitry is constantly flowing through his body!" he said gleefully as laughter brought goose pimples to Chelsea's pale skin once more. The Joker leapt down from the platform and landed in front of her. In one quick motion his revolver was against her forehead, "I remember you…" he growled, "You beat me to an inch of my life."
Chelsea smiled at him wickedly, unwilling to show fear, despite what the bumps on her arms indicated, "Guess you could call that the punchline."
The Joker's eyebrows raised as his hand fell to his side. Laughter spewed from his lips as he clasped the side of the gun against his forehead and stifled his chuckle, "I like you sweets!" his grin returned, "You might be fun after all."
"Don't… you… dare…" growled Batman, as his body was getting shocked.
"But then again…" he about faced and started up the stairs, "I'd rather poison The Bat instead!"
Chelsea heard a door open behind her. She turned to look back and see the monstrous man called Bane step forward. She was wondering when he would appear. He was already so large. And that was without the burst of venom being injected into his system. As he came forward to grab the intruder, Nightwing dropped from the ceiling and kicked Bane back with both legs to stun him. He stumbled back a bit, but barely faltered. Nightwing continued his attack, not allowing Bane a moment to plan his next move. He spiralled a series of kicks his way, but when Bane caught onto his pattern, he grabbed the young man's leg and threw him against one of the four walls. Chelsea watched Dick's body snap with whiplash as his head hung down, his consciousness fleeting. Chelsea extended her hand out to the electrified machine that had a grip on Batman. Her eyes glowed as she used her telekinesis to pry the shackles from Batman and rip them away from the wall. This shot sparks flying, knocking Joker back and breaking the syringe on the floor.
Batman fell to his knees, trying to gather himself, but it felt like the room was spinning. Picking up the machine that was sending shockwaves through his body with her mind, Chelsea smashed the heavy metal block into Bane just as he was about to charge into her. She propelled him with enough force to slam him through the brick wall he first appeared out of.
Chelsea heard the hammer of Jokers' revolver get pulled back. The gun was now at Nightwing's temple. He was gripping the boy by the hair roughly, as he began to cackle once more. Chelsea took a glance at Bruce who was trying to steady himself. All at once Dick forced Jokers' arm up, he fired the revolver which made Nightwing's ears ring, paralysing him. Chelsea latched onto Joker before he could attempt to fire again. Her eyes glowed with anger, "Drop… the… gun." he stared her down with so much rage. He knew if he didn't comply she'd beat him senseless once again. Thanks to her and the boy blunder his evening had been ruined.
Batman pushed the call button on his ear, "Gordon, we have a trash pick up at the docks."
Once they had both baddies tied with titanium rope against a large pole, Chelsea helped Nightwing to his feet. He couldn't put pressure on one of his legs. She looked at him concerned, "Hyperextended…" he moaned, his weight crashing against her. She kept him upright as she turned to Bruce. He put his arm around her and grappled on top of the building, watching over the two criminals until the police arrived to take them back to Arkham once more.
"Are you alright?" she asked him, her breath shown in the darkness.
He was still shaky, "Peachy," Bruce huffed, looking her over.
"Nightwing is in a lot of pain. We should take him home." Chelsea told him.
Bruce nodded, feeling fortunate once more to have such a caring girl by his side.
The next morning when the sun came up, Alfred strolled into the kitchen to make his master's favorite breakfast. He was surprised to find Chelsea already starting to make a meal in the kitchen. She looked over her shoulder to see the wide-eyed butler, "How do you take your coffee Alfred?" she asked.
"Miss, you don't have to-" Alfred started to say.
"But I want to." She corrected him with a smile.
Her hair was up in a messy ponytail that still managed to make her look lovely. Even with the sleepy baggies under her eyes, in her shorts and tank top she must have slept in.
"Two sugars and cream," Alfred told her, taking a seat at the small round dining table that occupied the kitchen. Chelsea brought him his coffee and returned to her cooking. She was preparing an especially large meal, "Miss I must warn you that even Master Bruce doesn't eat that much."
"I know," she laughed, "but with four hungry boys in the house, I'd say I've made plenty."
"I only count two." Alfred told her.
She started counting off on her fingers, "Bruce, Tim, Dick, and you."
"You don't have to make me breakfast Miss." he insisted.
"But I want to." she repeated.
"Master Dick is here?" Alfred questioned.
"Yeah," Chelsea nodded, "he got into a bit of a tussle last night with a bruiser… a extremely large bruiser…"
"Uh oh," said a young voice as Tim strode into the kitchen, "What're you doing cooking?"
"I'll have you know I'm a good cook kid." Chelsea looked at him.
"If it's anything like you play Super Smash Brothers…" Tim said with a roll of his eyes as he took a seat across from Alfred.
"So you won one time!" Chelsea growled, "I'm just out of practice."
"Getting beat by a kid in Super Smash. You must have hit an all time low." Dick said, entering now. He had a crutch to support is weak side.
Chelsea came to his side to help him over to the table, "I'll show you the ropes after some breakfast Wonder Boy."
"Is that my new nickname?" Dick asked with scrunched eyebrows.
Chelsea pulled out his seat for him and leaned down to help him sit, "I think it suits you." she said with a wink, "How's the leg feeling?"
"Like it was hyperextended by a venomized monster." Dick confirmed.
Chelsea tilted her head with concern and made her way back over to the stove. She started cracking some eggs in a pan, "How does everyone like their eggs?"
"Sunny side up!" Tim chimed.
"Scrambled," groaned Dick.
"An omelette." said Alfred, sounding unsure of whether he should answer.
Chelsea smiled to herself, "Alright." When Bruce entered the kitchen everyone grew quiet. Except for Chelsea. She offered him a welcoming smile, "Hello handsome."
Bruce analysed the situation and came toward her, "Finally beat Alfred to the kitchen this morning didn't you?" he smirked with a raised eyebrow.
"Finally?" wondered Alfred.
"I've been trying for weeks." she winked to the wise butler, "How do you want your eggs?" she looked to Bruce.
"Egg whites only," Bruce and Alfred said in unison. The two exchanged a look that made everyone else in the room crack a smile or chuckle.
Chelsea started with Tim's eggs and went on in the order of request, saving Alfred's for last since the omelette would prove the be the most time consuming. Bruce leaned against the counter watching her work. As he stood beside her he looked her over.
She stared up at him and then went back to what she was doing, "How're you feeling sweetheart?"
He felt himself smile. Still such a strange reflex for him. So foreign. Every once and a while she'd sneak in a sweetheart, hun, or handsome in there, and for whatever reason, it brought a smile to his face. Maybe it was because it was her, or maybe it was because he never thought in his whole life someone would be calling him that. That maybe the idea of this image: his girlfriend cooking him and his most valued family breakfast, never once crossed his mind, and yet… here he was, "Wonderful." he confirmed.
After breakfast, Bruce found himself outside leaning against the railing of the wrap around porch of the manner. He was enjoying the fresh air and sunshine he didn't normally get to appreciate in ordinary circumstances. Chelsea stepped outside to find him there, rotating a wine glass in his hand that had fresh squeezed orange juice swirling inside. He was looking so far off in the distance. For a moment, Chelsea just stood there and watched him. She couldn't get over how wonderful he was. It made her cheeks burn with a rosy hue. His eyes turned to her, "It's impolite to stare." he told her, as he did time and time again. It was one of their games.
She stepped up to join him, "When I'm with you my biggest fear is blinking," she rested her elbows against the railing and looked out at the yard, "I'm so scared someone so perfect will disappear, as if he never existed. Sometimes I think you're just in my head. A figment of all that I've ever wanted." She looked up at him to see his deep blue eyes churning, "How're you truly feeling?"
It took him a moment to recover from the near poetry she had just recited. She said it so naturally. His eyebrows momentarily arched as he swirled his drink and took a sip, "I've suffered worse, as you know." he answered.
"I should have been there sooner." she sighed, running her delicate fingers through her long strawberry blonde hair.
He stared at her longingly. Blinking once and looking out into the yard he squinted, "I'm surprised Dick was with you…"
"I'm not." She said simply, "He loves you. You two don't agree on a lot of things, but you're just stubborn boys." she shook her head, "Regardless of what he won't admit, even if I hadn't been there, he would have. He came on his own accord. We get angry with our family, but much like a fishing pole being cast into water, we experience something new, and are always reeled back to our families." Her hair was tossed in the breeze, "He just doesn't want to be considered a wingman anymore. So he's granted himself an independent persona."
Bruce's hand pressed gently against the small of her back. When she looked back to him, he leaned in and kissed her gently. His arm pulled her in closer as he deepened their exchange. A chill went down her spine when he released her lips.
She raised an eyebrow, "What was that for?"
He rested his forehead against hers and took a deep breath, "Suddenly, I'm afraid to blink." he admitted.
She smiled. Folding her arms around his shoulders she leaned in, "Perhaps I should give you some reassurance..."
The side of his mouth arched, "Even if you did…" he lowered his voice to whisper, "...I'd still have a hard time believing you."
Inside watching from a window stood Dick Grayson. He was fascinated. Bruce was never so genuine and playful with a woman before. He never thought he would see the day. The young man turned his head to the wise butler who was wiping off the dining table, "I see it… but I can't believe it."
"Neither did Master Bruce," Alfred told him, "but some things are not seen through the eyes… they're felt through the heart. A lesson he had not learned until she walked into his life."
Author's Notes: I think I'll do a series of these Batfamily moments sprinkled into the fic from time to time. Give readers an inside view of Wayne Manor since Chelsea and Bruce became a couple. I enjoyed writing this chapter. Sorry it took so long for an update. I hope everyone's enjoying these fluffy moments between Chelsea and Bruce. :)
