Chapter 16

"Let me get this straight - You believe the person who impersonated Brian Anders is a member of the League of Assassins," she said, leaning against the doorframe to the Cave's weapons room. He tossed a rope into a canvas bag at his feet, along with several full utility belts.

"Yes. Nardoc Sera, too."

"And Red Claw? She's a terrorist but she's not stupid enough to cross the League."

"Nardoc Sera is Kasnian. Or his identity is."

"Meaning?" she asked.

"He's a double agent - most likely working for Ra's while spying on Red Claw. But his real purpose was to set up the transfer of the biotoxin to another LoA agent. As bookie Gerry Pavloski, Sera was able to secure the fake gem and locate an identity for his colleague to use."

"Effervescent the sculptor and Brian Anders."

"Both people were deep enough into their addictions to use a bookie but were functional enough to be useful."

"So Sera places the gem at the museum while Fake Brian Anders steals the biotoxin," she said as she started to see the pieces fall into place.

"Then Anders places it in the gem's compartment while on a cleaning job."

"Then why wasn't the biotoxin there when Red Claw arrived?" she asked.

"You tell me," he said, crossing his arms across his broad chest.

"Tell you what?" she said, immediately sensing the change in his demeanor. This wasn't the man who had been her partner over these last few days - this was the Batman who had no problem hauling her off to Gordon and the GCPD.

"Your associate's ex-lover just happened to show up in a germ lab the night the burglary was committed using the name of a man who would be found dead several weeks later. And you beat Red Claw to the gem."

"Why would I ask where the biotoxin was if I took it?" she asked, backing up as he took steps toward her.

"What were you doing there, Selina?" He was so close now her nose almost touched his chin.

"I didn't even touch the ruby that night, you saw to that!"

"Who were you working with?"

"I thought I was working with you!" she shot back as she squared her shoulders.

"Don't lie to me!" he hissed, spittle catching on his lower lip. She placed her hand on his chest and gently pushed him back to regain some ground.

"You think if I were working with Ra's or Red Claw I'd have stuck around here to play Watson to your Sherlock?"

"Then why did you stay?" he demanded. The question hung in the air between them.

"I don't work with terrorists or crazy megalomaniacs set on world domination. They're above my pay grade," she said, changing the subject. She dropped her hands to her sides and looked into his cowled face, her eyes cold, but open. She was offended by his line of questioning but she was telling him the truth. She wasn't involved. Or if she was, she didn't realize it.

"Your Italian business associate mentioned the exhibit to you, didn't he?"

"In passing, but he always mentioned Gotham-" she said, breaking off. Eyes wide, her mouth dropped open as it hit her. "I was set up."

"You didn't have to tell anyone you were going after the ruby, anyone who has studied you would know you couldn't stay away from a score like that. Fake Brian Anders was sent to ensure your associate planted the information."

"It doesn't make any sense."

"Actually, it does. You were supposed to take the fall for the missing biotoxin, thus diverting Red Claw's attention from Sera and the cops' attention from the museum staff."

"The silent alarm," she said, her eyes closing and her head drooping toward the floor. "How could I have been so stupid?"

"This isn't your fault, Selina," he said, stopping himself from placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "If it's any consolation, I believe Red Claw was mislead as well."

"How do you figure?" she asked. He took a deep breath before continuing.

"I believe Ra's wanted to steal the biotoxin but wanted to make sure it wasn't immediately obvious that he was behind it. The reason he roped Red Claw and you into this is because he wanted to ensure I wasted time trying to unravel this whole blasted mess. Which is exactly what I did."

"This is all about you?" she asked, incredulous.

"I know how it sounds. But I have a...history with Ra's. And the League. He'd want me to know what he'd done. Which is why he had his associates use a corrosive with a compound only found in Lazarus Pits." Looking away from her he focused on gathering up the canvas bag. She was silent for several moments.

"I get why he picked Red Claw - she's a terrorist and would have an interest in biological weapons. But...why'd he pick me...?" she trailed off, her voice quiet.

That was something he couldn't answer so he said nothing. He didn't want to contemplate why Ra's would drag Selina into this - was it because Ra's knew how he felt about her? But how?

"You're going after him." It was a statement. She didn't need to ask because she knew. "I'm going with you."

"Selina -" he began.

"I'm not sitting idly by while you run off and get the answers that I want." He grabbed her gently by the arms.

"Ra's is dangerous. If he really did set you up, you should be dead right now. You're not because something went wrong. He would not hesitate to try and kill you again."

It was moments like these that he wished she could see his eyes instead of the lenses in his cowl. She would be able to see just how important it was that she stay behind. He couldn't be responsible for her death, not now, not ever. Not after everything they'd been through in the last few days, what with their easy camaraderie and enjoyable connection. Working with her felt natural. It felt right.

She gently grabbed his forearms and looked at him much as she had in the Batplane.

"I can help you."

"It's too risky-"

"Ra's al Ghul is a dangerous psycho with a God complex. If he really has that biotoxin, he could kill an untold number of people. He needs to be stopped."

She was so sincere, so open. Despite everything, he believed her. In that moment, he understood her better than he ever had before. As different as they were at times, on a fundamental level, they got each other. They got each other in a way he'd never experienced with anyone else, not even Alfred or Dick. His hand twitched, longing to brush her cheek, to bring her in for a kiss.

He shook his head and disentangled himself from arms, putting distance between them.

"I'll drop you back in Gotham before I leave," he said before stalking away, his cape bunched in his fists.

"You're only one man. The League is an army. You're good, but even you can't survive against that many trained goons. You need my help and I need answers."

"It's too dangerous!" he said, spinning around to face her.

"You think I can't handle myself? Like I need you to protect me?" she snapped.

"You don't understand-"

"Explain it to me!"

He was silent.

"Oh, I get it. You demand honesty from everyone around you and then freeze up when it's required of you."

"Why'd you leave Gotham?" he shot back. She had kissed him to avoid answering that question before.

"I'm coming with you," she said, changing the subject. "And don't tell me I don't understand. I understand a hell of a lot more than you think...Bruce."