Title: Spelunking

Author: Maeve Bran

Rating: T

Summary: Buffy pays Lucius Fox a visit.

Disclaimer: Not mine.

Spoilers: "Batman Begins" (2005)

Buffy got up, did her morning stretches, and got dressed. Her head ached, but it gradually went away as she went about her routine. The benefits of being a Slayer-- little sleep required and hangovers that went away quickly. She glanced at the clock and noticed it was barely eight. There wasn't much she could do here, so she went in search of breakfast.

She wandered around the penthouse until she found the kitchen. No one was about, so she went prowling through the fridge. She had just poured herself a glass of orange juice when a voice startled her from behind.

"Up already, Miss Summers?" Alfred inquired, surprised.

Buffy kept her grip on the carton of juice and set it down on the counter before answering. "Yeah. Slayers don't need much sleep since we have to fight evil all night and still try to have a cover life."

"If only you could teach that trick to Master Wayne," Alfred sighed.

"Unfortunately it's not a trick, just a biological fact," Buffy sympathized. "Speaking of Master Wayne, what time does he get up?"

"It depends. I heard him go out patrolling after you got home from dinner, so I suppose it is going to be one of those days where it is well into the afternoon before Master Wayne rises," Alfred informed her.

"Oh," Buffy said as she put the juice back into the fridge. "I don't suppose there is anything I can do around here? Bruce said I wasn't to be seen unless I was shopping and my credit card would scream all the way back to Cleveland if I did that."

"I'm afraid not, Miss. But I do have to visit Lucius Fox today," Alfred said. "Master Wayne suggested I might take you along."

"Sure, I'd love to go," Buffy agreed.

"Now, how about some breakfast?" Alfred asked. "I don't often get a chance to make breakfast."

"Sure," Buffy brightened as Alfred produced eggs and other breakfast items.

A couple hours later, Buffy found herself at the new headquarters of Wayne Enterprises. Alfred guided her to the research and development department. They passed the regular, busy R&D department and were soon in a secret area with only one occupant and lots of gadgets lying around.

"It looks like Q's workshop from the Bond films," Buffy murmured.

"Indeed," Alfred agreed. The lone occupant came over to welcome them. "Lucius."

"Alfred," Lucius Fox greeted him. "And who's this?"

"I'm Buffy Summers," Buffy said before Alfred had to think of something. He had coached her what to ask for on the way over. "Bruce said you helped him with a spelunking outfit."

"That I did," Fox agreed, beginning see where this was going. "You'd like a similar outfit then?"

"Bruce did mention some caves he'd like us to explore," Buffy said, barely managing to keep a straight face. It was so cloak and dagger and she hadn't had to do this much talking around a subject since high school when having discussions in the corridors of Sunnydale High.

"Did he mention BASE jumping also?" Fox inquired.

"I believe Master Wayne has those in his plans as well," Alfred agreed, before Buffy could break.

"Well then let's get some measurements. I doubt any spelunking, BASE jumping suits we have laying around here would fit you." Lucius led her away to be measured. He hoped Mr. Wayne knew what he was doing in taking on this slip of a woman as a partner. For a partner she would be, if Alfred was with her asking for the suit.

-6/?-