A/N: Hey everyone so I've made the decision to deal with Alex's life the five years Oliver was away before going into the series' episodes. I won't be using all the episodes. Grief will be posted in four parts, before we'll hit season 1 episode 1. Thanks for reading!
Disclaimer: I don't own Arrow or any of the other Batman characters
Chapter 1
Alex was sitting crossed legged on her bed, books strewn around her and a pen in her hair. A calculator lay to the side and Alex groaned when she realized she had to do the month's income all over again. She pulled her pen out of her hair and continued scribbling down numbers and counting them together. She had gotten her first job three weeks ago, she was a desk accountant at a small company just across the street from Wayne Enterprises. Her father had already taken her to lunch 4 times. Alex sighed when her mind drifted from the numbers, it had been almost a year since the Gambit had gone down and the pain was still fresh in Alex's mind.
The television's sound blared around Alex as she tried to concentrate again. She scowled and picked up the remote to shut down the TV, but an image of Starling City's main bank appeared on the flat screen. Alex forgot about her work and rose from her spot on the bed to move closer. The news report explained that there were hostages inside and six hostiles. Alex bit her lip, it was the third time this year alone that there was a hostage situation similar to this. Alex removed the pen she was chewing on from between her teeth and left her room. Her socked feet padded down to the kitchen to where Alfred was baking cookies, his famous chocolate chips.
He looked up from his work and frowned at seeing her sour expression, "You look troubled, Miss Alex." Alex smiled softly at the older man's concern and sat down at the island, across from where Alfred was working.
"I'm just thinking, don't worry Alfred." Alfred shot her a skeptical look, but chose to let her try and figure it out on her own, before continuing with his work. Alex intertwined her fingers and rested her lips against them as she watched the butler bake.
Alfred glanced up at her a few minutes later, the crease lines on her forehead had only worsened, "You know, Miss Alex, I have learned from experience that talking about your problems, or brain storming as the kids call it today, your mind will be more open to various possibilities." Alfred stated nonchalantly without even looking up from the batter he was mixing. Alex smirked, she knew he would offer advice eventually. She had grown up to learn that whether you liked it or not, Alfred would always be sticking his nose in your business, but he did it with such finesse... you couldn't possibly be offended.
"The crime rate in Starling has remarkably increased the last year." She mused softly. Alfred raised a graying eyebrow. "What do you think is the reason?"
Alex sighed and tried rubbing away the headache that was forming in her forehead, "Well, like in all societies it usually starts with the higher ups, so corruption, thievery, bankruptcy really it could be anything."
Alfred nodded, "And the lower class?" He asked. Alex bit her lip, "Well how it works is, if business men down grade their workers and pay them less or when jobs don't exist anymore, at the end of the day it affects the economical circle in a city, and that's when all hell breaks loose." She explained, implying to the possibilities of riots, robberies and muggings.
Alfred smirked knowingly, "Well has, as you say it, hell broken loose?" Alex sighed and shook her head. "Then at the moment, Miss Alex, you have nothing really to worry about since Starling City is on the other side of the country." His English accent didn't sooth Alex's jumbling thoughts. Her expression must have shown it, since Alfred sighed and sat down in front of her.
"What is really troubling you, Miss Alex?" He asked softly. Alex swallowed and looked away from him. The tears were already pooling in her eyes and Alex swore underneath her breath. She promised herself she wasn't going to break down when the first year was up, but when her gaze met Alfred's, tears streamed down her face. Alfred gave her a sympathetic look, his voice dropped as he spoke his words,
"Perhaps it would be easier for you to share your tears with someone who is going through the exact same pain." He murmured softly, Alex knew what he meant, he wanted her to go to Starling, visit Tommy, say hi to Aunt Moira and maybe even go for ice-cream with Thea, like she and Ollie used too... Alex's tears seemed to intensify and she immediately felt embarrassed. She wasn't a crier. She wasn't the usual pathetic girl who showed all her emotions to the public, and she was most certainly not the woman who would ball her eyes out in front of Alfred. She hiccuped before taking a deep breath and closing her eyes. Focus Alexandra, she heard the soft voice of her former mentor. Pain is an illusion, block it from your mind, and when it demands to be felt, release it through your rage. Alex's eyes flew open and she took ragged breath.
Her tears were no longer flowing and Alex could feel the stickiness from the trails they left behind. Alfred was staring at her with concerned orbs. Alex slightly shook her head and shut her eyes again, that last sentence had hit way to close to the old her. The Alexandra she wasn't anymore. When her eyes opened again, they didn't hold the darkness they had before and the concerning look in the butler's eyes faded. She nodded slowly,
"Please book me a plane ticket?" She asked him softly. Alfred nodded,
"You do not want to take the family jet?" Alex smiled thankfully, but shook her head. The flight would have been quicker, but Alex had the feeling that she would need the time to compose her thoughts and feelings before confronting Tommy for the first time in a year.
"Mind booking me one in two days' time?" She asked, "I want to go on patrol and just arrange everything at work, I have to give a one day notice." Alfred nodded and moved to continue with his cookies,
"Going to unleash all that pent up tension on Gotham's finest 'bad guys'?" He asked, Alex recognized the touch of amusement in his tone. She shrugged, even though he couldn't see her.
"Something like that." She murmured.
"You know I think you're taking this too personally." Tim commented with a bored raised eyebrow. Barbra scoffed, "Oh sure, I'm taking this way too personally. You're the one that started this! I'm just as good a fighter as you are and I can kick your butt into next Wednesday if I had to." She snarled.
It was Tim's turn to scoff, "Barbra, that's not possible. First, next Wednesday is literary a week away, there is no possible way that you can be strong enough to kick me so hard that I time travel to next week and secondly, even if we fought it wouldn't be a walk in the park. There's a reason why I'm Robin." Barbra spluttered indignity and scowled. A fowl remark was on the tip of her tongue, but Alex interrupted the red head.
"Barbra, stop arguing with him. He's a sixteen year old boy, he lives to be a pain in the ass." Alex said with annoyance as she stepped out of the shadows, already dressed in uniform. It was all black, the pattern of a tiger was dark purple on her upper torso, back and sides of her thighs. Her mask was hard and in the shape of a tiger's head, her mouth and cheeks still visible. On her right hand, she wore a finger-less glove and on her left hand a different glove that reached up to the middle of her upper-arm. Her top was sleeveless and had a turtleneck. A sword rested on her back, one she never really used, a dark purple utility belt was slung around her hips and a gun holster sat strapped to her right thigh, holding her grappling gun. Barbra's eyes flickered from Alex to Tim. She huffed before storming off. Alex rolled her eyes at her friend's dramatics. She shoved the newest member of the family playfully,
"Would you quit trolling her? You know she's still upset about her break-up with Dick." Tim smirked, "It's not my fault she wants to take her anger out of me." He murmured softly. He suddenly turned to her, his face serious,
"How are you?" Alex sighed and wrapped her arms lightly around herself. Tomorrow it would exactly be a year, or in two hours it would be exactly a year. Alex had spent the entire day and night down in the Cave, training, trying to forget the aching feeling in her heart. To some extent she was still mourning the loss of Oliver. Alex shrugged as her gaze fell to the floor.
"I'll survive." She said quietly. Tim was a kind soul and smiled at her, his blue eyes twinkling at her in reassurance. He bumped his shoulder against hers,
"Yeah… yeah you will." Alex smiled and nodded her head in thanks. Tim grinned, "Well I gotta go and get dressed. See you in a few." Alex watched him as he left. He had been Robin for a year now. She was proud of him: it had taken him an entire year to convince Bruce to let him take up the mantle of Batman's partner and side-kick and Alex was happy the kid never gave up on fighting for the honour. He really was a good Robin. His mother had died just after he had taken to the streets and unfortunate circumstances had left his father in a wheel-chair. Alex bit her lip, her mask hanging limp from her fingers.
"You alright?" Alex turned at the sound of her father's voice. He was walking down the steps, already in his Batman uniform, the cowl pulled down. Alex raised an eyebrow,
"What gives you the intention that I'm not?" She demanded coolly. He smirked, not at all affected by her cold demeanour, before walking past her, Alex followed, "You're arms are crossed over your torso in a way to either keep you from harm or comfort yourself. I'm guessing it's the latter. You have circles underneath your eyes and you haven't been picking up any of Dick's phone calls, I'm assuming that's because you don't want to talk and Dick is the one person that can actually get you to talk." He stated nonchalantly. Alex scowled, she hated it when he did that. Always being able to lay her bare and strip all her masks away. He turned to her and his eyes softened when he recognized the tell-tale signs of an angry Alex,
"I'm just worried." He apologised softly. Alex glared at him for a few seconds before sighing and dropping her arms to her sides,
"I'm fine, just a little worn out." She said as her eyes flickered away from his calm features. Her father nodded, "I'll take your word for it." Alex smiled at her father and he smiled back and for once the air wasn't riddled with tension or unsaid words. They had been having trouble getting back into the groove after Dick's departure and all the fighting that ensued because of it. The moment only lasted a few seconds though, since Tim bounced onto the platform. Bruce nodded in acknowledgement as he pulled his cowl up to cover his eyes, "Where's Barbra? We need to head out if we're going to cover the entire city." Alex sighed and clipped her mask to the two earpieces she usually hooked around her ears. Alex shook her head lightly to make sure the mask wouldn't fly off. Barbra trudged up the steps seconds later in her Batgirl costume. Alex turned to her father,
"Is Robin riding with you?" She asked.
Batman shook his head, "No, you are." He looked to Barbra,
"Batgirl, you take to the docks." He turned to Robin and threw him an earpiece. Tim's eyes widened behind the mask,
"It's your first night solo. Take the business sector and be careful." The teen nodded enthusiastically before turning around and sprinting down to his bike. Barbra was already gone. Alex narrowed her eyes and turned to her father,
"Why am I going with you?" She demanded. Bruce said nothing as he walked down the steel steps to the Batmobile. Alex huffed in annoyance but followed him nonetheless. When they were square in the middle of the East End, better known as the Slums, Alex's temper was about to explode. Before her father could jump and swing to another building she grabbed his arm and pulled him back, "Would you stop?" She demanded. Batman turned to her, his expression stoic. Alex scowled,
"Why am I doing my patrol with you? I'm a 22 year old woman and can take care of myself. I don't need a babysitter." She snarled. She was angry, beyond angry actually. He was treating her like a child and she knew why: He was making sure she wouldn't do anything stupid while she was high on grief. Bruce pulled his cowl down and immediately the atmosphere grew ten times more serious. He sighed and looked out over the city, "I've been doing a little digging into this whole shipwreck thing." He murmured. Alex blinked in surprise, she wasn't expecting that. She walked over and joined him on the ledge of the roof,
"Why would you investigate the Queen's Gambit?" She curiously asked.
"I don't think that ship sunk because of the storm." He stated bluntly. Alex's eyebrows jumped into her hairline.
"You think the Gambit was sabotaged? By who?" Her interests were peaked. Who would want to harm Oliver? Sure he had been a jackass, but he hadn't made any real enemies except the usual pissed off boyfriend. It took three seconds for her mind to leave her emotions behind and switch to detective mode. Oliver hadn't been the only one on that boat, Robert was too. Alex's eyes widened, she knew the repercussions of being the CEO of a big time company. She had seen the threats piled high in one of her father's trashcans in the office.
"Why would someone go to such extremes to kill Mr Queen?" She asked her dad. Batman shrugged,
"I thought you could check into my old friend's office when you're in Starling City." He commented. Alex spun around so fast she almost lost her balance and fell off the building. "You want me to go and visit Moira, just so I can sneak into Robert's office and 'investigate'?" She asked in disbelief. Bruce's expression was deadly serious when he turned to her,
"Yes."
A/N: Liked it? Hated it? Let me know in the reviews!