It turned out to be only them and the pilot boarding the plane, Blake thankfully realised. When they boarded, he locked their light bags of provisions and clothes in the over-head lockers and sat down opposite her, looking about the lavish cabin. "People really do have money," he remarked.

Nelya took in the leather seats, varnished floors and fully stocked bar, "They really do."

They remained quiet for the better part of an hour and it wasn't until they were well in the air that Blake looked over at her. She was dressed in black, as usual, but had since removed her mask and taken her hair out of its ponytail, the dark waves falling effortlessly over a shoulder, seemingly looking out the window. He knew better, "Penny for your thoughts?"

Turning her head away from the pink clouds, she met his eyes. As it was still fairly dark when they took off, the sun was only now peaking up, the rich colours only enhancing her already striking features. Even her pupils seemed more hazel than brown, the sight making his heart beat hard against his chest.

"Just running over the plan."

His brow creased, "Again?"

She passed a hand over her face and released a breath through her nose, "The train's bugging me."

"Why? We get on, we get off, take the ferry and we're there."

Shaking her head, she rested her elbows on her knees, "That part's fine. It's the way back that I'm worried about." The map they had taken with them was spread out on the coffee table in front of them. She indicated toward the island, "There's a ferry that leaves at 2 o'clock in the morning after we get the job done. It'll take us back to the mainland but the train that we have to catch back to Moscow isn't leaving here," she pointed at the port, "But here." Her finger moved quite a distance west, too far to go by foot in even the best of conditions.

"What do they expect us to do, freeze our asses off?" He seethed.

"Apparently a truck is supposed to take us there but I can't understand why they didn't book a later ticket when the train would actually stop at the docks."

"All this dough and they're still cheapskates."

Murmuring what sounded like an agreement, she rolled up the map and put it to one side, pausing then saying, "We should get some sleep, the time change will kill us otherwise."

Not entirely sure he felt tired enough to drift off, Blake went over to the bar and got himself a beer and a packet of salted peanuts. He sat there for quite some time, his absent-minded stare out the window evidence of how deep in thought he was. So deep, in fact, that he didn't notice Nelya sitting next to him until she began to speak, "What are you brooding about now?"

He turned to her and scoffed, "Brooding? So not my style."

She nudged him gently with her shoulder, "Tell me."

'"You know what." He said, resting his bottle on the table and looking directly at her, "We haven't talked about us since before we, um, kissed."

Blushing, she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and bit the inside of her cheek, "I've been meaning to talk about it too. I just couldn't...bring up the courage."

"When have you ever lacked courage?"

Sighing, she fiddled with the bowl of peanuts, "I've never had a romantic relationship. It's entirely new to me and the prospect of an 'us', if it were to happen, throws me. I'm excited and nervous and agitated and flattered all at the same time but I don't know how to respond to that."

Looking down at his bottle, he contemplated the words he had silently listened to and said, "But you do want to have one."

A moment passed before she nodded and it was only then that he realised how tightly he was gripping his seat. Reaching up, he cupped her jaw and pulled her towards him, pressing their foreheads together, "Just...just let me know when you're ready."

"Thank you." She smiled, hugging him, "Thank you so much."

They spent the rest of the flight occupying themselves with their own thing; Nelya drifting off to sleep now and then, and Blake scrolling through the films that were available in the cabin. He made a few sly glances in her direction but didn't pursue them, leaving her to her own thoughts. Which meant the only company he had was himself.

At this point, he began to realise just how crowded his mind was, not properly thinking about himself and his life since before he became the Batman. When Bruce Wayne passed over the mantle to him, he rushed at the opportunity with little regard for any consequences that may arise. And apart for his feelings towards Nelya, the only other thing he wanted to think about was how he hadn't been the best form of vigilante justice in the world. He shirked his self-appointed duties, that was for sure, but Nel, she needed him; he was pushing himself up the ranks a tad but they depended on each other.

Nelya couldn't believe she had been reduced to pretending to sleep. He was getting closer and closer and she couldn't decide if she wanted to push him away or hold on to him and never let go. The latter was becoming increasingly attractive and whenever she envisioned herself with him butterflies flew through her. But she knew what happened when she got too involved; her mother moved away for a reason, they were family so danger came as part of the package. Blake was not; it was her that sought him out, and with her came mountains of emotional baggage that she would not give him. What disgusted her the most, though, was how she couldn't even give him the only thing he wanted, her. She wasn't too pleased with her regard of self-importance, either.