It's amazing what can occur in the course of three brutal weeks. Terry's wounds have healed up nicely, while new ones seem to form on Jazz. Despite the rigorous training, her senses have become more tuned to her surroundings; her aim has also improved, not to mention her reflexes and agility. She's been coming in and out of training daily, and at night she goes out to patrol the rundown streets of Gotham.
However, since the first day she started training, Jazz could tell there's a remarkable difference between Bruce and her new partner; the most obvious being Bruce has not shown any signs of trusting her. Prior to her arrival, Bruce had taken the liberty of going over her records more than once.
He didn't trust her profile then, and he doesn't now even though it's the cleanest he's ever seen. It's too good to be true; every one of his previous partners had some sort of flaw, so what's Jazz's?
Because of this, he keeps an unwavering eye on her including limited access to the manor. There were only three destinations she is allowed to go to: home, class, and the cave. She reluctantly quit her jobs after Bruce assured to pay her a suitable income so she could spend more time training and unknowingly be monitored more closely by Bruce. He even went as far as inconspicuously plant a tracer on her bag so he knows where she is at all times.
Unfortunately Terry has grown uncomfortable because of Bruce's suspicions. His reaction is like that of a meerkat in its group; if Bruce raises an alarm, Terry listens to it. So he too has been keeping an eye on Jazz when he can, while trying to put together the puzzle he met almost two months ago.
However, what the two men haven't realized is that Jazz has already picked up on what is going on around her, which is why she has been on her best behavior, coming and going with no complaints. Even when she was robbed of her freedom and put through rigorous and unforgiving training week after week, she still didn't complain. She figured that way they won't ask too many questions. They'll think she really is as perfect as her record shows; maybe it would even lead them into a different direction, away from the truth; and it was working until the last night of the third week.
Tonight is especially different since Terry finally got permission to train with her, but that isn't why she's having trouble. She knows that she is more than capable of seriously injuring him, and the realization makes her to tense up every time she has an opportunity to strike him. She doesn't want to hurt him for fear of getting into trouble with the boss and her victim.
"Jazz, fight back," Terry orders as he intentionally leaves his right side open for her to strike. He has seen her fight and knows what she is capable of, but when she declines the opportunity to deliver the blow, Terry grows more irritated. "Stop worrying, don't hold back, and fight!"
A knee makes its way past her arms and right into her gut. She lands hard on her knees as she grabs her stomach. With a sigh, Terry offers a hand to help her up. However, she bitterly slaps it away and gets up on her own. For the first time since her arrival, she doesn't make any kind of attempt to hide her naturally flaring temper; telling from her furious expression, she has just had enough.
"You want to try that again?" Terry asks with a raised brow, clearly not intimidated by her fuming appearance.
"Why? So you can have the pleasure of kicking my ass again? I don't think so!" She yells before storming out of the training area. Before she could reach the base of the staircase, Bruce steps in front of her, blocking her path.
"Where do you think you're going?" He calmly asks.
"Out! Is that a problem or do I actually have to kill Terry to prove I can fight?" She snaps.
Terry doesn't move as he quietly stares with wide eyes taking in what has just happened. He's never seen anyone besides himself yell at the old man that way; and frankly, he's curious to see how Bruce will handle the confrontation. He has never seen Jazz glare at anyone like that; it almost seems natural for her to look that terrifying. Bruce on the other hand doesn't return the scowl; in fact, he barely even frowns at the young woman. Instead, his only reaction is a smirk, a creepy smirk.
"I'm surprised this didn't happen sooner; I was beginning to think I was wrong."
"What are you talking about?"
"You. I knew you were faking the minute you came here. So what are you hiding?" Jazz makes no attempt to answer his question, but she doesn't ease her glare. "Have you killed anyone?" He asks imagining the worst-case scenario.
"No," she replies. Her eyes show no sign of deception.
"Uh, Bruce," Terry finally manages to cut in, "you mind if I talk to her?" He asks placing a hand on her shoulder; she tenses under his light touch.
Bruce eyes him for a moment wondering if Terry might have a better chance at coaxing her to talk since it seems she trusts him more. Nodding once, he gives Jazz a last look before turning on his heel and walking towards the staircase.
Once he is within his private quarters away from earshot, Jazz spins around to face Terry with rage still very much expressed on her face. "What do you want? Still trying to figure me out, McGinnis? Cause if it hasn't occurred to you yet, here it is: there's nothing there. Plain and simple," she replies, eyes hard on Terry.
"Here's the thing," Terry starts, his voice calm and well in control. "Keeping secrets isn't how it works around here, so its highly recommended you spill or you'll be the one I'll come after if you put that mask on.
"Are you threatening me?" She asks suddenly feeling like she's walking across a tight rope.
"I take our business very seriously, and if you want to stay a part of it, you'll need to give up something of your own."
She looks away as she contemplates the ultimatum. There's a reason people keep secrets and protect them with their lives. Asking Jazz to give up something she's been guarding most of her life is like asking for a limb. But what Terry and Bruce have done for her, she owes them more than a single leg.
She looks up at Terry. "Would it be enough to just talk to Bruce?"
Terry narrows his eyes at the bargain. "Why?"
"Cause I think he's the one who has a bigger issue with me."
He thinks the request over and finds that although he's curious, he has no reason not to trust her; after all, he was the first to do that. Ultimately if Bruce doesn't find her a danger, then he has no reason to either.
He nods once. "Before you do that, care to tell me why I shouldn't know?"
"Not the right time," she replies without further information. Holding her pink eyes in a gaze, he looks for some sign that would suggest dishonesty, but what he finds is unexpected: pain; what's more, it's a familiar kind of pain. Before he has a chance to explore his discovery, she looks away and clears her throat.
"So, where is he?" She asks, eyes focusing n the staircase behind him.
Turning, he quietly leads her up the stairs and into the study where they find Bruce calmly waiting for their arrival. Terry then leaves the two alone closing the door behind him as he wonders what Jazz could be hiding.
"Wake up," Bruce grunts, shoving Terry hard enough to make his eyes open.
He lifts his head to find Bruce staring down at him with indifference. Terry had made himself too comfortable in the family room eventually falling asleep as he waited for Jazz to finish.
"Well?" He asks rubbing his eyes as he sits up straighter.
"She's staying," Bruce replies before moving away, giving Terry a chance to see Jazz staring at him with a strange face before leaving the room.
"What'd she talk about?" Terry asks looking back up to Bruce.
"It doesn't concern you," he replies telling Terry more than the answer offers.
She must have asked Bruce to keep the information private, meaning it's personal. The fact that Bruce decided to keep her on after the fact suggests Terry has nothing to worry about. Satisfied with that, he lets out a yawn as he gets up.
"So what's next?"
"Training," Bruce says leading the way to the cave.
"Right," Terry sighs rolling his eyes and following his mentor.
-continued-