chapter 7
"What's going on?" Dick asked Barbara the moment she came back. He was leaning over the third body, one in much of the same condition as the others. She was obviously a night worker, someone who must've been in the wrong place at the wrong time and ran into Crane. Her arms were scratched beyond belief and under her nails, Barbara saw cached, drying blood.
She shook her head to focus and said, "Catwoman is back in Gotham, apparently."
"Really?" Dick asked. "I wonder how Bruce is taking it. She left without a word, barely." Suddenly, he chuckled. "But knowing them, I'm sure they'll be straight back to their old ways." Barbara hid the grimace from her lips and instead focused on surveying the corpse.
"So, what's the deal with this one?" She asked, kneeling down.
"Probably out working, looking for a John and when Crane showed up, she didn't bother to run, thinking he was a potential client. Boom. Toxin in the face. Dead in a few minutes."
Barbara frowned at the woman. Rigor mortis had set in already and the expression on her face was still one of horror. She died screaming. At least her eyes weren't out like the other victims. Barbara felt a wave of sadness. This woman couldn't be much older than her and obviously had a rough life if she was forced onto the streets of Gotham to prostitute herself, and then a death like this? She hadn't deserved it. "It looks like he's heading towards the Industrial District. Should we just set up a scout time? Rotate every few hours?"
"Crane knows how we work. He'll be more careful this time."
"He's not being too careful with his killing. He's giving us a trail right to him." Barbara stood and crossed her arms, pursing her lips.
Dick hesitated, looking at the ground as he thought. "You never know… He could have his goons running around spraying people all over the place just to throw us off his trail."
Barbara nodded, knowing that it was a very valid point. "True. When Scarecrow kills, there's no way to collect DNA because he doesn't touch them or use a specific murder weapon. He just uses the toxin. It's so hard to trace. I guess the only way we'll know is once my dad gets the reports of their TOD and we can see if the trail corresponds with who died when."
Dick nodded. "Good plan. Let's find Bruce and get out of here. We've got classes and there's no more bodies. I'm sure the coroner won't have released the information for a few hours anyway."
Barbara sighed and licked her lips. "You're right. Call in to Bruce, will you? I'll meet you at school. I've got to go home and get all my things."
"Sure thing," He told her with a smile and then kissed her sweetly on the lips. Barbara's hands slid up his shoulders to his neck as she returned the kiss. When they finally broke away, he looked down at her and said, "What do you say to you and I going out tonight? Seems like the only time I see you these days is when we're working."
Barbara frowned at him. "I know. I'm sorry. I've got a lot on my mind, with school and everything. Trying to catch up. Dinner tonight?" She asked curiously. She didn't feel the old excitement she used to when Dick and her would spend the evening together and she hated herself for it, but she also didn't feel the same urge for it to Bruce like she did the past week. If he's fucking Selina, why should I not want to be with Dick? She knew her thoughts were completely swapped around. She should be asking herself why she's with Bruce, not being angry that his ex is back in town. She had him first! I'm just on the side.
"Dinner sounds perfect. I'll pick you up at say, six thirty?"
"Six thirty," She repeated. He chuckled.
"Funny. I'll see you in a bit, Babs," He said with a grin and then shot his grapple up, disappearing quickly into the sky. Barbara relaxed against the stone wall. She shouldn't let this stress her out. It was her boyfriend. She could have a good time with him tonight and ignore the thoughts of unwelcome jealousy and numbness.
"Back for more so soon?" Selina asked slyly. Bruce gave her a look as he leaned against the wall inside her old apartment.
"Just came to see what mischief you were up to, Selina."
"Mischief? Me?" She acted shocked. "I'm just here to get my things, actually. I'm surprised no one's stolen all this junk," She said, picking up an old alarm clock. She tossed it behind her and it crashed into the wall. "Or bought this place."
"You're not staying here? Where will you go?" Bruce asked, crossing his arms.
"Well I was hoping I could stay with you," She said with a raised eyebrow. "The electricity and water have been shut off here," She added when she saw the look of surprise on Bruce's face. "Please, Brucey?"
Bruce stopped himself from gritting his teeth loudly at the thought. If Selina was there… Would Barbara and him…? He knew he couldn't just let Selina rot in this apartment (or kick someone out of theirs). "Why not," He said finally. She smiled at him.
"What brings you to Park Row anyway?" She was shoving extra clothes into a backpack, emptying a box of cash into the front pocket and throwing in anything else that mattered, not looking at him while she talked.
He relaxed. This was a topic he could definitely talk about. "Scarecrow broke out of Arkham last night. There's been a few bodies found since then. His fear toxin is a lot more concentrated now, making people kill themselves if it doesn't do it first. We're trying to find him, but no such luck."
"I've always disliked Crane…" She shook her head. "If you're going to kill people at least be man enough to use your hands."
"At least he has more than his hands, like some people."
She laughed. "You make a good point."
"As long as you're alright, I'm got work to do, so I'll see you at the house this evening." Bruce moved to go to the window and Selina watched him curiously.
"Don't miss me too much," She called as he jumped from the window sill. Great, He thought as he walked away. Now what?
Back at the house, Bruce was hanging from an exercise bar, swinging by his legs. His vigorous exercise routine had been practically doubled recently. If he was left bored, his thoughts ran wild. His only preoccupations were roaming the city at night and exhausting himself during the day in his fitness room. Alfred had steadily been becoming more and more worried about him as the days went by, the antisocial behavior out of place (even for the brooding, scowling Batman). He needed something else to do, something more productive.
Bruce Wayne hadn't been out in a while…
The idea struck to go visit Lucius at Wayne Tower. Maybe he'd have something new for him, or maybe Bruce could think up some exciting new toy to use on his way there. He needed to get out of the house. Bruce swung himself down quickly and headed upstairs for a shower, desperately trying to keep his mind quiet in the mean time.
Thirty minutes later, Bruce was showered and dried, dressed in one of his favorite Valentino suits. He adjusted his tie in the mirror, watching himself with pursed lips and fixed his hair once more before leaving the room. As he grabbed the keys from his dresser and skipped down into the foyer, he called out, "I'm going out, Alfred! I won't be late!" He chose the lamborghini from the garage and sped cheerfully down the driveway. He hadn't driven this in a while. In fact, the only care he seemed to drive anymore was the Tumbler.
The drive to Wayne Industries was short and sweet and Bruce wasted no time getting inside and heading straight to Fox's department — his home away from home. "Lucius!" He called out as he straightened his coat sleeves. "You here?"
"Mr. Wayne?" Fox asked from around the corner. He poked his head around and grinned. "What brings you here today, Mr. Wayne?"
"Boredom," He replied with a smile.
Lucius laughed. "No one understands more than I do, I can guarantee you. Need anything new, or just here to scope things out?" He raised an eyebrow, leaning back in his chair and crossing his leg at the ankle.
"In all honesty, I'm not completely sure," Bruce said, leaning against the post beside him.
"No more spelunking, I'm assuming."
Bruce laughed. "No, no more of that. Listen, Lucius. I'm sure you saw the news about Arkham." His voice got softer and quieter as he talked about it, not wanting to broadcast it even though they were completely alone down here.
Lucius nodded slowly. "Crane's escape. I heard. What about it?"
"He's getting more and more deadly. We aren't sure what his plan is. The toxin strain that he's created is practically death in aerosol form. The only problem is that we don't know if it's even him doing it. Dick talked to me earlier in the day and said that him and Barbara came up with the theory that he might have multiple men running around the city and spraying people with the gas just to throw us off his real trail. We can't know since he never uses his hands. No finger prints." Lucius nodded for a moment and exhaled loudly through his nose before standing in silence and walking down the hall. Bruce frowned but quickly followed. "Do you have any suggestions?"
"Eh… It's a little shaky. I've been saving it, not wanting to suggest it if not necessary. I don't know if it will even work," He explained.
"Just tell me, Lucius," Bruce said as they walked side by side now.
He hesitated for a moment. "I was able to get a hold of his original toxin, the one he used on Gotham a few years back. Obviously it's gotten much more developed since then, but… If you can get me a sample of his new chemicals, and I can tell that they have the same strain base, then I think we can work you up to an immunity. Now, I know this isn't what you were asking completely, but I think it will definitely make your job easier. The cowl with the gas mask is handy, sure, but it gets in the way of your peripheral which is vital."
"This way I can breathe freely without worrying about being incapacitated," Bruce said in agreement.
"Exactly. Now, since immunity is built up over time, you will have to deal with the side effects of small doses. And this all depends on if they share the same base," Lucius told him. "You understand." Bruce nodded again. Finally, Lucius stopped, halting Bruce in the process. A safe was bolted to the wall in front of him and Fox wasted no time typing the code and spinning the wheel to open it. A single vial of a clear liquid sat in the middle of the safe. Bruce held it in his fingers, looking at it carefully.
"I can get you a sample. It'll be hard, but I can do it."
"Wonderful."
"I'll have it by tomorrow. For now, I'm going back to the recent crime scene to see if the body is still there." Lucius nodded once.
"Be safe, Mr. Wayne," He told him.
"You too, Mr. Fox."
Barbara checked her watch the moment she got out of her last class. It was only four o'clock. She still had a good amount of time before she was supposed to be ready for dinner with Dick. She hated the fact that she was sneaking around, but the need to go see Bruce and just… Talk to him, look at him with her own eyes and make sure nothing had changed… It was strong. As she drove to the Manor, she checked the clock every few minutes anxiously. "What are you worrying about?" She whispered to herself. "You have over two hours." When the car was finally parked outside the mansion, she slammed the door closed behind her and quickly made her way to the front door. When she walked inside, she called out. "Al?" When there was no answer she hurried towards the steps, every step making her stomach twist more.
She didn't know why she was suddenly nervous. It was Bruce! She hadn't been nervous all week. Why was she suddenly so self conscious? Was it just because Selina was back in town? Of course it was. Everyone knew how Bruce and Selina's relationship was. It was on and off constantly, but passionate in it's intensity. Why would he want to sleep with Barbara when he could be sleeping with the seductress that is Catwoman? Barbara's teeth gritted uncomfortably. She was tired of being treated like a beta by the older woman and of being considered the sweet, innocent school girl that she used to be.
She heard the shower running when she got into Bruce's room and sighed, looking between the shower door and the bed. Should I just barge in there? Or maybe I should be bold and wait in bed for him… Naked. She bit her lip. Or should I just sit on the bed like a normal person and get my head out of my vagina? Yeah, let's go with that. If he wants me, he'll tell me. Barbara calmly sat down on the mattress, her fingers tracing the woven pattern with her fingertip as she waited for Bruce to come out.
Her mind wandered drunkenly over thoughts of what had happened in this bed multiple times and counting. An ache flared in her core, sparking a warmth that was hard to ignore. How could just looking at a comforter make her so wet? It's not the comforter, it's Bruce… God, I want him. She sat back on her arms as she waited, her eyes closing as she imagined what their next tryst would be like when suddenly the water shut off and her eyes snapped open. She sat up straight, her spine tensing as she waited for him to come out.
Her heart was throbbing against her rib cage as she waited, hearing every drop of water from the faucet and every thump of her heart. The door started to open. "Bruce, can we —" Selina Kyle stopped mid step when she saw Barbara sitting in front of her and her eyes widened.
"What are you doing here?" Selina asked, clutching her towel tighter against her body.
"What am I doing here? I'm his partner, what are you doing here?" She asked, standing up defensively.
"I'm pretty sure you know what I'm doing here," Selina said, cocking her hip out and resting against the door frame. Barbara felt her stomach twist at the implication.
"Where's Bruce?" Barbara asked, switching the topic.
"Not sure," She said. "I figured he was out running around with you two." She had recovered from the initial shock and was now walking towards the sliding door of the balcony where her suitcase rested beside it. She scrounged through it for clothes as Barbara turned to watch her.
"When's the last time you saw him?"
Selina gave her a look. "Earlier today. What's the rush, Ginger?" Barbara scowled.
"I don't know that that's any of your business, actually," She retorted. She exhaled sharply. "Listen, just tell your boyfriend I stopped by and that we need to talk."
"I'll tell him," She said sweetly, taking her handful of clothes to the bathroom. Barbara grimaced as the door slammed and she jumped in surprise, her body angrily twisting to the right to leave the room. Just as she turned the corner, she slammed into a hard wall of flesh and her nose smarted at the impact as she stepped back.
Bruce's hands grasped her shoulders and he held her until she caught her balance. "Barbara? What are you doing here?"
"Just dropping in to say hi to your girlfriend," Barbara replied dryly, shrugging him off her arms. She walked past and he frowned, his brow pulling low. He grabbed her by the arm again and pulled her back against him.
"Hey. Talk to me. You've been acting strange all day. Is it Selina?" He asked. She saw real concern in his eyes and she sighed.
"Nothing, Bruce," She whispered, again trying to move.
"Hey." His voice was sharp and he pushed her up against the wall, pinning her with his hands and his gaze. "Stop trying to walk away from me." Barbara swallowed uncomfortably as she looked up at him and when they resumed eye contact, Bruce took her chin in one strong palm and kissed her fiercely, making their lips collide. Barbara's fingers tangled in his thick hair and she pulled him towards her, feeling the slowly growing erection through his jeans. Bruce slipped his tongue into her mouth, tasting her, making her gasp. Quickly she pulled away and Bruce stepped back, looking at her with a lowered brow. "What now?"
"I have to go," She said suddenly. "I'm… Shit. I have to go. I'll see you later, Bruce."
"Dammit, Barbara," He muttered as she quickly darted down the steps. She grabbed her jacket and left without another word.
My darlings! I have returned!
dever: Thank you, dear! That means the world to me!
chokesfan: I'm happy I was able to update at that time! Hopefully in the next few days I'll have chapter eight up!
Bat: You don't even know the definition of disturbing.
Guest (1): Thank you sooo much! I've got so many ideas for what happens between Batgirl and Selina.
Guest (2): I understand, man! Barbara and Bruce are the best! I love writing them so much. :)
WayneTech: I'm so glad you like it! That thrills me so much. I can't wait to update some more!
Lucius: Ah! I fucking hope so! Thank you so much.
art3mus: I'm hoping this will last for quite a bit longer, but I'm not sure how long. It really just deends on where I plan to end it and how long it takes to get there. But be assured that it won't be only a few more chapters!
ScarWitch: THANK YOU! Christian Bale is practically a God, and I love writing him... He's amazing in all of his roles but as Bruce Wayne it's just too perfect. He's the best to write about!
silver: Loved your comment! Number seventy five, for the win. I'm glad to know that this is actually captivating aside from the sex because as much as I love it, writing (like in this chapter, about meeting with Lucius Fox) is just as much fun!
A Non: Thank you, thank you, thank you! I'm so glad that you like this, and I completely understand if some of my other stories are a little bit too extreme. I tried to make this one a bit more tame since it's with two tamer people. :) Sadly, I'm really not that brilliant but the compliment is amazing nonetheless. Thank you so much!
GothParadise: I'm believing so! I think Barbara is getting a bit more in tune with just how possessive and obsessive she's getting with their little affair. Batgirl won't be afraid to stand up for herself and reclaim her territory!
Guest (3): I'm thrilled to acquiesce to your request. ;) I'm so excited to write more and see how you like it!
rocket: Ahh thank you so much! You guys all make me feel like a real author and it's amazing. I love you all!
SUMMER: I wish I've read Harry Potter so that I could understand that but sadly I've never seen it or read it! :(
lilly: Bats/Bats for life! I used to never ship them but once I started writing one of my other stories and a lot of reviewers said they'd like to see Bats/Bats and now... I'm hooked!
Guest (4): Black Mirror... I'm not sure I've ever heard of it, actually. Care to elaborate?
Until next time! I hope you guys had a wonderful Christmas and in case I don't see you before 2015, happy New Years!