Disclaimer: I own absolutely nothing related to Batman. Any and all one-shots in this collection of one-shots were inspired by Charlotte A. Cavatica's lovely ideas from her Waiting on the Shingle, chapter seven, unless otherwise stated. Anyway, thanks to Ms. Cavatica for making it possible for plot bunnies to attack me. Please enjoy.

Thanks to everyone who reviewed. –Ches.

#5

Touch

He seethed. He grumbled. He even complained to the rats.

None of it made him feel better.

He was almost to the point where he wanted to break something fragile against the wall to see if it made him feel any better.

She had a boyfriend.

A BOYFRIEND! A wretched spineless cretin who had no idea how to properly treat the treasure he now held in his worthless hands.

Jervis angrily paced his office as he tried to get over the news Alice had given him earlier when he had carefully suggested they continue the conversation they had been having about his work over lunch.

I'm sorry, Jervis, but my boyfriend is coming by so we can go out to lunch, Alice had said.

Jervis clenched the side of his work table until his knuckles turned white. He took deep breaths to calm himself.

The sound of Alice's twinkling laughter reached his ears and made him move to stand in the doorway of his office.

He chewed the inside of his lip as he watched this boy come to call on his secretary –he was touching her face, and he hated it.

The boyfriend was broad shouldered with brown hair and an easy smile.

Jervis had a gut feeling that the relationship would end in tears for Alice.

When it did, he would be there to help pick up the pieces.

Arianna's eye narrowed from down the other hallway as she saw the upstart that was attempting to prevent two soul mates from being together.

The dark haired man wearing jeans and a red T-shirt standing behind her put a hand on her shoulder. "What's the plan, Kitty?"

She spared him a glance. "First off Zeek, you know you aren't supposed to call me Kitty here. And second…" She turned back to the scene before her with a grin that made Zeek shiver. "Well, we find out if he's a cat person and then proceed to ensure he becomes a cat hater and leaves her alone."

"Fancy taking lunch then?" Zeek questioned.

Arianna put her arm through his and tugged him along after her.

The man at the desk pulled away slightly when Arianna appeared pulling a guy that could probably kick his butt.

Alice smiled at Arianna. "Ari! Ezekiel! What are you doing here?"

"Please Alice, call me Zeek. Ari and I were wondering if you want to join us for lunch." Zeek stated.

Alice looked at her boyfriend. "I don't know. Bruno came to take me out to lunch."

Arianna seized upon that. She turned to the man leaning against the desk. "So you're the infamous Bruno Alice has been telling me about for the last week. Arianna Fields and this is my boyfriend Ezekiel Redd. It's nice to finally be able to put a face to the descriptions Alice has given me."

Bruno shook her hand. "Bruno Fortin. Alice has mentioned you to me."

Zeek just nodded to him when Bruno offered his hand to Zeek.

Arianna smiled sweetly. "You have to excuse Zeek. He's not very social at times. Why don't you and Alice join us for lunch? I'd like to get to know you better since I count Alice among my closest friends."

Bruno looked at Alice. "Do you want to, sweetheart?"

Alice beamed happily at him. "I'd love to. Just let me get my purse and tell Jervis I'm going to lunch." She started to get out of her chair.

Ari smiled at her. "I'll go tell Mr. Tetch for you, Alice. It won't take but a minute." She walked down the hallway and stood in the doorway where Jervis had stood a few seconds before.

He was now in his office, trying to look very busy.

Ari saw right through it. "Nice try, but I know you're not as busy as you seem. Alice is going out to lunch, but don't worry. I don't like him either. And Zeek won't shake hands with people his doesn't like, so I know he doesn't like the brainless slug. We'll have her back soon."

Jervis stared after her in shock. He hadn't been aware that his dislike was that evident.

*~*~*~*

The four were eating lunch at a nice café a couple blocks away twenty minutes later.

Alice had excused herself to use the restroom and Ari had gone with her in order to see if she could get rid of the very small stain on her blouse.

That left Zeek and Bruno at the table.

Zeek pulled out a small leather pouch and carefully removed a filigree cat that wasn't quite done from it. He pulled a small pair of pliers from his pocket and set about bending the thin silver wire into the shape he wanted. "I don't like you." he told Bruno.

Bruno sat back in his chair. "So?"

Zeek glanced up at him. "You're a player. You have no true interest in Alice."

"Have you seen the legs on her? What man wouldn't want a piece of her? She's probably a great piece of tail." Bruno replied.

Zeek fixed him with a dark look that made Bruno begin to sweat. "She's something to be treasured. Leave her be now before something happens that makes you regret ever laying eyes on her."

Bruno summoned up some false bravado. "Oh yeah? Like what? You gonna punch my lights out?"

Zeek just smiled mysteriously. "Oh no, I'm not the one you have to worry about. Kitty is." he returned softly.

The conversation ended as the two women returned to the table.

Ari smiled at the two men as she stood behind her chair. "Well, lunch was wonderful, but Alice and I have to get back to work." She smiled sweetly at Bruno. "It was nice to meet you Bruno."

Alice looked at what Zeek was making. "What are you doing?"

Zeek grinned at her. "Making a filigree cat to make a barrette for Ari. She's got a thing for cats."

Alice was quite taken with it. "It's beautiful. I like butterflies myself."

As Zeek offered to make Alice some hair clips with butterflies while he put the cat and tool up, Ari fixed her gaze on Bruno.

He felt like fidgeting under her calculating gaze.

"Are you a cat person, Mr. Fortin?" she asked softly.

He shrugged. "Not really. Cats shed too much in my opinion."

Ari's smile took on a slightly dangerous edge.

"Pity." She grinned at Alice. "Come along Alice, I think we should leave to boys alone. We need to get back before Dr. Cates begins to make her rounds."

Alice nodded in agreement, bid Zeek goodbye, kissed Bruno, and started for the door.

Ari dropped a quick kiss at the corner of Zeek's mouth, smirked at Bruno, and followed Alice.

Zeek grinned as he rose. "Like I said, leave Alice be or Kitty will do something to make you wish you had."

Bruno stood up as well. "Not until I've had her."

"I thought you might say that. Don't say you weren't warned." Zeek left.

Bruno told himself that nothing would happen and went to go see his other girl.

*~*~*~*

Jervis felt himself relax when Ari brought Alice back and it was just the two women. He knew he could now get work done.

A worry rose up in his mind as to if the lunch had changed Arianna's mind as to if she liked Alice's boyfriend or not.

For some reason it was set at ease when Ari sent him a conspirator's smile and a slight nod.

Her eyes told him that she was just more convinced the boy wasn't what Alice needed.

Alice smiled at him when he came out with his teapot to get more tea.

Jervis couldn't help but smile back. He had a gut feeling that everything was going to be taken care of.