Batman was released from the infirmary a day after the incident with the Legion of Doom. Walking around (because the healer hero people fixed his legs), he was a subject of constant taunts about the girl Drifter. It was all the male heroes doing it, now pleased by the fact that the great Batman could be seriously injured enough to be carried into the Hall of Justice, and by a girl no less.
The Green Arrow was the only one not a part of the ridicule and tried to stop it, but it didn't work very well. Drifter was congratulated by all the female heroes on taking a more masculine role in crime fighting and felt no ill affects of the incident whatsoever.
Batman ignored the taunts mostly, but they still wiggled their way under his skin. By far, the largest bully was the Green Lantern, whose insane jealousy drove him to torture the caped crusader to no end. It was bound to put them head to head sometime.
Batman was walking into the cafeteria with a tray in his hand. He sat at his customary "bat table" and started to eat. Lantern swaggered over. "Hey Bats", he said, "How come you're all alone all the time, is it because you have no friends?"
Batman looked up at him, annoyed mostly because it was such a stupid insult. Because he didn't want to waste insults on something so trivial and beneath him, he ignored Lantern and bit into a tasteless meat patty. No wonder he never ate at the hall of Justice.
Lantern, of course, continued. I mean, when she carried you in here, I just about died. You two are both just pathetic. You actually thought you could take my girl from me. Then again, maybe I'm glad to be rid of her. She's a useless slut anyway."
That was when Batman snapped. Lantern could say whatever he wanted about him, but Drifter was taboo. Lantern, not seeing the danger continued. "Why", he said, "She's so worthless, she could sell herself to you even and get nothing from it. You two make me laugh."
"I'll give you something to laugh about you pimp", Batman growled under his breath.
"Excuse me", Lantern said, "What did you just call me?" And Batman dove at him.
Lantern was in the infirmary for several days with a quarter of the bones in his body broken. Superman too was in the infirmary for a while getting a piece of Kryptonite removed from his digestive tract after trying to break up the fight between the two. Batman was left with a few surface scratches, which he was able to take care of all by himself, but the scratches on his heart were only opening still wider.
Arrow came to see Batman a few days after he had shoved Lantern's pretty boy face against a cheese grinder the dark knight had fabricated from his opponent's ring. "Batman", he said, coming in, "Look, are you ok?" Batman was sitting by a window, staring out into space. He took off his mask and sat down on a chair. "Bats, what's wrong?" Arrow asked.
"I don't know what to do", Batman said, "I just want to tear out my heart and throw it away. She's just torturing me."
"Go to her", Arrow said, "Tell her how you feel."
"I can't Ollie", said Batman, "I'm…too embarrassed and anyway, it wouldn't be good for Gotham. The girl would just be a distraction." Arrow put a hand on his shoulder.
"Go", he prompted again. "Look Bruce, you have done so much for so many people. You've given your whole life to Gotham; don't you think its time to do something for yourself?"
"You think I should", Batman asked softly. Arrow nodded.
"Look", he said, taking something out of his pocket. "I saved 'em for you." Batman looked down to see two pink carnations in full bloom. He touched the blossoms with his fingertips. "They had their hearts set on going to a real special girl; I don't think you should deprive them", Arrow said softly.
Batman took the flowers and clinched them in his fist. Then, he drew Arrow into a bear hug. "Wow", said Arrow, "If you're hugging, you're no longer Batman, I'm gona be glad when you like stop with all this emotion junk."
"Thanks", Batman said. Arrow nodded.
"Go get her tiger". Batman put back on his mask and raced out the door.
Batman hurried along the corner, ramming into people and generally causing mayhem. Because the kryptonite incident was still fresh in everyone's mind, nobody complained other then giving him an evil eye, which he didn't notice anyway.
Batman rounded the last corner and knocked on Drifter's door. He rehearsed what he was going to say over and over in his mind. He was going to take her in his arms and tell her how much he loved her. He was sure he knew what he was going to say until he actually saw her.
Drifter looked like she had just gotten out of the shower. She was dressed in a light pink bathrobe, slippers and had her long wet hair cascading down her back. The only thing he recognized on her was her blue mask. Batman blushed profusely and said, "I'll come back later."
"No", said Drifter, "Come on in." Batman came inside and stood awkwardly by the door. "I'm sorry it's such a mess in here", Drifter said, "I don't usually have guests."
"I um I brought you some um flowers." He held out the carnations to her.
"Ohh Batman they're beautiful", Drifter exclaimed, "Carnations are my favorite, how did you know?" Batman shrugged.
"Lucky guess", he said. He didn't want her to know he had had people stalking her, so he left that out. Drifter took the carnations and took out a small vase. She pushed some other flowers away and squeezed the water out of her hair into the vase before putting the flowers in.
Drifter grinned at Batman and asked, "What can I do for you?"
"Um", Batman said, "I don't remember, I'll just go."
"Ok", said Drifter, a grin on her face. "Well, if you remember, be sure to tell me." Batman nodded and was about to walk out when he swung around.
"No", he said, rushing up to her, "I can't go, I have to tell you."
"Well then tell me", Drifter said through a laugh.
"I love you", Batman said. Drifter backed up from him, speechless and eyes wide, but Batman went on. "I love you so much I could scream and everyday I see you with another man, it puts me in agony.
"I need you like I need the air I breathe and I want you to love me. I am tired of being in the dark about this and hiding it. If you don't love me, please tell me so I can move on, but if you do, you could make me the happiest man in the world. Look", he said, "I'm a billionaire. I could give you anything you could ever want and more if you just love me." Drifter looked shocked.
"You're bargaining for my love?" she asked incredulously.
"Alright", said Batman, "It's true I know nothing about love, but I can learn. All I know right now is that I love you." Drifter stood there and stared at him, Batman's heart breaking all the while.
"I think…I think I love you too", she said. "Ever since I carried out of that forest after the bomb I think I've loved you." She came closer to him. "I'll have to think about it", she said softly, "and I'll tell you…soon. I don't normally do things this way. I didn't love Lantern, I just went for it, but I can't afford to hurt you the way I did him. You're too pure."
Batman trembled, hardly daring to allow himself the hope. Drifter put a hand on his chest and moved foreword. Then, she brushed her lips across his. Batman almost cautiously put his hands on her waist and rested them there. The girl smiled warmly at him. Her eyes blinked softy and she moved in closer.
Then, Drifter kissed him again, but this time, he kissed her back. He pressed his lips to hers in ecstasy and eagerly kissed her. Her lips tasted like peppermint and she smelt like a mixture between the rain and roses. It was the most wonderful smell Batman had ever experienced.
Batman felt as if his whole body was on fire with love for this beautiful girl before him. "I love you Drifter", he said. Drifter nodded.
"I love you too", she said softly, "so much." Batman pushed his hands up on his head and knocked off his cowl. Drifter reached up her hands and put them on his face. He lowered his face into her hands, enjoying the feel of them on his skin. They were so soft and smooth, so unlike his own course, rough ones.
"You're so handsome", she murmured. He lifted his hand and almost cautiously fingered her mask. Her eyes gave him the go ahead. He gently lifted it. She had a splash of brown freckles across her nose.
"What's your name?" he asked eagerly.
"Saffron", she said.
"Saffron", Batman breathed. "That's the most beautiful name I've ever heard. My name is Bruce Wayne." Drifter ran her fingers through Batman's hair, feeling him relax beneath her touch. Suddenly, someone pounded on Drifter's door.
"Drifter", the loud voice said, "Drifter let me in, look we need to talk, I have something for you."
"Just a second Lantern", Drifter called almost frightenedly, "I'm not dressed."
"That's ok", Lantern said.
"No its not", Drifter replied, "I'll be just a minute." She took Batman's hand and dragged him to the balcony. She handed him his mask. Batman looked as if his heart were breaking.
"But", he said, "You have Lantern, what need have you of me?"
"Me and Lantern are through as far as I'm concerned, I've found another man."
"Who", Batman asked desperately.
"You", Drifter said, a smile tugging at her lips. "But, you have to go now, I can't let Lantern see me with you right now. He sounds drunk."
"I can take him", Batman said, "I don't want him to hurt you."
"He won't" Drifter said, "but he might hurt you. I don't want you getting into a fight."
"Then", said Batman, "before I go, will you…will you be my girlfriend?' Drifter smiled.
"Of course", she said, "We can keep it a secret if you'd like."
"No", said Batman, "I want the whole world to know how lucky I am."
"Fine", said Drifter, "Please go. I'll call Black Canary tonight and tell her. Ohh Batman, you've made me so happy."
"It's nowhere near as happy as you've made me", Batman said. He touched her cheek almost cautiously.
"I'm not a poison Batman", Drifter said, amused, "You can touch me." Batman blushed and put back on his mask.
"Kiss me before I go", he said. Drifter kissed him and he vaulted off the balcony and into the growing night. He felt like screaming it to the world. Drifter was finally his! But don't worry everyone, this is nowhere near over!