Helena looked through the window. She still didn't know how Alfred had convinced her to go to the charity ball. It was going be uncomfortable, but, well, those kids were worth a bit of her time. Barbara was a nice person, but it was not good to allow the woman into her life again.
She had learned not to open her heart again. Life was less painful that way. Someone had told her that by doing that, she closed the door to love, but she didn't want love. Everyone she'd ever loved had failed her, except her mother. Her mind was focused on finding the man that had killed her mother and killing him.
Maybe it was time to start looking for him.
Alfred parked the limo in front of a big building.
The brunette noticed something was wrong. She knew this place.
"Wait, this is the Clock Tower. Barbara lives here."
"Excellent observation," Alfred responded.
"What are we doing here?"
"I must take Miss Barbara to the Charity ball."
"You never said anything about picking her up."
"Miss Helena," the butler explained, "it's important that the two of you arrive together. It's part of the foundation's image."
"I said I'm not working for the damn foundation."
"And you won't," he said, "but, like it or not, you are Bruce Wayne and Selina Kyle's daughter, both of whom were very well-known and appreciated in this city. It's the first time the Foundation has held an event like this and your presence is very important to its success." He opened the door on his side. "Oh, here she comes."
He didn't give her an opportunity to protest, but stepped out of the car to open the door for Barbara.
Helena gazed outside.
Wow.
Her surprise turned to amazement. The woman was breathtaking. She was wearing a long green dress. She walked toward the car with confidence and grace, she really had style. Helena looked at her own dress and arranged it; it was a black cocktail dress. She had a thin necklace with a small diamond that had been her mother's.
"Good evening, Helena," Barbara greeted with a serious expression as she climbed inside the car.
"Hello," the brunette answered, feeling uncomfortable. The last time they had seen each other, they had argued, and it had been pretty nasty. She was going to kill Alfred! Well, maybe just beat him a bit…. he really made great lasagna.
Barbara sat in front of her, as if they saw each other often. She wasn't showing any discomfort.
"Did you bring the notes from my office, Alfred?" the redhead asked the butler.
"In the blue folder, on the seat," Alfred replied from the driver's seat.
"Oh, excellent." She picked up the folder and opened it. "How have you been, Helena?"
"Fine, thanks." The brunette felt some of her tension easing. Barbara was not looking to continue the fight.
"Good."
"Give me a few seconds, I need to check this."
Alfred raised the glass between his seat and back, giving them privacy.
Helena noted that Barbara's dress was a nice design with just one shoulder strap. Her skin was so white, and her eyes looked greener than ever. Helena's eyes tracked toward her crossed legs. She had wonderful legs. When she lifted her eyes, she found Barbara looking her. Crap. She had been caught eyeing her. She blushed.
"Nice shoes." It was all she could come up with to cover herself.
Barbara smiled. "Thanks. Sorry, I needed to check my speech for tonight." She closed the folder "I want to thank you for coming."
"No problem." The brunette shrugged her shoulders. She turned her head toward the window, but felt Barbara's eyes on her. She didn't like to be watched. It made her feel uncomfortable.
She turned to protest, but the redhead spoke before she could open her mouth.
"HIV," Barbara explained "is responsible for causing acquired immune deficiency syndrome. The virus destroys or impairs cells of the immune system and progressively destroys the body's ability to fight infections and certain cancers. We are trying to save kids." Barbara gave her a paper.
"What is this?" Helena asked.
"The event program and the name of the attendees. It would be good for you to know it," the redhead explained. "I know you didn't want to come today and I understand."
Helena blushed again.
"I appreciate that you decided to attend. it's really important."
"Why is it so important that I be here?" Helena asked, not in good mood.
"Because of who you are."
"I didn't ask to be his daughter," Helena replied.
"Sometimes we don't want to be what we are or we have a life that we didn't ask for, like those orphans. They didn't ask to be born, they didn't want to be thrown in a trash container like garbage, or have a father who drank all the time and hit them." Barbara couldn't avoid sadness, remembering her own story. "Most of the orphans didn't ask to lose their parents," Barbara rested her elbow on the window and looked outside. "Like you didn't ask to lose your mother."
Helena flinched and turned her head to the other side.
"It's impossible have a perfect life. But we can fight, look for what we want. I know you didn't ask to be his daughter, but you can't change that. So it's absurd to fight it." Green eyes focused on the thin brunette, who sat in the far corner of the limo. "Nevertheless, you can choose what you want to be. The important thing is where you want to go, not where you come from."
"Do you think?" Helena asked, not looking at her.
"Yes, your mother is a good example. She was an orphan, too, you know. She chose what she wanted to be. She fought, she prepared herself and she did it. She was a successful woman."
"She was a burglar, no?" the brunette turned to see the older woman.
Barbara recognized the comment as a taunt.
"But she chose her own destiny. No one told her what to do, and when you were born, she made the decision to have an honest life and give you the best, and she did it."
The young woman turned again her head to the window. "She was great."
"Yes, you must be so proud of her."
"I am."
Barbara realized the brunette still had a lot of pain inside. She was angry at the world for her mother's death. She had demons inside her soul that didn't let her breathe. It was heartbreaking.
"What do you want me to do tonight?" Helena asked softly, still looking outside.
"We just want our guests to feel comfortable. You have a special charm with people, use it."
"You think I have charm?" Helena asked ironically. "I have been always a pain in the ass. No?"
"Depends on your mood. You are very nice when you want to be."
The brunette shrugged her shoulders.
Barbara couldn't understand why the younger woman had agreed to go to the Foundation's charity event. She had been trying to figure out how to have a relationship with her, rather unsuccessfully. Helena was full of unexpected reactions, her mind was complicated, and her motivations, an enigma.
Before she realized it, the limo stopped and they arrived at the event. It was full of people and press.
"Well, we are here." Barbara said, lowering her notes. "Want to get out first?"
"I'll follow you."
"All right."
Alfred opened the door and a rain of flashes fell over them. Barbara walked outside, Helena behind her.
A group of reporters stopped the older woman to ask questions. Helena stood behind her, trying to keep a prudent distance. She heard the redhead talk. Barbara spoke with emotion and it was obvious she loved her work for kids.
"In children under the age of 13 in the United States," the redhead explained to the reporters, "nearly all HIV infections are from vertical transmission, which means the virus is passed to the child when they are in their mother's womb or as they pass through the birth canal. However, not every child born to an HIV-infected mother will acquire the virus."
Barbara had a nice smile, it was open and confident. She didn't hesitated in answering, she was very confident of herself.
Suddenly, the brunette found herself surrounded by a group of reporters, too.
"Miss Kyle, this is the first time we've see you at an event. Why are you here?"
"We need to support kids with AIDS."
"Why is it so important support kids with AIDS?" a reporter asked. "Isn't it better to make a stronger campaign to educate adults about this illness?"
"HIV treatment for children slows the progress of HIV infections and allows infected children to live much longer, healthier lives," Helena responded. "But, sadly, of the vast majority of children who could be benefiting from this therapy, 90% are not receiving are between 6,000 to 7,000 children who are born to HIV-infected mothers each year in the United States. Between 1992 and 1997 the number of infants who became HIV positive when born to an infected mother decreased by 50 percent."
She turned and found Barbara winking at her and smiling.
She was proud of herself and greeted another journalist. She began to talk about the work of the foundation. She had read about it and had investigated Barbara's work. It was not so difficult to answer their questions and talk about the work with the kids. She took her time answering and explaining the work in which the foundation was involved.
After a few minutes, she turned, looking for Barbara. A man was standing close to her and had his arm around Barbara's waist. The photographers were taking pictures of them.
She was seriously annoyed. Who was he?
Another reporter asked her a question and she answered him, but she couldn't move her gaze from Barbara and that man. She never had seen him, but Barbara knew him, she was holding his hand.
She observed him, he was good looking, tall, but… Barbara had much more personality than him. From the way he looked her, he was in love, he didn't take his eyes off her… or his hands.
After a few minutes, Barbara called her.
"Helena, this is Wade, Wade Brixton, my boyfriend."
"Nice to meet you, Helena," he said. "Barbara has told me so much about you."
"Hi," she said, not knowing what to think. She didn't know that Barbara had a boyfriend. They walked inside the ballroom.
"You are the most beautiful woman tonight," Wade said to Barbara.
"Just tonight?" she smirked at him.
"Okay, always."
Helena rolled her eyes. That was really stupid. He turned to greet a friend.
"You did well." The redhead smiled at her. "I didn't know you had such knowledge about AIDS."
"I'm not an idiot, Barbara," Helena replied angrily. "I'm not so fucking stupid that I'd come here and not know anything."
The redhead just glared at the brunette, not saying anything, but clearly Barbara hadn't cared for her response. She just turned and greeted a couple standing up a few feet far from her.
Helena walked around; many people stopped her and asked questions about the foundation. She stopped to talk with them and often turned to look for Barbara; she seemed to be glued to that Wade.
After long minutes, a hostess went toward her.
"Miss Kyle, welcome," she greeted. "Follow me, I'll show you to your table. The event will start soon."
The brunette nodded. When she was close to the table, she noticed Barbara and Wade were sitting there.
"Must I sit with them?" she asked the girl.
"It's the main table, Miss Kyle. You are here representing the Wayne Foundation."
"Whatever," she grumbled and sat in the only empty chair, unfortunately located next to Barbara. Destiny hated her.
As soon as she sat, Barbara smiled to her as if nothing had happened. Was the woman was psychotic?
"Helena, I'm glad you are here," she waved her hand toward the guests at the table, "let me introduce you to Governor Jenkins and his wife."
"Nice to meet you," Helena said.
"The Mayor, his wife… and the President of Green Oil Company."
They began to talk, Helena lowered her head, arranging the napkin on her lap, whispering to Barbara: "You are a great actress."
"Why?" The redhead sipped her wine.
"You practically shot flames from your eyes at me a few minutes ago and, now," she lifted her head and faked a smile, "you are pretending to be nice to me in front of these people."
"Well, I'm not pretending," Barbara answered in a low voice, smiling. She lifted her hand to arrange Helena's necklace. Helena shivered under the touch. "The only one that has been looking for a fight is you and, as I recall, to have a fight, you need two people. I'm out." She moved her hand back and turned to smile to the Mayor. "How are your children?" she asked.
Helena blinked, staring at her.
"Fine, thanks." The mayor asked, "So, Mr. Brixton, what do you do?"
"I am a teacher at New Gotham High School," he responded.
The brunette looked at him with interest. Barbara was bright, smart, perfect. Wade was grey, dumb -- he was like nothing beside her. She wondered what kind of taste in men Barbara had- First, Dick Pied Piper, and, now, this corny, boring school teacher.
"So, Miss Kyle," the Governor said, "I haven't heard much about you for a long time; you used to appear all over the newspaper social pages."
"That was a long time ago." Helena smiled lightly.
"And what do you do now?"
"I'm a bartender," she said, taking her wine glass.
"Bartender?" the man asked, surprised. "The daughter of Bruce Wayne is a bartender? Must be your bar, right?"
Seemed she had given the wrong answer. "No… I…."
The brunette felt Barbara holding her arm and leaning over her.
"Helena wants to make it on her own," the redhead explained.
Helena looked at her. Why was she rescuing her from an embarrassing position? Helena's body tensed, the other woman's hands were warm and soft. Her fingers were long. She remembered when she was a kid, she used to sit with Barbara as the older woman brushed her hair with those fingers. She loved it. The redhead was so close that Helena could smell her shampoo; it was nice. The red color of her hair made her eyes look even more bright.
"She doesn't want to depend on her father," Barbara continued, "And I think that it is incredible. Any other person would just sit back and enjoy."
"Yes," the Governor said, "But why bartender?"
Helena had her eyes fixed on the redhead, her senses trapped by her scent. It reminded her of home, her lost home and Barbara's scent made her feel safe. Barbara laughed, her smile was warm, open.
"Helena?" the older woman prompted, smiling. "The Governor asked you a question."
"Huh?" she turned to look at him. "I'm sorry, I was thinking…."
"I was wondering why you chose to be a bartender," the Governor said.
"Well, you can meet many people there," Helena explained, feeling a sense of loss as Barbara released her arm and leaned to the other side to listen to something Wade was saying. "And it's a good way to know different people and their experiences. People talk to you about many things, and, you know, it's a place where you can always find honest people."
"Honest?" the mayor asked.
"You know, kids and drunks always tell the truth."
The people at the table laughed.
The mayor made a comment and her wife followed him. Helena turned to see Barbara. Why was she was being nice after Helena had harassed her? She couldn't understand her. She liked to have the redhead's attention.
Barbara laughed when the mayor's wife said something and she moved toward Wade whispering something to him. She noticed how he took her hand and squeezed it.
At her left was the president of the oil company. She began to talk with him. She wanted to be distracted and not be looking Barbara wasting her time with Wade. She deserved a better man. What did she see in him?
The night was charming, Barbara was fun. The best part was when Wade went to talk with some friends and left her alone with the redhead. She was interesting to talk to; she knew about practically every topic.
At some point in the night, she was at the bar drinking. She loved whiskey. She noticed many couples still dancing and enjoying the party. She asked for another and a waitress filled her glass.
She felt happy, in some way. It was hard to admit, but she liked the redhead, she liked her company. She just… she was not sure Barbara was being honest with her.
"You drink too much." Barbara said, from right next to her.
Dammit. When the hell had she come so close to her? She hadn't felt her.
"It's free." The brunette smiled, raising her glass.
"You are drunk."
"Not yet, I still recognize you."
Barbara laughed. "I hope you had fun tonight and it hasn't been too boring."
"I did," Helena responded.
"Seriously?" Barbara couldn't believe what she was hearing.
"Yes."
She was in good mood, maybe it was time to try to get a bit closer to the brunette. Barbara licked her lips, thinking of what to say. She needed to find the right words.
The movement caught Helena's attention immediately. That had been sexy.
"I want thank you for your support," the redhead offered. "I know you didn't want to come here tonight."
"Alfred told you?"
"Alfred? Oh, no. I just guessed based on… our last 'conversation'."
"Forget it." Helena waved her hand. She didn't want to talk about that. At least, not now. "You love this? No?" the brunette asked, trying to change topic.
"Yes." Barbara nodded, looking around the ball room.
Helena extended a card to the old woman.
"What is this?" the redhead asked.
"I'm charming, as you said."
Barbara took the card and opened her bag. She pulled out her glasses and put them on.
Helena cocked her head, watching her. What was she doing? She didn't know she needed glasses to read.
Barbara read the note. It had a hand written mobile number and, on the other side, was the oil company director's name.
"I don't understand," she mumbled.
"He wants to be your boyfriend," Helena smirked.
Barbara tilted her head and lifted her eyebrow in a way that gave Helena butterflies in her stomach.
"Don't be silly," Barbara finally said, hitting her arm playfully.
"Well, you are a beautiful woman. Not his fault."
"What is this Helena?" Barbara lifted the card.
"He said he wants to give you a donation," the brunette explained, leaning purposefully to her side, to take the card in her hands. "I told him about your work in the orphanages and about your goal with kids with AIDS. He says he can help with any number you want with five zeros."
"You are kidding." Barbara's expression was priceless.
"Nope…. and did you see that man?" Helena pointed at a fat man on the other side of the bar. "He is interested in supporting your scholarships. You have a breakfast with him on Friday at eight."
"Wow." Barbara blinked and used her index finger to push her glasses up her nose.
It had never occurred to Helena that such a tiny adjustment of eyeglasses could be sexy. But crap, it was damn hot when Barbara did it.
"I… I don't know what to say," the older woman whispered, staring at the card. "This is so wonderful."
"Well, now I deserve an office with a window, no?"
Barbara cocked her head again in that way that gave Helena butterflies.
"Are you serious?" Barbara narrowed her eyes.
"Well…" Helena swallowed her drink. "I have some free mornings."
Unexpectedly, Barbara hugged her with enthusiasm. The brunette froze in place.
"Thanks so much."
The brunette remained still, not knowing what to do. After a few seconds, she wrapped her arms around the other woman and smiled. She closed her eyes and inhaled deeply. Yes, she smelled so good. It was something different, something that made her feel at home.
"Hey, what's the celebration?" Wade's voice broke the moment.
Helena growled. If someone asked her for a four letter synonym for 'inopportune,' she would say 'Wade'.
"Helena got some incredible help for the foundation," the redhead replied happily.
"Hey, that's great." Wade gave Barbara a kiss on the lips.
That was cool, Helena thought. She got the money and he got the reward. Helena took her drink and finished it. She put her glass on the bar and the barman refilled it again.
"I'm going to the restroom and I'll be right back," the handsome man said as he walked off.
Helena stared at her glass in silence.
"Kids are worth everything," Barbara said.
"But kids grow," Helena mumbled, sipping a bit of her whiskey on the rocks. "And when they grow, we forget them."
"I don't think so, you don't forget people you love." Barbara rested her back on the bar,
"Kids and drunks tell the truth, adults always lie."
Barbara looked at her. Helena's mood was different. She observed her, the young woman seemed to be upset now. "Why do you say things that?"
"Well, I'm drunk and you're not." The brunette finished her drink. "You do the math."
"What is that supposed to mean?"
"It doesn't even fucking matter anymore." Helena stared at her empty glass. She needed something stronger. "Maybe I… maybe it never did."
"Do you forget people you love?"
"No, because I don't love anyone."
"That's a sad way to live."
"It's a safe way to live." The brunette leaned close to the redhead and smirked. She was taunting her.
"Don't think that yours is a poor way of thinking?" Barbara was beginning to get irritated. She couldn't understand how the young woman could change her mood so easily. She was so charming one second and, in the next, she was a real asshole.
"Maybe. Or maybe you don't know anything about life." Helena put her glass on the bar. "You don't have a monopoly on the truth, you know?"
"Why do you love to act like a jackass?" Barbara asked irritably.
The brunette noticed Wade was approaching. Piece of crap.
"It's part of my charm. Nice party by the way." Helena grinned and walked toward the exit "See you."
"Hey," Wade said, hugging the redhead around her waist, "is she leaving?"
"Looks like." Barbara exhaled angrily. Helena was so temperamental. She couldn't understand what caused her to have those abrupt mood swings.
"What happened? You look annoyed."
"Nothing, forget it." Helena was not going to ruin her night. She turned and smiled to him touching his cheek. "Wanna dance?"
TBC
