I'm glad you all are enjoying this fic as much as I'm…. Waves to all. – jag
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The brunette walked around the burned building. She had been out of action for almost a week and, the last month, things had been slow. She had been looking for the guy that started the fire at the orphanage, trying to find any trace of him, unsuccessfully.
She had been working in the mornings with Barbara at the Foundation and then having lunch with her, except on Fridays. That was her day to go out with Wade. Helena didn't ask her so much about him, but she guessed she saw him when she went to school in the afternoons and at night. But Helena preferred not think about that.
She knew that some buildings that were the property of Bruce Wayne had been the target of arsonists, like the one that she was checking. She had arrived late. So she had the feeling that the connection was simple and it seemed she was not the only one with issues against her father.
She walked around the garden and kneeled on the floor where she found a melted plastic form. She took a fragment of it and smelled it. Crap, gas. She smelled something bad, like shit.
"Did you find something interesting? " a voice said from behind her.
She turned and found Batgirl smiling at her.
"Huntress, I was wondering when I'd see you again," the taller woman said.
Huntress stood up, glaring at her. Where the fuck was that smell coming from?
"I want to thank you for helping those children that day," the redhead said. "You did an excellent job."
"Thanks."
"Oh, and you don't need to thank me for saving your life. Are you looking for the man that attacked you?"
"Yes," Huntress grumbled. She wanted to kick her ass. Why was she so annoying?
"Did you find something interesting? "
"No, he just used oil, as always."
"You need to open your eyes," Batgirl said, kneeling where Huntress had been.
The brunette took a step back. Smelling a horrible odor, she covered her nose with her arm.
"Something wrong?" Batgirl asked, amused.
"You smell like shit."
"Butyl seleno mercaptan," the redhead explained, picking up a piece of the melted material and putting it inside a plastic bag. "It's a chemical compound. I was investigating this man's trail and ended up at the New Gotham chemical factory."
"Fuck! It's disgusting." This was one of those moments when Huntress hated having a sensitive nose.
"Watch for small clues." Batgirl ignored her comment. "I have been doing some research. This is not a common oil. It's from an oil spill. Oil usually takes the form of liquid petroleum hydrocarbon, such as crude oil, gasoline, diesel fuel and fuel oil. This is the term that often refers to marine oil spills, where oil is released into the ocean or coastal waters."
"A year ago, an oil tanker sank." Huntress remembered, walking a few feet away from her.
"Yes, and the entire oil spill was cleaned up and temporarily stored at New Gotham's old refinery." The crime fighter stood up. "See? You must always check every detail. Everything is important."
"Do you think you know everything?" Huntress asked, crossing her arms over her chest.
"Often…" Batgirl put the sample inside a pocket in her cape.
"What are you doing?"
"I must analyze it. I have a theory."
"What theory? He must be there!"
"He could work there, or someone could be helping him, or he could be stealing it. We don't know. And if he is attacking Wayne's properties, he must have something against him. So, I just need to find out who could have a connection."
That was new. How she could know about that? "How did you know about the Wayne connection?"
"Has anyone ever told you that you are a pain in the ass?" the young woman grumbled.
"Oh yes, and irritating too."
"You should try to be nice with people."
"You must understand that I can't be a Public Relations Manager in my work." Something caught the redhead's attention and she walked toward a tree.
"Crap, you smell horrible." Huntress turned her back to her.
"How are you feeling?" The redhead kneeled in the grass. There was a discarded Milky Way wrapper.
"Fine…"
"You worried me," Batgirl took another plastic bag and picked it up. The guy could have been eating it and it would have some DNA. "You had a pretty bad bruise on your head."
"He attacked me with a thick stick."
"To break your head, it must be really thick."
Huntress glared at her.
The redhead put her fist on her waist. She observed the dark woman with curiosity. "Are you seriously thinking of being a crime fighter?"
"None of your business," Huntress growled to her.
"I know. However, if you'll accept some advice, your dress is not proper for the job."
The young woman lifted her brow. "What's wrong with my clothes? What's wrong?"
"The leather pants and the coat are cool, but… it's a bit expensive to fight bad guys. Also, you don't wear a mask."
"I don't like masks," Huntress said icily.
"It's dangerous. Someone could recognize you."
"No one can recognize me. I'm fast."
"Yeah," Batgirl said ironically, "very fast. So fast that he broke your head with a stick."
"I hate irony."
"You need a secret identity."
"I have a secret identity!" the brunette exclaimed.
"Where?"
"I'm not going to discuss this with you."
"You must be careful," the redhead pointed out. "You could risk your own life and the life of people around you, if someone identifies you. Be careful." Batgirl picked up her sample and waved her hand at her. "All right, see you, girl."
"Don't call me girl," Huntress growled.
"Well…" the redhead said, "you don't have mustache, you are a girl, no?"
"You know what I mean."
"Okay, have fun and take care." She took out her batarang and threw it to the top of the next building. She let the cord pull her up.
Huntress watched her disappear in the darkness. She would kick her ass. She would do it and soon. Who was she? Why did she seem to know where she was all the time? It was weird. And irritating.
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Batgirl, who was she? She had appeared suddenly from nowhere. She always surprised her and she hated it. She was supposed to be the stalker, not Batgirl. She still impressed her with her black suit and her cape.
She didn't seem be afraid of anything or anyone. She couldn't stop thinking about her the last few days. She was like a ghost, appearing from nowhere and disappearing in the same way. She really must be excellent at her job, but she was a real nuisance, too.
Who the fuck did that woman think she was? She really was looking to piss her off. Batgirl didn't know she was training, Next time Helena would kick her ass!
She had wanted do it last night, but she couldn't, she had just saved her life. But, well, next time she wouldn't be so polite.
"A penny for your thoughts?" Barbara asked, when she walked inside her home. She wasn't surprised to see Helena there. The brunette had been a routine visitor the last few weeks, arriving at night to join her for dinner. She was glad to see her, she liked her company.
Helena was in the living room, staring at the TV. She was so immersed in her thoughts that she hadn't heard her opening the door.
"Nothing," the brunette said.
"Nothing?" She put her briefcase on the table. "I don't buy it." She showed her a paper bag "Do you want a croissant?"
"Sure."
The redhead walked toward the kitchen and opened the bag.
"Who is Batgirl, Barbara?" she heard Helena asking from the living room.
"A hero," Barbara put the croissants on plates and looked for some iced tea. "She has been fighting crime the last few years with Batman. Many people think she is a legend because it's hard to see her. You can't see her if she doesn't want you to." She walked toward the living again.
Helena turned her head to her. "Seriously?"
"So I hear. Do you want something to drink?" the redhead asked.
"I'm fine." She lifted her glass of milk.
"Why do you ask?" Barbara gave her a plate and sat next to her.
"No reason."
"Your favorite words." Barbara sat next to her and watched the TV. "What are we watching?"
"Two and a Half Men."
"Love that guy." Barbara bit her croissant and laughed at a joke.
After a few seconds, Helena said. "I saw her last night."
"Batgirl?"
"Yes, and she really pissed me off."
"Well, that's not so difficult." She opened her can of tea.
Helena cocked her head, gazing her. "Are you on my side or what?"
"I know your qualities, and patience and tolerance are definitely not included." Barbara patted her leg. "So, what happened? How did you see her? She found you?"
The brunette hesitated in answering. She had possibly opened her mouth too much, but now she didn't have any options.
"I went yesterday night to a building that was on fire."
"Are you doing the crime fighting thing again?" Barbara lifted her eyebrow.
"I need to stop him, Barbara." The brunette exhaled and pressed the mute button. "He hurt children…. he almost killed them."
"You need to be careful. If you act, letting your feelings guide you, you will make a mistake and get hurt. Why don't you let her do her work?"
"She is a bitch! Are you crazy?"
Barbara laughed. "A bitch? Why?"
"She thinks she knows everything," the brunette waved her hands. "And every time I see her, she tries to give me a lesson."
"She is pretty good at her job, maybe you should listen to her."
"No way. She is arrogant and I know what I'm doing."
"Have you ever tried to be humble?"
"Don't tell it to me, tell it to her," Helena protested.
Barbara sipped her beverage, trying not to laugh at the brunette. "Okay, so, did you thank her for saving your life, at least? Or did you argue with her all night?"
"How? She pissed me off."
"I see. So, you will keep looking for that man."
"I have learned a lot from you," the young woman said, turning to see her. "I know now, how to defend myself."
"You won't give up, right?" Barbara lowered her can and rested it between her legs.
The young woman nodded. "I'm half-meta, Barbara, you know I can stop him."
"I know. It's just that I'm worried." Barbara lifted her hand and cupped her cheek.
Helena felt butterflies in her stomach under her touch. Dammit.
"I don't want you to get hurt," the redhead said. "Promise me that you'll be careful."
Helena felt be lost in those green eyes. "I will."
Barbara smiled. "Thanks."
Helena moved her head to the side feeling very nervous under her touch. "Don't worry, Barbara."
"All right. Talk," the brunette said, holding the man by his neck.
"No way, bitch."
She slapped him harder on his face. He fell to the ground and she put her foot on his throat.
"Beep, wrong answer," Huntress said. "Let's start again. Talk - tell me the name of the man who started the fires at Wayne's properties?"
"He will kill me."
"Well, it's your choice. He will kill you or I will kill you." She smirked, pressing her foot against his throat.
He lifted his hand. "I'll talk… I'll talk.." he gasped.
"Good boy." She smiled and lifted him by his lapels, pushing him hard against the wall.
"Wayne fired him…" he coughed. "He was doing experiments with toxins. He did it and didn't tell anyone. When Wayne discovered it, he sent him to jail…"
"What's his name?" Huntress shook him against the wall.
"People call him Flame," the man hurried to say,
"I'll flame his ass. Where can I find him?"
"I don't know."
Huntress smashed him hard against the brick wall and lifted her fist. "Maybe if I hit you a bit, you will remember."
"No, I'm serious, I'm serious." He covered his face with his hands.
She pushed him back, he was not lying. "Be careful, I'll be watching you." She jumped to the closest building. She began to pace, thinking. Trying to remember which places he had burned.
She kneeled on the rooftop, took a stick and began to draw in the dirt.
First had been a factory, later an office, after that a storage facility, the children's home, and the last one had been a scientific center… It was a circle, the next one… She lifted her head, there was a lab close by. She was sure he would attack it soon. She would need to keep an eye on it. She stood up and ran across the rooftops toward it.
Huntress spent the next three nights keeping an eye on the building, but there were no traces of the guy.
"Hi." She heard a voice behind her.
She covered her face with her hands. Dammit!
Her again. Why the fuck didn't she hear her when she was close? She patted her ear with her fingers. Maybe she was sick or her senses were not working well. Huntress stood up and turned to see her.
"Let me explain in three words: Stop-following- me," she grumbled.
"I was not following, I was looking for you," Batgirl said.
"Know what?" the brunette smirked at her. "I'm beginning to think that you are attracted to me."
"Oh, yes?" the redhead chuckled.
"Yes," she smiled, walking toward the caped vigilante, but stopped when a bad smell filled her nostrils.
Dammit, Why did she like to be in such nasty places? "But you and your taste for perfumes will keep us apart, for sure."
"You've broken my heart." Batgirl smiled.
"I know," Huntress winked at her. "It's terrible to get me and then lose me."
Batgirl scratched her ear, amused. She couldn't believe she was flirting with her. "Don't be so vain."
The young woman took a step back and eyed her.
The redhead noticed her scrutiny. "Do you see something that you like?"
"Could be." Huntress moved toward her, putting her hands inside the pockets of her coat. "I like older women."
"Hey," the redhead protested, feigning offense. "I'm not so old and, just for the record, I like men."
"Maybe because you haven't tried with me."
"Do you really like women? I never would have thought that of you."
Huntress winked to her.
Batgirl sighed. "I'm sorry, not interested."
"Are you afraid?" the brunette stood a few steps from her.
"Afraid?"
"Of me." Huntress smiled.
"Sorry to disappoint, but, no, I'm not afraid of you and, as I remember, last time I swept your ass."
"Maybe you will try to do something else with my ass and enjoy it."
"Sorry, dear," Batgirl said, amused. "My heart belongs to another."
"Oh, no problem." Huntress shrugged her shoulders. "I'm not jealous."
"And I'm not stupid," Batgirl thought it was time to finish the game. "Listen, Huntress. I caught our guy."
The brunette frowned. "What guy?"
"The guy that started the fire at the children's home."
"What?" the dark haired woman couldn't believe what she was hearing.
"I caught him," The masked woman said.
"When? Where?" the brunette asked, annoyed.
"Ten minutes ago, inside there." She pointed at the building Helena had been keeping an eye on.
"It couldn't be! I have been here all night! I didn't see you."
"Well," the redhead said. "That's rather the point…. that no one sees me."
"You are lying."
The sound of patrol sirens filled the air. Huntress turned her head back. She was telling the truth, this couldn't be.
"In fact, no, I called the police," Batgirl explained. "They are coming to pick him up."
Blue eyes flashed at her in anger. "What the fuck are you talking about?"
"I was doing my research, I came here thinking that this would be his next target and I saw you around. So, I realized that you had come to the same conclusion as I did, that he would come here. So, knowing you would have an eye on him outside, I was inside. Your instinct amazed me. It's very good."
Huntress pressed her fists in balls. "You never told me! You used me!"
"No, I was helping as backup, but you never saw him walking inside because he was already inside. He pretended to be a worker."
"Why didn't you tell me about your plan?"
"It's impossible to talk to you!"
"Fuck!" the brunette paced annoyed. "You didn't have any right!"
"We needed to stop him. He had hurt innocents, we already did it."
"We?" She went toward Batgirl, annoyed. "You caught him! You gave him to the police! I wanted to kill him!"
"We don't kill."
"We? There is no we and I'm not you!"
"Huntress," Batgirl said calmly, "you want to be a crime fighter. We don't kill."
"Who says?"
"It's a rule."
"Perfect, I don't follow rules." The brunette clenched her teeth, facing her.
The redhead played with her tongue inside her mouth. Yes, this would be as hard as she thought. "The guy will have a trial and go to jail. There is enough evidence to keep him there a long time. When we follow a criminal, it's not important who catches him. The important thing is working as a team and capturing him!"
"Get this in your fucking mind! There is no `we'!" The brunette pointed at her with her finger.
The redhead sighed. "I'm sorry. I thought you were open minded."
The brunette pushed her back. "Why the fuck don't you keep your nose far from me?"
Batgirl took her hands and pushed it to a side. "Careful, young lady."
"Don't talk me as if I am a kid!" the brunette growled and threw a punch.
Batgirl barely had time to avoid it, but she couldn't stop a fast kick. The redhead flew backwards and hit a brick wall roughly.
The brunette charged at her and Batgirl pushed back with her feet. She barely had time to stand up before the young woman was on her again.
It seemed she had learned very well. Batgirl threw a punch that the brunette stopped.
Huntress moved quickly and tried to hit her, but the blow was blocked.
Helena was pissed. It seemed that the other woman knew how she fought. At least she was not kicking her ass as easily as the last time.
"Stop now!" Batgirl growled angrily.
The dark haired woman didn't listen, she jumped and threw a kick.
Dammit, why was she so hard headed? the redhead thought. She didn't want to hurt the girl or want the girl to hurt her. Getting a full blow from Huntress wouldn't be pleasant.
Huntress tried a double jump, but Batgirl ducked easily. She landed on her feet and turned, glaring at her. How the hell did she avoid that move?
Breathing heavily, the masked woman lifted her hand. "Huntress, please stop. I don't want to hurt you."
The brunette growled and jumped at her. Batgirl knew what she was planning to do, so she moved to the side and grabbed the younger woman's waist, throwing her to the ground. The blow would be hard. As soon as the brunette hit the ground, Batgirl moved over her and put her hand on her lower neck, immobilizing her by pinching a nerve.
Helena growled, annoyed.
"Please," the redhead said, "calm down, I don't want to fight you."
"Fucking bitch!" the young woman winced.
"Stop letting your anger blind your mind! You can't think straight! You need to control your impulses!"
Huntress tried to move, but Batgirl pressed harder. The girl cried out and kept still.
"Easy," Batgirl mumbled softly. "Breathe, breathe deeply, slowly…"
"I'll kill you," Huntress panted.
"Please, calm down… You did fine, you found him. I was giving you back up inside the building, but we didn't know that he was already inside. He dressed as an employee and hid in the bathrooms. I noticed he was there when I smelled gas. He was ready to start a fire and I stopped him before he could do it," the redhead explained, softening her tone. "If that place caught on fire the chemicals would have exploded."
"You never told me you were there."
"Because you are so impulsive, you don't stop to think. You always let your emotions control you. You are good, but your anger is a disadvantage. "
"You don't know me."
"Maybe I know you more than you imagine, Helena."
The brunette froze. The redhead released her and stepped back.
Huntress turned her head and stared at her. This couldn't be. She stood up slowly, not removing her eyes from the redhead.
Batgirl looked at her with a serious expression. Suddenly, she removed her cowl. She moved her head and brushed her hair. The brunette couldn't believe what she was seeing.
"Barbara?"
"Yes, it's me."
The brunette opened her mouth speechless. Barbara was Batgirl? She felt a cold shower falling on her.
"I have wanted tell you since the first time we crossed paths, but you were so angry at Batgirl, that I thought you would reject me as Barbara."
"You lied to me," Huntress mumbled.
"I didn't lie to you. I just didn't tell you about me… as Batgirl."
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"I didn't know if you would understand it! It took a lot of effort to get you to trust me again."
"You betrayed me." The girl moved back, feeling her heart break.
"No, no, of course not," Barbara hurried to say. "Helena, I'm so glad we are friends again."
"I trusted you…" the girl mumbled, lowering her head, she couldn't believe this, "and you…"
"Please, Helena." The redhead took a step toward her noticing the pain in her eyes. "I would never betray you. I love you…"
"You are fucking lying again!" the brunette growled. "I'll never trust you again!"
"Helena…"
The girl turned and jumped toward the next building. Barbara covered her eyes. Fuck, she hadn't expected this.
She threw her cowl to the ground in anger.
This was a mess.
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Helena never came back. Barbara stared at the city from her balcony, dressed as Batgirl, cowl in hand. She felt sad, terribly sad. She was so hurt, she should have predicted her reaction, but no, she never expected Helena would take it this way. She wished she could understand.
But, again, no.
She was gone.
She had tried to talk with her unsuccessfully. Helena refused to do it, she was very hurt. She had quit her job at the foundation, but she knew she had kept visiting the kids and supporting them.
"Thinking about her, Miss Barbara?"
The redhead smiled sadly, noticing Alfred at the balcony's main door. "You got me."
"I imagine so. Every time you are here, it is because you are thinking." He walked to her and stood at her side. "Did you find her?"
"She is very good at hiding, very hard to find."
"She learned from the best: you," Alfred said.
"I have seen her, but she just ignores me." She had seen her sometimes in the distance, but the brunette had ignored her. Truth be told, it was more painful to be ignored than insulted. She had kept to her work at the Foundation, trying to forget the brunette, but she couldn't. She wished everything could be different, but she couldn't change the past.
"You trained her very well. She is a great crime fighter."
"Just a bit violent."
"Agreed."
"But life must go on." She put her cowl over her head. "Time to work."
"Do you want a sandwich for dinner?"
"Yes, that will be good. I'll be back in two hours or so."
"Good luck."
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Batgirl swung between two buildings, using her batarang. She landed smoothly on a stairway and looked down, it was a quiet night. It seemed her dinner would be early today. She heard a yell and the sound of a glass breaking.
She had spoken too soon.
She turned and, using her batarang, she moved toward the next building. She just needed to cross a couple of buildings before she'd be able to see where the noise had come from. A thin and familiar dark figure was fighting against six men.
Helena.
She was really impressive. It seemed she had trained her very well. Suddenly, a man lying on the ground took out a gun. Huntress, fighting against the last of the men didn't see him. She took out her batarang and threw it at the man and shouted a warning.
"Look out!"
The brunette turned and she could hear the sound of the bullet a few inches from her head. She jumped at the man and knocked him down.
"Seems every time I find you, I must save your ass," Batgirl said to Huntress' back.
"I was giving you a chance to do something," the brunette said, turning to see her.
The redhead looked at her with a serious expression. "Can we talk?"
"Sorry, I don't have time now." The brunette turned and waved her hand toward the unconscious men. "Call the police and ask them to pick up these assholes, ok?"
"Huntress, I love you. Please talk to me."
"I'm not monogamous. Sorry, Batty."
The redhead watched her walking toward the end of the street.
"Will you forgive me some day?" she asked in a loud voice.
The young woman didn't answer.
TBC
