PRESENT
Batgirl rode her bike at a high speed down the road. She could reach the heavy truck that she had been following the last ten blocks. The guys just robbed a bank and were trying to escape. She drove her bike close to the driver's window and jumped on it. Holding on the back mirror, she hit the driver with her elbow and took the wheel in her hands, pulling it to her left. The truck turned to the left and hit the sidewalk. She jumped down a few seconds before the impact of the truck against a fence.
Her body hit the ground and rolled on the pavement. Ow, that was a hard blow. She lifted her head and noticed no one in the truck was moving. Slowly, she stood up, holding her side. She would have a good bruise the next morning.
She cleaned the dust from her arms and went to the truck.
She checked the front seat, two men were unconscious. She went to the backdoor and she removed the lock. Suddenly, the doors opened, hitting her hard.
She rubbed her jaw and saw a man standing up, pointing a her with a rifle.
"You are dead, bitch!" he shouted.
The left door of the truck suddenly swung back and the man dropped his rifle.
Stunned by the blow, it took the redhead a few seconds to recover. She used her left arm to rest on her side and lift her head. She noticed a pair of black boots in front of her.
She looked up. Huntress was smirking.
"Impressive… that jump to the truck," she said.
"Thanks."
"But you lost all your style points on that fall from the truck. Not graceful."
"Not too many options." Batgirl stood up slowly and winced.
"That hurt."
"You must try it, it's fun." The redhead bent over to clean her pants. Batgirl was used to finding Huntress sometimes on her sweeps. She kept her distance and Batgirl had learned to respect it. It was curious, Huntress didn't like Batgirl. So every time they found each other, they used a game of sarcasm. She was sure it was a way for Helena to show her disgust for everything that had happened.
"Jumping to the road from a truck that is doing 70 miles per hour? Nah. My idea of fun involves other things… like chicks."
"Still dating three women at the same time?" Batgirl walked toward the truck.
"Two. Well," the brunette said, "it seems I saved your ass now."
"You wish."
"He was going to shoot you."
"The gun didn't have any bullets." The older woman climbed inside the truck and checked the unconscious man that Helena had knocked out.
"You are joking, right?"
"No." Batgirl tied the man using a rope.
Huntress frowned and went to pick up the rifle, she opened it. It didn't have any bullets. It was true. She looked at the other woman.
"How did you know?" she asked, intrigued.
"I removed the bullets of all the weapons at the truck while they were inside the building, robbing the bank." Batgirl smiled and jumped down.
The brunette threw the rifle to the floor angrily. "I hate you."
"Hey, I need to keep my back covered." The redhead walked toward the cabin. "Usually, you are the one who needs her ass saved."
"Fuck! You suck!" Huntress growled.
"Oh, come on, don't be so grouchy."
"You ruined my rescue!"
"Well, you didn't tell me you were coming." Batgirl tied up the driver of the truck "I would have brought a welcome cake."
Huntress patted her chin. "Chocolate will be fine."
"These guys are the same that robbed the National Bank," the redhead explained.
"How do you know it? Your marvelous computer system told you?"
Batgirl smiled. She bent down and took a bag from inside the cabin. She showed it to Huntress. It was an empty bag from the National bank.
Huntress glared at her. "You love to pretend to be the smartest, right?"
"I don't pretend. I am."
"You are so disgusting."
"Well, you are not exactly a sweetheart."
"That's not what my fans say."
"Women or men?" The masked woman turned to see her.
"Both." Huntress grinned.
The redhead rolled her eyes. "You are incorrigible."
"I know what your problem is. You are jealous."
The redhead laughed. "What?"
"But it's not my fault," the brunette said. "You smelled like shit when I met you. You lost your chance with me."
"Shame," Batgirl walked toward her and whispered in her ear. "I thought certain scents would be an aphrodisiac."
The brunette shivered. The redhead moved back and smiled.
"Yes," Huntress said, "but not that one!"
"Oh, I surely won't sleep tonight, what with worrying about that." The redhead turned and walked toward the opposite side.
"Where are you going?" the brunette asked.
"To pick up my bike. It's expensive, you know?"
"You should try jumping buildings."
"Nah, the bike is fun."
The caped woman picked up her bike from the street. She turned her head back and watched Huntress jumping to the closest building. They never would be friends again. She had done everything she could, but it seemed she had failed. It was unpleasant, but she couldn't do any more.
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Helena yawned and stretched in her bed. She buried her head in her pillow and kept unmoving for long seconds. The memory of her encounter with Barbara two weeks ago was still fresh in her mind. She still could feel her leaning so close to her, whispering to her ear in a way that made her shiver.
She still couldn't understand why the other woman had that effect on her. It had been two years after that day when she had discovered who she was and she still didn't know to how feel about her.
On one hand, she knew she felt a kind of affection of her, but on the other, she was hurt by what Barbara had hidden from her. She had betrayed her again and she felt that she hated Barbara, too.
Well, she mostly hated Batgirl. That Batgirl costume always transformed her into a very nasty person, her sarcasm was really annoying.
She had discovered she missed Barbara, but at the same time she felt she couldn't be her friend. She couldn't forgive her. Barbara had looked for her, but she just couldn't. It was too hard.
Some days she felt she wanted see her, talk with her. Other days, she hated her so much.
The first time she had stumbled into her on a night sweep, she had just turned and left. She had chosen to keep a safe distance safe and be sarcastic. No more affectionate relationship between them. She had been so stupid opening her heart to her. The next time she found Batgirl, she's said something sarcastic and Batgirl had given a worst one back.
Since then, they had started a game of sarcastic comments and it was hard to say who would win. Helena was loathe to admit to herself that it was usually Batgirl.
It was fun.
Well, at least those encounters distracted her a bit when they happened one to three times per month.
Whatever.
Time to wake up. She checked her watch, yawning. Almost 7:00 pm. The party that had finished at 10 am had really been a good party. She had arrived home at almost midday. And now, well, time to shower and go to work at the Dark Horse Bar.
She turned to get up.
"Fuck!" the young woman jumped in her place when she saw Batgirl with her impressive dark costume, sitting on her couch with her legs crossed and feet resting on her bed, staring at her.
"Did I interrupt something?" the crime fighter asked.
"Haven't you heard about private property?" Helena growled, taking the blanket at her waist and covering her chest. She hated that the redhead surprised her. Again!
"Yes, it's a right of every American citizen." Batgirl cocked her head. "I didn't know you were shy."
"What the fuck are you doing here?" Helena released the grip on the blanket and glared at her.
"My God, what a mouth," the caped woman said, resting her elbow on the arm of the couch, as she rested her cheek on her index finger. Helena's expression was priceless.
"Get out!" the young woman stood up and went to her closet.
"You are not nice with your guests."
"You are not my guest."
"You hurt my feelings."
"Yeah, sure." The brunette bent over to look for a t-shirt, turning her back to the redhead.
The redhead fixed her eyes on her underwear. She narrowed her eyes. She was not sure she was seeing what she was seeing.
"Nice tattoo, but… Teddy bears on your thong? Isn't that a bit weird?"
"I like bears." Helena growled. Where were her t-shirts? Crap, maybe she needed to do some laundry.
"Pretty ass by the way." Batgirl said, amused, but she really meant it.
"Enjoy it." Helena finally found a white t-shirt and put it on. "It will be the last time you have a great view of my ass."
"If you say so."
"Did I tell you that you are very annoying?" The dark haired woman turned to glare at her.
"Two hundred and forty five times, including this one."
"I hate you."
"I have heard that too, tons of times." Batgirl swept her finger over a table close to her. It was covered in dust. "Have you considered cleaning in here at some point?"
"Why? It will be dirty next week."
"Valid point."
Helena crossed her arms and looked at her, annoyed.
"What?" Batgirl said, waving her hands. "I said it's a valid point."
The brunette rolled her eyes and went toward her bathroom to brush her teeth. She really hated this woman. She walked inside the bathroom.
As Helena walked close to her, Batgirl frowned and scrunched her nose. "What did you drink? You smell like hell."
"Bourbon, tequila..."
"Christ, Helena." The redhead stood up and opened a window. "If I lit a match, this place would burn."
"I asked you what you are doing here."
"Oh, I came to save your life."
"Really?"
"I always do it, it's not new."
Helena's head appeared in the door frame. Helena laughed inside the bathroom and put tooth paste on her brush. "Excuse me?"
Batgirl looked around. The place was a mess. "Any rat would feel happy to live here."
Helena's head appeared again in the doorway with the toothbrush inside her mouth. "You didn't come here just to annoy me, so tell me what you are doing here."
"You are in serious trouble." Batgirl crossed her fingers over her stomach and rested her head on the back of the couch, looking at the ceiling.
"I always am," the girl said with her mouth full of paste. "Did you forget it?"
"Yes, true. Your nickname is trouble."
The brunette returned to the bathroom to rinse her mouth.
The redhead stood up, walking toward the bathroom. She crossed her arms and rested her side on the door frame of the bathroom.
"It seems you pissed someone off," she said.
Helena said something unclear, but the redhead interpreted it as a muffled, "Why?"
"Your head has a price."
The brunette coughed and spat water in her sink.
"Last night, I heard a rumor," Barbara patted her back. "So I did some research and a guy confirmed it. A hunt for you will start soon, there was a meeting a few weeks ago and it seems your head has a great value."
"The guy can take a ticket." The brunette took a towel and dried her mouth.
The redhead removed her cowl and looked at her, "It's serious, Helena."
"Good. If I'm dead, my dad will be happy. He won't have to worry anymore."
"Are you crazy?"
"Why do you worry so much? You will be free of me."
"You are not funny."
"I don't pretend to be." The brunette turned, looking for a towel. She finally found one.
"I don't know who is behind this," Barbara said. "I suggest that you not go out until I find out who it is."
"Don't tell me your marvelous 'Delphi' can't do a simple job."
"I just know that whoever is behind this won't stop until he kills you."
"Fine, so let me worry about this."
"You are not listening to me."
"I listened to you. Now, if you don't have anything else to say…"
"Helena Kyle," Barbara said with a firm voice, "this is not a game. Someone put a price on your head."
"I don't need your help!" Helena growled.
The caped crime fighter pushed her against the wall hard and pressed her neck with her hand. Helena felt caught under the brightness of furious green pupils. She was breathing heavily and she couldn't hide that she was very angry. She didn't know why, but she found it exciting.
"If you don't want to end up with a hole in your head, be careful," Barbara growled, clenching her teeth, it was so frustrating that she couldn't talk with her. "Get that in your damn hard head." She turned and exited the room
"I will never invite you to my home again!" The young woman coughed, rubbing her neck.
"You never invite me anyway." The redhead put her cowl and walked toward the window.
"Of course, you don't know how to behave."
"Looks who's talking, now."
Batgirl jumped down the window, Helena walked toward it. When she looked out, she had gone. Damn woman. She went to take a shower, angry.
Barbara walked inside the clock tower and threw her cowl on one of the tables, in a bad mood. She let herself fall on her chair in front of the main monitor.
Dammit. Why was Helena so damn closed off?
She rested her left elbow on the arm of the chair and rubbed her chin, lost in her thoughts.
"No luck?" Alfred asked, walking inside the platform with a warm cup of coffee.
"That girl is so hard headed."
"I suppose, then, that you couldn't convince her."
"She thinks this is a game," Barbara said angrily. "She doesn't see that the situation is really bad."
"I guess, then, you will be working extra hours, babysitting her."
"You suppose well." The redhead took the warm cup of coffee. "I don't want to see her with a hole in her head."
"If she finds out you are following her, she will be pissed."
"She always is, so I'm not worried about it, Alfred."
"True."
"These people are very serious." She looked at him. "It seems Helena has been blocking some drug deliveries. They have lost millions of dollars and are not exactly happy."
"She is doing an excellent job."
"I know, but she still is so impulsive. She really will get herself killed during one of her outbursts." Barbara sipped a bit of her coffee.
"Are you going to work late tonight?"
"Yes, I'll work on the Delphi trying to find more info." She put the cup to a side. "I'm sure that whoever is behind this is connected with the police."
"Why do you think that?"
"It's a feeling. It's curious that the police still don't have anything on this case, and the only evidence obtained was lost."
"It's not much."
"But it's the only I have," the redhead replied, resting her chin on her crossed fingers.
"I hope you find who is behind this, soon."
"I was at her apartment today, Alfred," the redhead said.
"I know, you told me you would find her there." The butler crossed his hands behind his back.
"It's a real mess. She needs you."
"I know, but when she discovered you were Batgirl, she moved apartments and she didn't tell me anything, so I guess it would be imprudent to appear if she doesn't call me."
"But she has gone to visit you at the manor."
"Yes, but we talk about everything except you or her father."
"She is so hard to read." The redhead stared at the screen of her monitor.
"At least she talks to you."
"She just wants to annoy me and starts her verbal combat with Batgirl."
"But she still talks to you."
"I don't know if that is an advantage or a disadvantage."
"Time will tell," he responded
"Yes." She leaned over her computer and began to type at her keyboard.
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Barbara worked at the orphanage. She hadn't expected to be there for so long, but there were many things to do. She had arrived early, almost at eight and now it was close to two pm. The director of the orphanage was talking by phone, making some appointments.
Suddenly, a child walked inside the room, crying and all wet.
"What happened?" Barbara asked, intrigued. She stood up and walked to the girl.
"They threw water balloons at me!" she sniffed. "It was my new dress!!"
"Who threw water balloons?" the redhead asked, wiping the girl's face with a tissue.
The girl cried, "I dunno."
"You don't know?"
"No."
"All right, let me see. Where did it happen?" the redhead asked.
"Outside." The child pointed to her back.
Barbara moved her head and made a sign to the director. "Let me check. I'll be right back." The other woman nodded.
It was common that kids loved to play tricks on and abuse the smaller ones. She took the girl's hand.
"Show me where," Barbara said.
The girl walked with her to the back door and stopped there. She lifted her arm and pointed to the garden.
The redhead walked outside, noticing the floor close to the door was wet. As soon as she crossed the door frame, three water balloons hit her.
"What the…?" she growled, covering her head.
"Oh fuck," Helena mumbled.
She sat in a big tree that was next to the door with Justin, the little kid that had become her friend.
Barbara looked up, annoyed. Justin and Helena were at the top of the tree.
"It was her!" Justin shouted, pointing at the brunette.
"Traitor." Helena glared at him. "I will leave you hanging here for life."
"Justin and Helena, come here right now!" Barbara shouted wiping her face.
"She is pissed," Justin whispered.
"I know, genius." The brunette sighed, "Come on."
Barbara shook her hands to in an attempt to dry some of the water on her. Helena landed smoothly on the floor a few steps from her with Justin and a pail filled with water balloons.
"Helena," Barbara glared at her "Why do you give Justin these ideas?"
"It was his idea, not mine," the brunette replied.
"What?" Justin said. "You told me it would be fun! You brought the balloons!"
Barbara lifted her eyebrow and cocked her head at the younger woman.
The brunette glared at him.
"Justin," the redhead scolded.
"I know," the kid grumbled, walking inside the home. "No TV all afternoon."
He left the two women alone. Helena shrugged her shoulders.
"Don't look at me. I didn't know you were here," Helena said.
"That is not an excuse." Barbara removed the band from her hair "Do you think it is nice that you show this to the kids?"
"Have you considered entering a wet t-shirt contest?" Helena asked, looking at the redhead's chest.
"Why?"
The brunette eyed her and smirked. "Because you look damn good." And she really meant that, Barbara always had a great body.
The redhead lowered her head, she hadn't noticed her bra was visible through her white blouse.
"Wonderful." She covered herself; there were kids around.
"I didn't know you were shy," Helena said sarcastically.
"You are not funny. Come with me." She turned and walked inside the house. "I need to change."
"You know I don't like to talk with you." The brunette sighed and followed her.
"Don't worry, I'm not planning that you break your code of stubbornness. It's not a social conversation." Barbara walked inside a small room where she had left her bike jacket.
Helena closed the door behind her.
"I'm not stubborn."
"And I'm meta." Barbara retorted.
Helena rolled her eyes. Now she'd have to endure Barbara's 'be nice' lecture.
"I know you spend time with the kids," the redhead said, removing her blouse, "and I'm really happy for them. They appreciate your company, but you must behave, don't show them these things."
Helena's attention was caught by the white skin of the redhead.
"Wow," she mumbled with a whisper. She was wrong, Barbara had improved her figure. She looked amazing. She wondered what it would feel like to touch her skin, trace her muscles. She had really firm abs and a great waist.
"Hel?"
Barbara's voice made Helena blink. She lifted her eyes and found Barbara looking at her, just with her bra and her tight jeans. She felt her mouth dry and swallowed.
"Are you listening to what am I saying?" Barbara frowned, for a second she thought Helena was staring at her body.
"I'm, I'm sorry…" she mumbled. Crap. Why did she always catch her?
"Sorry?" Barbara rested her hand on her waist. "I was saying that it is great that you give them your time."
"Sorry…. for the water balloon thing...." Helena hurried to say. She lowered her head and scratched her ear. Barbara always turned on her libido, it pissed her off.
Barbara observed her. Was she blushing? "Are you okay?"
"I'm okay." She saw the redhead's jacket close to her. She took it and threw it to her. "You are looking for this."
"Thanks." The redhead took it. "As I was saying, I really love what you do for kids, but, please, don't show them these things."
"They are kids!"
"And you are an adult. Be a good example."
"Now, that is not easy." Helena lifted her index finger.
Barbara rolled her eyes. "Just try to not incite them to do things that will get them in trouble."
"Okay, okay."
The redhead put her jacket on.
"You looked much better without it," the brunette said.
"Sure." Barbara closed the zipper. "Have you thought about our last conversation?"
"To be honest, no."
Green eyes locked on her with intensity, Helena felt a shiver down her back.
"I would like that, just for five minutes, you could move away from your hate," she said softly. "Your pain doesn't allow you think clearly. It will cause you to commit a fatal mistake."
Every time she talked with that tenderness, Helena felt herself hesitate, felt that her determination would bend. Maybe one of the reasons that had made her move away from Barbara was that she really felt affection for her and that she surely would trust her again. She didn't want to trust her. Not anymore, she was not going to believe in her again.
"I can take care of myself," Helena whispered.
"I know." The redhead nodded. "You are an amazing fighter," she looked at her and lifted her fist, showing it to her, "but when you let your emotions control you, you are weak. That's when you are most vulnerable. If you want to live, don't let your anger control your mind."
Helena lowered her head and brushed her hair back. "Why do you tell me these things?"
"Because you are important to me." She waved her hand asking her not to protest. "I know you don't believe me, but be sure, I don't joke when we are talking about saving a life, especially yours." She sighed and walked to the door. "And, please, clean the mess you made at the main door."
Helena kept sitting there, not knowing what to think. This was so unexpected. She didn't know what to think. And damn, Barbara really was hot.
She didn't know that she liked women until she was close to Barbara two years ago. At first she didn't want to accept it, but didn't took her too long before she realized she really did prefer women.
"Did she scold you?" Justin asked, appearing at the door.
"What?" Helena asked.
"She scolded me and I can't watch TV today!" he said, walking toward her "What's your punishment?"
"None. I distracted her with other things."
"What? That's unfair!" he said.
"No, that's smart." She hit him gently on his head.
"Ouch!" Justin took his hands to his head "What was that?"
"You are a tattletale," Helena said, standing up. "Come on. We need to clean the water from the front door."
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TBC
