I think I'm getting in too deep, I thought to myself as I slowly made my way up the long driveway that led to the front door of the Wayne Manor. What was I even thinking, being all flirty with Bruce Wayne? It wasn't the same when we were in hero mode, in our costumes, our other lives. Was it his alter-ego that was bringing this out of me? Or maybe he was just keeping up his playboy appearance because it was what he knew. I sure as hell was not in a position within his life to see the real Bruce, which I had a sinking hunch actually was Batman. He was dangerous ground; ground I couldn't afford to get caught up in, not to mention Clark would absolutely kill both of us. What am I even saying? I'm acting as if Bruce actually likes me in those terms. Enough with the teenage drivel, I am here to train, completely plutonic teacher to student training.
I paused in front of the door with my fist raised to knock. I took a deep breath, composing myself as I adjusted the strap of the gym bag on my shoulder. Today, I was going to be in complete Supergirl mode, I thought as I knocked on the door. Bruce's butler, Alfred Pennyworth, answered the door with a smile as he stepped to the side to allow me entry.
"Miss Kara, such a pleasure to see you again. It has to have been, oh dear, what, ten years?" he said almost as surprised as I was.
"Wow, I guess you're right, it has been ten years," I said as he leaned in for a quick hug. I was a bit taken aback by this, but reciprocated the gesture. It still astonished me that such a sweet man raised Bruce Wayne. He obviously didn't inherit many of Alfred's traits through the years.
"Right this way," He said as he led me through the manor. I had remembered being here only once prior when I accompanied Kal on a visit with Bruce. I also remembered Bruce chastising Kal for showing me where he lived. I smirked to myself at that particular thought. We rounded a corner which led to an expansive open space with punching bags, exercise equipment, weights, balance beams; absolutely everything you could possibly imagine a gym would have.
"Here we are, Miss Kara, I do believe Bruce is around here somewhere. If not, he'll be with you momentarily; would you like a bottle of water?" he asked, always the eager, loyal servant.
"I'm sure I will need some; that would be amazing. Thank you, Alfred," I said as he scurried off to retrieve the water. My eyes scanned the area for Bruce, and I spotted him as I rounded a nearby corner. He was suspended in the air supporting himself with his arms. His legs were curled underneath him as he let his body dip down and up repeatedly between the two bars, completely bare-chested. Supergirl mode, Supergirl mode, Supergirl mode, I repeated thoughtfully to myself.
"Nice…form," I said with a wince. I honestly wouldn't have been able to tell good form or not at that particular moment in time. I was more concentrated on the slew of scars littered across his torso and the beads of sweat dripping off his chiseled form. He jumped to the floor with a loud thud, which snapped me back to reality. He grabbed a nearby towel and started dabbing his face and neck with it as he walked over to me.
"Is that what you're planning on sparring in?" he said as he motioned to my current attire of a very loose fitting t-shirt that was almost down to my knees and a pair of jeans.
"Well, no, obviously not," I answered with a wrinkle of my nose. He grabbed a bottle of water and pointed to his right.
"Bathroom's that way. Chop, chop," he said as he made his way to a large matted area to wait for me. I tried to change as fast as I could considering Bruce was in no mood to screw around. I whipped my hair up into a ponytail and nearly tripped my way out to the bathroom, trotting out to the mat to meet him.
"Ready?" he said as he took a stance, fists clenching at his sides. My eyebrows rose at his intensity.
"Right now? No introduction or-?" I asked quizzically as Bruce stared at me, deadpan.
"Did you want tea first?" he said mockingly, and with that, I threw the first punch that was instantly deflected. Back and forth, we went like this until he suddenly swept his leg behind my own and the back of my head met the mat. I laid there a moment, staring up at the ceiling while taking into account that I'd be halfway to the earth's core if this were Doomsday or Darkseid that I was fighting.
"Get up Kara," he said, pacing back and forth like a caged tiger. I groaned as I pushed myself to my feet with a defeated sigh, putting my hands on my hips. He noticed my frustration and walked up to me.
"What's going on in that big alien brain of yours?" he asked.
"After all these years, I'm honestly wondering how I am still alive. I am being repeatedly floored by a grown rich man who dresses like a flying rodent because it matches his brooding undertones." Bruce stared at me for a moment before letting out this peculiar sound that I had never heard escape his lungs. Laughter. Pure, full blown laughter. A smile crept across my lips as I watched him lean over to put his hands on his knees, unable to gain a breath. Alright, now this was getting a little weird, I thought.
"Bruce? Are you uh, you okay?" I said with a nervous snicker and suddenly, his leg whipped out and knocked me to the floor yet again, a low growl escaping my throat.
"Dammit!" I bellowed as his form was standing over top of my own. I peered up at him.
"Brooding undertones, huh?" he said, looking down at me and I smirked before sweeping my own leg to collide with the backs of his, sending him to his back for once. I leaned my body overtop his and pressed down firmly on his forearms, peering down at him. Bruce looked a bit surprised.
"Merely an observation," I said with a slight smile and then a familiar voice caused my gaze to move upward.
"Am I interrupting something?" the voice said. My mouth flew agape as I crawled off of Bruce, running fingers through my pony tail. Bruce tipped his head backward to peer at the owner of the voice before standing up.
"Kara?" the voice said.
"Dick," Bruce responded and Dick Grayson didn't bother to respond to Bruce just yet as he stepped closer to me.
"Well, you've certainly grown up," Dick said to me as his eyes scanned my athletic wear.
"Look who's talking," I said to the former boy wonder who now protected the city streets of Bludhaven under the name of Nightwing. I hadn't seen him since we were teenagers. I wasn't kidding; he had grown up very nicely. Bruce slowly walked up to stand beside me, peering on at Dick. I had no clue what had transpired between these two over the years, but something told me a bit of bad blood festered.
"Bruce," Dick said simply, giving Bruce a glance before looking back over at me with a smile. Bruce crossed his arms over his bare chest and squared off his jaw.
"To what do I owe this esteemed visit?" Bruce asked, peering on at Dick. Dick continued to look at me the entire time he responded.
"I was in town visiting a friend and thought I'd surprise you and Alfred, but in no way was I expecting to be surprised myself," Dick said, flashing me his pearly whites. Well, wasn't Dick Grayson a big 'ol sweetie. I found myself digging my toe in the ground and curling my finger around my ponytail like a friggin' schoolgirl. I felt Bruce's gaze on me for a moment before he uncrossed his arms.
"Well, Kara and I were in the middle of a training session. Care to show her what a real spar should look like?" Bruce said as an imposing expression spread across his features. Dick's gaze now moved to peer on at Bruce quizzically.
"You want to spar with me…right now?" he asked as Bruce smirked.
"What, afraid to be humiliated in front of your girlfriend?" Bruce's eyebrows rose. It didn't dawn on me until a few seconds later that he was referring to me, but Dick felt no need to dignify that statement with a response as he took off his jacket and moved to the mat with Bruce. Talk about getting your skirt in a bunch, I thought.
"Come on Lil Bird; show me how safe Bludhaven is," Bruce taunted as Dick's jaw clenched. Both men's fists rose near their faces and the metaphorical bell dinged as the testosterone fest ensued. I watched as these two grown men threw punches left and right at one another. Occasionally, one connected and I winced as there didn't seem to be any holding back from either party. Alfred walked through the doorway with several bottles of water cradled in his arms and his jaw dropped upon seeing Dick and Bruce fighting. Apparently, Dick must have snuck his way in, I thought.
"Master Richard?" Alfred said with astonishment. Dick looked over to Alfred with a smile and as Bruce hadn't bothered to stop his fist in mid swing, it collided straight into Dick's cheek. Both Alfred and myself idly gasped as both riled men stood panting.
"Bruce!" I found myself yelling as I stood dumbfounded, not knowing how to respond. I looked at Dick who didn't seem all that surprised by his former father figure. Bruce shook his head at himself, looking only at Dick from the corners of his eyes.
"I'm sorry, I-I thought I taught you to not let your guard down, ever," Bruce quickly used as an excuse. Dick smirked to himself as he rubbed his cheek.
"Yeah? And what happened to your rule of self-restraint?" he answered boldly in turn. Bruce let out a light grunt as he grabbed a nearby towel, walking away from the mat and towards Alfred.
"So…I'm guessing we are done for the day?" I asked, looking from Bruce to Dick and back again.
"We'll pick this up at another time, when you're less…distracted," he said, glancing over his shoulder at Dick. Dick rubbed the back of his neck, raising a hand in an idle wave.
"Great to see you, Bruce. As usual," Dick said as Bruce again let out a grunt and stormed off. My eyes grew wide as I looked to Alfred.
"Is he for real?" I asked, puzzled. Alfred just shook his head with a sigh, setting the bottles of water down while adjusting his tie.
"You know how he gets in his moods," Alfred said before he was chasing off after a rather perturbed Bruce. I thought about that statement because, no, I actually didn'tknow about Bruce's moods. In fact, there was very little I knew about Bruce himself, which made me uneasy. It made the prospect of him that much scarier and more risky. I glanced over at Dick who was still rubbing his neck; his eyes drooped to the floor. I could tell he was slightly embarrassed and walked over to him.
"So…I take it you and Bruce had a falling out at some point in the past 10 years?" I asked, folding my arms one over the other. Dick smirked as he looked down at me.
"I guess you could call it that. We didn't exactly see eye to eye when I quit the Robin gig. Things just haven't been the same between us ever since," he said.
"Wow does he hold a grudge or what?" I said as Dick laughed lightly and pointed in the direction that Bruce had stalked off.
"We are talking about the same person right? Bruce Wayne? CEO, masked vigilante?" he said as I laughed, digging my toe into the floor again.
"Well, you know him far better than I, so I'll take your word for it," I said as I watched him dig a piece of paper from his pocket. He moved over to a side table that had a pen and began scribbling something on it before he handed it to me. I glanced down at it and saw that he was clearly giving me his phone number.
"Well, I'd really like the chance to get to know you a little better Kara," he said as I smiled to myself, folding the card up into my hand.
"I might just like that," I said to him as he bent down to grab his jacket, slinging it back over his arms.
"Well, call or text me any time. We'll make a plan," he said and I thought it was incredibly sweet that he wasn't making any preconceived notions that I'd even take him up on the offer just yet. He gave me an idle wave before he turned and walked away.
These past few weeks have been quite crazy for me. I'd assumed an alternative identity, established a cover at Wayne Enterprises with Bruce Wayne, Bruce and I bantered, flirted, and he even kissed me, even if it was fake; and now Dick Grayson had waltzed back into my life. I remembered developing a silly girl crush when I'd first met him as Robin when we were teens. I had changed so much since then. I've found out so many more things about myself that I didn't even know existed when I was an uncorrupted, naïve girl. Maybe a dip back into my teenage years was just what I needed though.
I changed out of my athletic gear and let myself out since it seemed Alfred was still off talking with Bruce somewhere. As I stepped out the front door, shutting it behind me, I pulled the piece of paper with Dick's phone number on it and my cell phone. I typed the number in with a grin before sending the following text message: "So are we meeting in our costumes or civvies?"