A/N: Thank you to highlander348, for the awesome idea showcased at the near end of this chapter!
And thank you guys for the 17 favs and 24 follows!
Episode 15: Visitation
Anna jittered with anticipation as the relator unlocked the bolt lock on the door. Oliver put an arm around her waist upon noticing her nervousness. She smiled at him just before the door was open. The relator opened the door and led them into the apartment. Anna couldn't believe how much better it looked in real life compared to the pictures. The wide window to the far left lit up the open living room and dining room, and lit up the archway into the open kitchen.
Anna walked up the rot iron, spiral staircase to the second level and went into the first room she saw. The Studio. It had a nice window in the far back and a great space for a possible nursery in the future. Anna shook the thought from her mind and went to the next room down the hall. The Master Bedroom. It opened into the studio to the right with a high archway. The bathroom was to the far left next to a space Anna could see putting a bed.
Anna casually went from room to room, mentally arranging furniture in certain places. She rejoined Oliver downstairs on level one who was talking with the relator. He smiled at her when she stepped off the stairs. "So? What do you think?" he asked.
"I love it," she said, stopping in front of him. "But what do you think of it?" he glanced around the room with a nod. "I think it's great" he said, smiling at her enthusiasm.
"So, do we want to look at other apartments, or are we choosing this one?" the relator asked. Oliver put an arm around Anna's shoulders and turned to the relator. "We're choosing this one" he said. Anna smiled and turned to him. "Really?" she asked.
"Really" he said. She squealed a little and wrapped her arms around his neck in a hug, to which he chuckled. She pulled away and found she couldn't stop smiling, no matter how hard she tried. The relator then handed Oliver the keys and some paperwork.
Later that Day…
Anna sighed exhaustively after putting the last box of things into their new apartment. Damien wiped sweat from his forehead and stood upright from moving the couch. "Please tell me that's it" he said, sauntering over to Anna by the kitchen. Anna sighed and rolled her eyes. "Yes, lazy. That's it" she said.
"Thank god!" he said, in sarcastic relief. Anna chuckled and started carrying the bedroom and bathroom boxes up the stairs. "Since you're not busy, grab some of the boxes labeled bedroom and bring them up" she called down the stairs. Damien sighed ruefully and started picking up boxes.
Anna put the boxes she'd carried up the stairs at the end of the bed in the Master Bedroom. Damien came in a second later with two boxes and she directed him on where to put them based on their contents. She went back downstairs and started pushing furniture around. Damien breathed heavily as he came down the stairs. "You are insane. Has anyone ever told you that?" he asked.
"Once or twice" she replied, fixing the coffee table to be in line with the couch. By the time night fell, Anna and Damien had the whole down stairs neat and organized. But the upstairs was still quite the mess. There was a knock on the door and Anna glanced at Damien suspiciously. He held his hands up. "Wasn't me" he said. She sighed and went to the door. She unlocked it and opened it, revealing a person she never thought she'd see at her door. "Barbara!" she said, excitedly.
"Hi, Anna!" Barbara said, stepping in to give Anna a hug.
"When did you get in?" Anna asked, closing the door behind them.
"About an hour ago" Barbara said.
"Why didn't you call? I could've picked you up at the airport" Anna said.
"I wanted it to be a surprise, and it's not like I can't handle the typical cab driver" she said.
"Yay," Damien said. "We're all back together! Go team!" Barbara rolled her eyes and turned toward him. "When will you ever grow up, Damien?" she asked.
"When you grow a pair" he said.
"Guys, seriously? We all haven't been in the same room since my high school graduation. You could at least try to act like you like each other," Anna said. Barbara turned back to Anna and smiled. "Always the peacemaker" she said.
"Always the one put in that position" Anna said, sarcastically. Barbara and Anna laughed and Damien refrained from rolling his eyes. He squeezed past them and opened the door. "I'll see you guys later" he said, before closing the door behind him as he left. Barbara rolled her eyes and shook her head. "That boy…" she said.
"Is hopeless" Anna said. She ushered Barbara into the living room and they sat on the couch. Barbara looked around the first level and raised her eyebrows. "When did you move in here?" she asked.
"Today," Anna said, noticing Barbara had a small black suitcase in her hand. "What's that?"
"This is yours" she said. She gave it to Anna and gestured for her to open it. Anna curiously popped open the dual locks and lifted the lid. Inside was a neatly folded, black leather/nylon suit that was conformed for the body from collar bone to ankle. On the chest was a silhouetted bat with outstretched wings. Anna pulled it out and noticed the bat shone in the light. "Why are you giving me my old costume?" Anna asked.
"Because you're gonna need it." Anna raised an eyebrow at her and she elaborated. "I have a lead on some illegal Vertigo traders in the area. Feel like reenacting your debut?" Anna sighed and then smiled. "When don't I?" she asked.
"Then you better change" Barbara said, gesturing to the outfit. Anna stood and went upstairs. She undressed then pulled on the skin tight suit. She zipped it up the front and left her hair down before putting on her old mask. It was the same material as the bat on her chest and had an epoxy that helped hold the mask in place that lined the edges. She put on her black, flat-heeled boots and went back downstairs. Barbara had changed into her outfit—a black suit with a yellow bat outstretched on the chest, a black mask, and a black-yellow lined cape attached at the shoulders.
Barbara held out a four inch long, black, metal stick and Anna took it in her palm. She slid it into a tight pouch on the right hip of her outfit and they headed out the door.
Traveling using rooftops wasn't as easy as Anna remembered. But ti was easy enough. Barbara landed on her feet behind Anna and started walking while looking at a small black device in the shape of the Bat symbol on their chests. Anna followed slowly behind, searching the area with her eyes for any people.
"Domino, come check this out" Barbara called over her shoulder, standing at the flat edge of the roof. Anna jogged across to her side and looked at the device over her shoulder. "We've got a drug sale going down a few feet below us. What do you say we crash it?" Barbara asked.
"I'm game" Anna said. Barbara nodded and slid her device into a pouch on her outfit. She vaulted in a forward flip over the edge of the building and Anna could barely hear her soft landing. "Show off" she muttered. Anna vaulted back in her signature backflip over the edge and landed solidly on the ground below.
She had just enough time to duck a punch. She pulled out the four inch black stick and, with a flick of the wrist, it grew in length to three feet long. Anna stood upright, twisted sideways, and slammed the end of the stick into the guy that tried to hit her. He cried out and hit the ground and another came at her.
She went to make her move until an arrow lodged into the man's leg below the knee and he crumpled to the ground. Anna stole a glance right and saw the 'hood' had joined them, keeping his distance to shoot arrows. She turned back to the guy that just got shot in the leg with an arrow and connected her fist with his jaw.
Anna and Barbara fought back-to-back the remaining three guys until all three were unconscious. "You've still got it" Barbara said, turning to Anna.
"Did I ever lose it?" Anna asked, with a cocky smile. They both chuckled and Barbara noticed the 'hood' standing a few feet away and walking to them. Anna noticed as well and shortened her stick before slipping it into her pouch. She picked up the vials full of Vertigo on the ground while Barbara and the 'hood' started talking. "Who are you?" he asked.
"Batgirl. You must be the vigilante. I hope you don't mind, but we took care of the drug trade for you" Barbara said. Anna stood upright after collecting all of the vials and went back to Barbara's side. She held out the vials to the 'hood' without saying a word.
He took them and eyed her for a second, and she held her breath. When he looked away without saying anything, she inwardly sighed in relief. "Why are you in my city?" he asked, looking at Barbara.
"Just visiting" Barbara said. She turned and started walking and motioned for Anna to follow. Anna glanced warily at the 'hood' before following. She was relieved he didn't notice her. Maybe it was the different costume? Or the hair being down behind the mask? She didn't know.
Just then an arrow whizzed by and stuck in the street light beside Barbara. They both stopped and Barbara shook her head as she turned around. "I don't want to fight you, Arrow" Barbara called.
"B, don't-" Anna whispered, turning to her. Another arrow flew at Barbara and she caught it before it reached her face. She sighed and tossed it away. She started toward the 'hood' and Anna grimaced knowing what was going to happen. Anna turned the other way so she wouldn't have to watch.
She heard Barbara's swift kicks and punches and strikes and she heard them make contact every time. She had enough and walked to them. She pulled Barbara away and threw her sideways. She stayed on her feet but skidded away and looked at Anna. "WTF?" Barbara asked.
"Both of you quit it!" Anna said. She turned to the 'hood'. "We are not your enemy. Don't treat us as though we are or it will be a two way street" she said, sternly. She turned back to Barbara and forcefully motioned for her to get moving.
Barbara went to the side of the building they'd previously been on and held up what looked like a gun. She shot it toward the roof and a grappling hook latched the side of the roof. Barbara mock saluted and then the rope pulled her up to the roof, swinging her over the top. Anna started to follow when the 'hood' said behind her, "Who are you?"
She stopped and slowly half turned to see him. "Domino works fine" she said. She then turned and used her own grappling hook to zing to the roof. Once on the roof Anna smacked Barbara's arm. "You idiot!" she said, in a whisper-yell. "He's the frickin' Vigilante and you gaud him into fighting you? What the deuce?"
"Calm down, D. You have to build up your reputation again. And this is the perfect way to do it" Barbara said.
Later That Night…
Anna walked down the stairs after changing out form her suit just as Oliver walked in the door. She smiled and walked to him, feeling a pang of guilt for tonight's events. She kissed him. "Anna, do you know of a masked girl that goes by Batgirl?" Oliver asked, pulling away from the kiss.
"No, not really. Why?" she asked.
"Because a Batgirl and Domino showed up at a Vertigo drug trade tonight" he said. She shrugged and shook her head while walking back toward the stairs. "Nope…doesn't ring a bell."