The next week, Feli spent her time split between the Center and her nightly patrol. She became stronger everyday, finding it easier and easier to ignore the sore muscles from the fights. Everything seemed to be looking up, until she found herself nursing a black eye one morning. The asshole had actually swung on her and she hadn't quite been fast enough to dodge. It hurt like crazy, but she had handled it fairly well, and she had all day to ice it and get it covered before anyone would find out. Unfortunately, this was apparently the day Bruce wanted that tour. She'd agreed, hurrying to the bathroom to cover it up quickly before he would arrive. She stepped back out just as he walked in, giving her best business smile.

"Hello again, Bruce." He gave his own smile, reaching out to shake her hand again. She could swear she watched his gaze train onto her black eye, but soon he was walking past her.

"Hello again. Ready to give a tour?" She caught up with him quickly and nodded, leading him through the building quickly. He seemed focused on everything she said, responding at all the right times and making minor suggestions. By the time they made it back to her office, she had a list of things to consider from him and he seemed more determined than ever to find a way to help directly. They sat at her desk while she wrote the suggestions down, and Bruce cleared his throat.

"Yes?" Feli didn't look up from her work, worried she would forget something before she got it down. There was a pause, and she glanced up briefly to see he was frowning now. There was no mistaken where his gaze was trained, and her heart leapt into her throat as she realized what he would ask.

"Forgive me if I'm being rude, but how did you get that?" He nodded towards the black eye, and she quickly dropped her gaze back to her work. She was quiet for a few moments before speaking again, her voice soft.

"A mugger. Stupid mistake on my part." She finished the list and made more work by filing it in her desk.

"A mugger? Good god, were you hurt more seriously?" He seemed to be looking her over more carefully, and she couldn't have that. It would only be a matter of time before he spotted the faded bruises where her shirt didn't cover. She gave her best reassuring smile.

"No, no. Just the one hit. No big deal, really, I don't carry many valuables." She moved to take care of some paperwork she'd been putting off, not surprised when he stood with her. She kept her back to him, thinking tonight may be the night to take off and rest. "Guess the guy was just having a bad day."

"Right…" Bruce didn't sound convinced, but she hoped he wouldn't push. To ensure it, she turned to give him a polite smile.

"Sorry to rush you out the door, but the kids will be here soon and I have a few more things to do before they do." It wasn't a lie, yet the look he was giving her almost made her feel guilty. It was obvious he was a good guy who genuinely cared for people; she simply couldn't afford to have the most well-connected man in Gotham finding out what she did with her nights. He'd ship to Arkham in a heartbeat.

"Alright. Perhaps we could talk more over dinner then? Tonight?" He was all charm now, smiling and giving her the sweetest look and she was tempted to accept. Knowing that she couldn't wear any of her nice dresses or heels without revealing exactly how injured she was brought her back to earth, and she shook her head slowly.

"I'm sorry, Bruce. I'm going to have to decline." His own smile fell and she wanted to kick herself. Likely she wouldn't get another shot at dinner with a man like him. However, she couldn't let him get wind of what she was doing. Feli refused to lie to the man, which lead to a newly planned patrol for the night. "I've got a prior engagement." He nodded, pursing his lips.

"Another time then." Surprised, she could only nod as he made his way to the door, calling his goodbye over his shoulder, and soon she was left alone in the room. With a sigh, she ran a hand through her hair, tugging at the dirty blonde tresses as she tried to figure out how she was going to manage tonight. She would be exhausted tomorrow, but she may be able to catch a nap or two. Sitting at her desk, she went back to the volunteer applications she had to get through, hoping to get this place staffed soon enough to give her some time off.

That night, she kept it light, sticking to the alleyways she knew usually held young muggers, the homeless, and low level drug dealers. Her mask irritated her injured eye, and she had to keep herself from itching it all night. She had just dispatched with another mugger, and she wondered at a town that could have quite so many, when she felt more than heard the presence behind her. She only hesitated a moment before spinning, throwing her elbow into the attack. It was caught easily, and she very quickly found herself immobilized against the armoured chest of the local Bat.

"Jeez, anyone ever tell you not to sneak up on a girl?" Her voice sounded just a bit breathless, and he smirked.

"Well, 'sneaking' is sort of what I do." The gravelly voice emanating from the mask sounded a bit impossible, but she wasn't sure how one would fake something like that. Tugging gently, she tried to get out of his grasp, finding it was tighter than anything she'd encountered before. He was incredibly strong, and she made a mental note to start using the gym in the Center in the morning if she was going to keep up. Slowly, he released her, as though she may swing at him again any minute. She turned to face him properly, brushing a lock of hair out of her face. She could swear his gaze narrowed. "I see we're not being as safe as we could be." Confusion ran through her until she remembered he could likely see her black eye in spite of the mask.

"Oh, that's nothing. You should see the other guy." Waving a hand, she did her best to deflect, but his gaze didn't waver. "Seriously, don't worry about it. It comes with the territory and you know it." He crossed his arms and she huffed. "Oh, don't give me that. Are you honestly telling me you never get hurt? You fight worse people than I do!"

"It's different for me."

"Bullshit. There's no difference between us except you can clearly afford to have near military-grade gear." She rolled her eyes, brushing past him. Feli wasn't entirely sure how'd he'd gotten under her skin so fast, but he was beginning to agitate her. It wasn't up to him to decide who was allowed to help in Gotham.

"You're going to get seriously hurt, Blackbird." He caught her arm, easily spinning her to face him. She glared up at him through her mask.

"Better me than some innocent citizen, Batsy." He shook his head, and it was clear she was beginning to bother him as well; good. Trying to yank her arm free, she found he had it in another vice-like grip. "Let go."

"No. I'm taking you home." He began to tug her towards the entrance to the alley, and she did what she could to fight him.

"The hell you are. Let go, now!" His grip was centered up near her shoulder, and she knew a good way to get out, but she hated doing that to herself. "Seriously, let go, or we're both going to regret it." He glanced at her and somehow she just knew he had one of his eyebrows arching in a questioning look. She took a deep breath, and then another, and wrenched her shoulder to the side, easily dislocating it with a cry. His grip loosened in surprise and she managed to get a few steps away, panting through the pain.

"What the hell, Blackbird?!" He approached her with both hands reaching for her shoulder and she took a couple steps back. Opening her mouth to snap back a reply, she heard the faint but distinct sound of a gun cocking. Just over his shoulder, a smaller man had a gun leveled at the Bat's chest. Adrenaline already pounding, it took her only a half a second to decide, before shoving herself against the larger man with a pained grunt. She heard the gun fire, felt a burning sensation in her side, then felt the cold, wet ground of the alley. The gunshot had been louder than she anticipated, causing her ears to ring, and she lay on the ground dazed for a few moments. She turned her head, watching as Batman disarmed and tossed the gun away before tying the offender up to a pole. Whatever they were saying was muffled by the combined ringing and pounding in her ears, and so she closed her eyes, trying to focus the sounds away. She felt herself being lifted, the motion causing a small amount of pain in her shoulder and side.

"Let go…" She just wanted to lay down for a bit, not be jostled around the alleyway.

"Open your eyes." The voice was still muffled, but she wanted to disagree. With her eyes closed, it was easier to fight off the feelings of nausea she was feeling. "Now, damnit!" With a huff that was more difficult than it should have been, her eyes fluttered open, looking up into the strange glowing eyes of the Batman. She was cradled gently against his chest and they seemed to be leaving the alley. A sleek black car rolled up to them, and she let her eyes close again as he slid her into the seat. This time, she didn't feel any pain from the movement, and she wanted to sigh in relief. "Come on, stay with me." The voice was more familiar now, but she couldn't put her finger on it. The thought floated away as soon as it came, and she allowed the comforting darkness to swallow her.