"One hour with Frank Sinatra or one week with Adam Levine."
"Sinatra," Casey said immediately, not even looking away from her monitor.
"Sinatra?" Elías said, sounding surprised. "I thought you more of a Maroon 5 fan."
Casey shook her head. "Nope. My mom loved Sinatra. He was in a good chunk of my childhood. I practically have the Christmas album memorized." Actually, Annette was the lover of Sinatra but it was easier to tell Elías the lie instead of explaining the truth.
"Really? She liked all the classics?"
"Oh yeah," Casey said. "Billie Holiday, Nina Simone, Ray Charles, James Brown. You know, all those classic singers." There was a lot of jazz in Annette's house.
"I'm more of a Levine kinda guy," Elías hummed. "It's the tats and the weirdly falsetto voice."
Casey snorted. "If you like someone who sounds like he's being kicked repeatedly in the balls then sure."
Elías gasped. "How dare you." She glanced over him and she saw him place a hand over his heart. "It's Adam Levine! He was the Sexiest Man Alive!"
Casey glanced at Elías. "So were Matthew McConaughey and Tom Cruise. It doesn't mean anything," she declared.
He shook his head exaggeratedly. "Obviously you're a lost cause," he huffed.
Casey burst out laughing. "Sure."
It had been one week since Elías joined the Cybercrimes division. Casey found she liked her new coworker. He was easy to talk to and he made her laugh all the time. Sometimes it became hard to work because she was laughing so hard her ribs started to hurt.
All the same, Elías brought a certain kind of cheer that kept her spirits up when she saw horrors come across her computer screen. Since Batman brought Julian Day back in, she had to compile a file for the second trial. And he had done a lot to people over the years he'd been active. So it was nice to have someone like Elías cracking jokes when the work started weighing down on her.
The door to the office swung open and Barbara came in. "I am so ready for spring break!" She announced. "Is it April yet?"
"God I miss having breaks," Casey bemoaned. "Ah, youth."
But she saw Elías frown. "Who are you?" He asked Barbara, eying her.
"Barbara Gordon," Barbara answered. "My dad is Captain Gordon."
"And does Captain Gordon let you wander around unsupervised?" Elías asked coolly.
"Hey," Casey warned.
But Barbara stared right back at Elías. "As long as I don't get in anyone's way, it's fine," she said.
"And you what, go snooping in places you don't belong?" He asked. His eyes were narrowed and he stood up, hands on his hips.
"I don't snoop," Barbara retorted.
"I don't care," he countered. "I'm afraid you'll have to leave this room. Casey and I are working on classified projects and we can't have a kid in here looking at stuff she's not supposed to. This was one of the things IA breathed down our necks about."
They did? Casey wanted to ask but she kept her mouth shut about that. "Elías," she said. "It's fine. Babs has been coming here for ages."
"You don't think that's behavior you want to curb?" He asked. "C'mon, she may be the Captain's kid but that doesn't give her jurisdiction." To Barbara, he said, "Sorry but that's how it is."
Barbara's jaw dropped. But she glared at him before pivoting on her foot and storming out.
"Couldn't have been a little bit nicer?" Casey asked him before following Barbara out.
"Babs," she called as she closed the door behind her.
"Who does he think he is?" Barbara seethed. "He's barely been here a week and he acts as if he's head of the department."
"Ah, he's not so bad," Casey said. "He does have a point," she admitted when she saw Barbara look at her, betrayal on her face.
"Not you too, Casey. You never cared before!"
"Well being put under investigation gives you a new perspective," she grunted. "I'm not saying you're banned. I'll talk to him. You can't spy on what we're doing if you're sitting in a chair away from our monitors. It's not like you don't know what's going on. Yes," she said when she caught sight of Barbara's surprised face. "I know you've been hacking the system. I've been doing this a long time."
"Okay," Barbara said sulkily. "I guess I can go see what my dad's up to anyway."
"See ya, Babs," Casey said. "I'll talk to him, promise."
"You better. I spend half my time in here and the server room."
"At least you can hide in the server room," Casey joked. She waved goodbye to Barbara and reentered the office.
"You know, she's really harmless," she scolded Elías as she sat back down.
"Would you like to explain that to IA?" Elías asked idly. "I got a fun lecture when I was hired. The gist of it was, they were cracking down of rule breaking. That girl is clearly not authorized to access parts of the building."
"You don't know Barbara," she warned. "She's been going in and out of here for a long time. And judging by the rumors, her father's the likely candidate to fill Loeb's empty position."
"Her father's position in the GCPD doesn't give her the right to go where she wants. She's not part of the GCPD and to show favoritism makes Gordon no different than Loeb!" Elías exclaimed.
Casey closed her mouth. He had a point, she begrudgingly admitted. But she'll be damned if she didn't stick up for her friend. "So she can't look at classified stuff. She can't see what we're working on if she's sitting across from us," she pointed out.
Elías's lips tightened into a thin line. "Just don't let her in here," he said and returned to his computer.
They worked in silence for a time before Elías spoke again. "Is there a court date yet?" He asked.
"Court date for what?" Casey replied and looked away from a picture of the family Day burned to death in their car. It was making her nauseous.
"Julian Day."
"Oh." She looked back to her reports. "Uh, no. I think the prosecution is working on building a case again." The deaths of Judge Harkness and Rochelle Parker would be front and center, no doubt.
"I hope he gets the death sentence again," Elías said darkly.
Casey looked at him in surprise. "What?" She said, her mouth hanging open.
Elías shook his head. "But if it's a fair judge, they'll declare him insane and ship him off to that asylum that's opening soon."
"That's what should have happened in the first place," Casey replied. "Just by watching him in the trial, you know there's something wrong with his mind. Judge Harkness unlawfully declared him sane to use Day as an example for execution."
"C'mon, Casey," Elías complained. "You can't look at those pictures—at what he's done to people and not say he doesn't deserve to be put down?"
"I'd say it's not up to me," she said. "I'm not a judge or a lawyer. I don't hold the law in my hands. And I'm not the kind of person you want to decide who lives and who dies."
"Then who does?" Eiías argued.
Casey didn't reply. This was an argument that could go on forever. She did understand where Elías was coming from. At times, the leniency the justice system gave those who were mentally unbalanced seemed unfair. Yes, there were some who could barely function without help but there were also some who knew exactly what they were doing. But, as Casey said to Elías, she wasn't the one to make that decision.
Buzz. Buzz. Her phone buzzed on the desk. She picked it up and swiped it on and saw she had a text from Bruce. It read, 'Would you like to do something this weekend?'
She typed out a quick reply saying that she would and then her phone buzzed again. Annette was calling. "Be right back," she said to Elías as she left the room.
"Hi Annette," Casey said as she closed the door.
"Hello Casey," Annette replied. "We're having family dinner on Saturday. Can you find time in your schedule to come out?"
Casey smiled. "Yeah," she replied enthusiastically. "Actually, Bruce just texted me asking if I wanted to do something this weekend. Can I bring him with me?" She could only imagine the sour look on Annette's face and Casey cackled to herself.
"Fine, he can come," Annette grumbled. "We're eating at five so show up on time. Maybe come a bit early and spend some time with your mother."
"Okay. See ya Saturday!" Casey said cheerfully.
"Goodbye Casey."
Casey typed out a message to Bruce, telling him Annette invited them out for dinner on Saturday. 'We'll see how Annette's cooking will compare to Alfred's,' she teased him.
-x-
"So tell me Casey," Dr. Crane peered at her over his notes. "How have you been since our last session?"
"Alright," Casey said but she shrugged a shoulder. "But I feel like my nightmares have been getting worse and I don't know if it's from the medication or not."
"Have you been doing your mental exercises?"
She nodded. "Yeah, I have. But sometimes it feels like they're not helping much. Some of my nightmares had been so vivid I was scared I was going to choke for real."
"I see." He wrote something down. "Let's adjust your dosage and see if that helps."
"Or maybe I could go off the meds and see what happens?" Casey asked hopefully. "I feel like I've been doing pretty well with the sessions and exercises alone."
Dr. Crane's eyebrows furrowed. "Perhaps," he said slowly. "Let's try the dosage adjustment first. If it doesn't help, we can return to the getting off the medication discussion. Agreed?"
"Sure," she sighed. "That sounds fair."
He smiled. "I just want to make sure you're on the road to recovery and cover all our bases."
"Of course." But still, Casey did not feel happy about it.
-x-
Saturday came quickly and Bruce picked her at the harbor when she crossed the bay on the ferry. "Hi," he greeted as she entered his car and gave Casey a quick kiss.
"Hey," she greeted back. "And who gets those?" She asked as she picked up two bouquets of flowers off the front seat and sat down.
"Well, one's for your mom and the other's for Annette." He smiled sheepishly and rummaged through his jacket pocket. He pulled out a long velvet box and handed it to Casey. "This one is for you."
Heart hammering, she opened the box. "Oh my god," she gasped. Inside was a sapphire bracelet. "Bruce, it's beautiful," she said as she gently pried it out of the box.
"I'm glad you like it," he said. He took it from her and put it on her wrist.
I've probably never owned something so expensive, she thought but she smiled at Bruce all the same. And now she felt sorry for the way she treated him over the damn article that came out. "I'm sorry for being so rude last week," she blurted. "That article… I was just so angry."
He wrapped an arm around her and pulled her in close. "It's okay," he said. "I know how ruthless the news can be. I talked it over with my lawyer and we've sent a strongly worded letter to the journalist. I won't let them harass you like that."
She rest her head against him. "Thanks Bruce," she said. She breathed in the smell of his cologne and sighed in content. In a bold move, she took his hand first and squeezed briefly. She felt cheered when he squeezed back.
-x-
They arrived at Annette's in a short amount of time. Casey was happy to see the brown front door of Annette's home. Though she was less happy to see the collection of garden gnomes out front. "Rodney gets them for her every year as a Christmas gag," she explained as she avoided some of them. "I kinda joined in on it too. Don't know why she just doesn't burn them. Maybe they act as a robbery deterrent. I wouldn't want to steal from a house with so many garden gnomes."
Bruce laughed. "Neither would I."
They walked up the steps and Casey opened the door. "We're here!" She announced.
"Casey!" Annette came around the corner, wiping her hands on her apron. Her face tightened when she saw Bruce. "Mr. Wayne," she said curtly.
"Ms. Browning," Bruce greeted. He held out one of the bouquets. "This is for you.""
Annette's eyebrows shot up but she accepted the bouquet. "Thank you." Casey smirked when she saw Annette's lip twitch. She disappeared back into the kitchen and Casey led Bruce deeper into the house.
"Hi Mom!" Casey exclaimed when they entered the living room.
"Casey!" Virginia got out of the chair and Casey bounded over to her to gave her a hug. "How are you?" She asked.
"Not bad," Casey replied. She stepped away for Bruce to approach her.
"These are for you, Virginia," Bruce said as he graciously handed over the flowers.
"Oh my," Virginia gasped and her eyes filled with tears. "Thank you. I'll go put them in water right away."
She hustled away, smiling to herself. Casey bumped her hip against Bruce. "She likes you," she commented.
"Is that good?" He asked and drew her into an embrace.
"In my book, yes," Casey replied. "I don't remember a time where she ever got flowers." She made a mental note to start sending her mother flowers every once in a while. Perhaps on her birthday.
She heard footsteps on the stairs and pulled back when Rodney walked in. He grinned at the two of them before heading over to Bruce. "Bruce Wayne," he said in disbelief and held out his hand. "Damn, Jaymin isn't going to believe me."
Bruce took his hand. "You must be Rodney."
"I am," Rodney confirmed. "Casey told you about me?"
"Only that you were an annoying adopted brother," Casey teased.
"Hey now," Rodney complained.
"Rodney," Annette called from the kitchen. "I need your help."
"Coming!" He shot Bruce one last grin. "Bruce Wayne… man. Never thought I'd see the day..."
"I hope you're used to that," Casey said to Bruce when Rodney left.
"It's fine," he reassured her.
Virginia came back into the living room, her flowers now in a vase. She set them on the coffee table and turned back to Bruce and Casey. Her face was pink but her eyes darted between Casey and Bruce. "Did Casey tell you… about her father?" She whispered.
"Yes," Bruce said. He smiled warmly at Virginia. "You're an incredibly brave woman."
Virginia flushed. "Thank you," she said again. "I think Annette needs help, I better go."
"She has Rodney helping her," Casey said.
But Rodney poked his head out of the kitchen. "Dinner's ready," he called.
They sat down around the table and Casey's mouth watered at the sight of the pot roast sitting in the middle. "Annette's pot roast is divine," she muttered to Bruce who sat next to her.
Annette briefly said Grace and Rodney served them their portions of roast, potatoes, carrots, gravy. "This is good," Casey said around a mouthful of potato.
"Don't talk with your mouth full, Casey," Annette scolded. "You weren't raised in a barn."
Casey swallowed. "Sorry," she said.
"So Bruce," Annette said and Bruce looked up at her. "Where did you meet Casey?"
"On the steps of the GCPD," he responded. "A building of mine was damaged in the Christmas Eve attacks and I was there filing claims. I met Casey while she was on break and we started chatting."
Casey tried hard not to flush red when Annette looked at Casey. She nodded, confirming the story. "He asked me out to coffee not long after."
"I see," Annette said as she cut her meat. "And whatever happened with those models or were they Russian ballerinas?"
"Annette," Casey hissed.
"It's alright," Bruce soothed her and place his hand atop Casey's. "They didn't work out," he told Annette. "It was either our schedules were too busy or our careers were taking us in different directions."
"And you think Casey's schedule is easier for you to manage?" Annette asked."Or because you know her career isn't as high profile as yours?"
Casey's mouth dropped open in horror. "Annette," she said weakly. "Please."
"It seems to be working so far," Bruce said, never losing the amicable cheer in his voice. "And we've been doing good so far."
Casey saw Annette's eyes dart from Casey to Virginia. It was then Casey knew Annette saw the articles about Casey and Bruce but neither of them wanted to bring it up in front of Virginia who looked so happy. "Right," Casey filled in. "Sometimes we have our ups and downs but all relationships have that. We just work through them." She flashed Bruce a smile. "Right, Honey?"
She caught some surprise in Bruce's eyes before he returned the smile. "Of course, Dear."
Annette seemed to relax after that. Rodney started talking about his classes until... "I saw Lyneesa today," he announced.
"How is she doing, poor girl," Annette asked.
"Looks like she was doing better."
"Who?" Bruce asked blankly.
"She's a classmate of mine," Rodney explained. "Julian Day murdered her father on Father's Day last year."
Out of the corner of Casey's eye, she saw Bruce's grip tighten on his fork. "How terrible," he murmured.
Rodney nodded solemnly. "Yeah. I spoke to her a little. She wanted to continue with school because her dad would have wanted it. She's been going through therapy. But most of all, she's really glad the Batman caught him again. Her family just wants to see justice done so they can move on."
"That's great," Casey whispered.
But Annette let out a snort. "Batman," she repeated. "Our police force must be really be incompetent if they have to rely on a vigilante's help to catch criminals."
"That's a little unfair, Mom," Rodney defended. "I know a couple people who almost died on Christmas Eve. If it wasn't for Batman, they would be dead."
"And where were they off making trouble on Christmas Eve?" Annette asked.
But Rodney shook his head. "They were going across the Pioneer Bridge, heading home, when that one guy set it on fire. Luckily, they were at one end when it happened but they still could have gotten hurt." He glanced at Bruce. "C'mon, man. Back me up here. You said your building got hit?"
Bruce chuckled. "In my opinion, a man who dresses up as a bat at night clearly has issues."
Casey felt a shock. She didn't think Batman had issues. Okay, maybe he had issues. She could grant Bruce that one. But she didn't believe Bruce would easily dismiss Batman like that.
But Annette didn't look convinced. "I still don't like him," Annette said fiercely. "What happened to old fashioned police work." She turned to Casey. "Who was the one in charge of finding that man?"
"What man?" Casey asked.
"Julian Day."
"Ahh… Me," Casey said quietly.She felt her cheeks starting to redden.
An uncomfortable silence descended on the table. Casey returned her attention to her food and started cutting up the rest of her meat. "And how close were you?" Annette asked tentatively.
"Uh, I'm not at liberty to discuss my work," she said.
Rodney chuckled. "That means not close at all—OW!" Casey's swung her foot under the table and kicked Rodney in the shin. She gave him look that plainly said, cut it out.
"The important thing is," Casey said, "he's in custody now and the prosecution is putting their case together."
Virginia leaned forward, speaking for the first time since they sat down. "What do you think the outcome will be?"
This was going to be like the conversation with Elías, Casey just knew. "The important thing is, he's going away for a long time," she said with finality.
After a delicious desert of rhubarb pie, Rodney helped Annette bus the table and worked on cleaning up while Annette and Virginia disappeared back into the living room. "So that was my family," Casey said as cheerfully as she could as she and Bruce handed dishes to Rodney.
"I like them," Bruce replied.
"Sorry about Annette. She just speaks her mind," Casey apologized.
"It's fine. I suppose it's natural for your family to be suspicious."
"I won't deny there's a tiny voice of doubt about anyone's intentions," Casey confessed. "But I refuse to be someone who paints everyone with the same brush from one experience." She stood up on her tip-toes and kissed Bruce.
"Okay, if you guys are going to make out in Annette's house, you better go somewhere private," Rodney complained from the kitchen.
"Sorry Rodney," Casey laughed.
"Hurry up before I take a picture and sell it!"
Casey took Bruce's hand and pulled him towards the foyer. "Casey," Annette called from the living room.
"Caught," Casey muttered to Bruce, feeling like a teen.
They walked into the living room where Annette and Virginia sat crocheting. "If you'd like to stay the night Casey, you can. The news said it was supposed to storm tonight."
"Thanks but I'm okay," Casey said. "We need to get going anyway. Thanks for having us."
"It was nothing," Annette replied.
Virginia stood up and gave Casey a hug. "Be safe," she whispered to Casey.
"Always am," Casey lied.
As Bruce drove back into the city, Casey caught sight of a lightning flash and then it began to downpour. "Perfect timing," Casey commented as she rested her head against the window.
"Perfect?" Bruce asked.
"Annette said it was going to rain. Ugh, it's going to suck walking back from the harbor."
"If you want, you can spend the night again," Bruce said.
Casey looked over to Bruce. Did she want to? She chewed on her lip in thought. As if sensing her hesitation, Bruce said, "we can set you up in a guest room."
She smiled. "Sure," she said.
She had to admit, she liked seeing the Manor every time she came over. She hadn't seen everything inside but someday she'll explore every nook and cranny. She was sure an old place like Wayne Manor had many secrets hidden within.
Bruce pulled into the garage into a row of expensive cars that made Casey envious. They walked past the cars and into a room next to the kitchen.
"Good evening, Master Bruce. Miss Wilson," Alfred said surprised when he saw her. "I didn't realize you were coming over."
"Walking home in the rain doesn't sound like fun," Casey said as thunder boomed outside. Typical March Gotham weather.
"Of course, of course," Alfred said. "I just made some hot chocolate. Would you like some?"
"Yes please!"
Once she and Bruce had been supplied with mugs, Alfred excused himself for the evening. He shared a knowing look with Bruce but said nothing.Casey pretended not to see.
Sipping at her cocoa, she followed Bruce up the stairs to the bedroom floor. This time around, she was able to look around at the décor. "Whoa," she said and came to a stop.
It was a pastel painting of a tree over water. As she examined it, discovering it was an oil painting, she saw shades of purple in the tree such as lavender, indigo, and a pale purple. "That's gorgeous," she said.
Bruce stood next to her. "That's Monet's L'Ile aux Orties," he said.
Casey's jaw dropped. "You have a Monet?" She exclaimed.
He nodded. "Bought it for eight million dollars."
Holy crap. That number alone made Casey sweat. She'd never see that much money in her life time. Let alone have it to buy a Monet painting. Every time she thought she could forget about how different they were compared to class, something would always remind her like a slap in the face.
She drained the rest of her cocoa as a way to distract herself. "Where do I put this?" She asked.
"On the banister," Bruce said. "Alfred will pick it up later."
"Right." She set it down on the banister and started to wander down the hall.
"Casey." Bruce jogged to catch up. "Are you okay?"
"I just..." she trailed off, staring at another painting of a man dressed in a captain's uniform. "Sometimes I keep thinking about those articles," she admitted.
"Why? They're trying to hurt you so they can make money."
"I know that." She sighed. "Bruce, I don't know if you realize it or not but we come from two very different worlds. I'm lower-middle class. I'll be lucky to pay off my loans by the time I'm forty, I haven't moved out of my apartment because I can't afford a house on my salary and credit score, and I don't know what it's like to buy a sapphire bracelet. And you're," she gestured to the grand hallway and the Monet painting, "you're this."
She faced him and felt guilty when she saw the hurt on his face. "I understand that, Casey," he said quietly. "I know this is overwhelming for you. Sometimes I forget but I don't want to alienate you from me." His eyes met hers. "If you want me to take a step back, say the word and I will."
But she shook her head. "I don't want that," she said. "I know our differences don't define us. I'm dating Bruce Wayne not Bruce Wayne's money. I just want you to know some of this is overwhelming. And I don't fault you for it."
He took her by the shoulders. "Casey, if something is bothering you just tell me. I want you to feel comfortable in this relationship."
"And I do," she confessed. "I really do. I don't know what it is but it's like you know me, like we've met before."
"I'd remember it if I had," he joked.
"Ha ha," she said dryly. But she started up at him again. "I can't pinpoint it but I feel safe with you."
"That's a good thing right?" Bruce asked.
She nodded. "A very good thing," she agreed.
And then they were kissing. She wrapped her arms around his neck and he pulled her in close to him. She opened her mouth and allowed his tongue entrance to deepen their kiss. A squeal escaped her when he dropped his arms to her bottom and lifted her up.
He started walking and somehow, Casey really didn't know how, opened a door. The next thing Casey knew as they broke the kiss was Bruce setting her down on a bed in a room she didn't recognize. This must be his room, she realized when she smelled his cologne and saw how lived-in it looked.
Oh god, this is happening, isn't it? She thought when Bruce kissed her again. His hands skimmed at the bottom of her shirt and started traveling up. But when he reached her navel, he pulled away.
"Do you want this?" Bruce asked, his voice husky. "We can stop if you want."
Did she? She started at Bruce, looking into his blue eyes. Yes, she realized. Yes she did. "Yes," she whispered to him. "I want you, Bruce."
He smiled and kissed her as his hands resumed raking across her skin, causing goosebumps to break out. When he reached her bra, he wriggled his hand under the cup and a jolt went down her spine when she felt his fingertips brush against her nipple.
"Bruce," she moaned. It was getting too hot in here. Sweat was beginning to break out across her forehead.
"Yes?" He teased and she felt his fingers slipping past the waistband of her jeans.
When did he get down—HOLY MOTHER OF GOD. She let out a groan as his fingers tapped out a beat against her. "Bruce!"
He laughed and removed his hands to help her out of her shirt. "We're just beginning," he promised.
She smiled. "I hope so." She gently tugged his shirt over his head but stopped when she caught sight of him. Not only was he muscular, complete with a six pack, but there was a smattering of bruises across his torso.
"What happened?" She asked as she traced a bruise with her finger.
"Polo," Bruce replied.
"You play polo?"
"Sometimes," he said.
"Wow." She glanced up at him. "I didn't know polo was so… brutal."
"You'd be surprised." Bruce grinned at her and tugged on her hips, pulling her into his lap. "But enough about me. You're still way overdressed."
-x-
Casey woke up, warm, naked, and content but thirsty. She grabbed her phone and checked the time; almost three in the morning. She yawned and put her phone back on the bed table. She rolled over and froze when she noticed Bruce was missing.
"Bruce?" She whispered but thunder rumbled, drowning out her voice. "Bruce," she called out, louder this time but there was no reply.
She flung the covers off and got up. She didn't bother grabbing something to wear as Bruce had finally seen her naked but she did cross her arms across her breasts. She tiptoed across the room to check the small couch by a fireplace but it was empty. Next, she tried the bathroom. It was empty too. After a quick drink of water, she returned to the bedroom.
Where was Bruce?" She wondered. She didn't want to wander around the manor looking for him in case she got lost (and that required her to put clothes back on.) Maybe he was downstairs or something, she decided as she got back into bed. Nevertheless, she felt considerably lonely as she snuggled a pillow, wishing it was Bruce instead.
-x-
Storm or no, Batman patrolled Gotham. Gotham City is mine, now. Three months ago, he took down the deadliest villains it had to offer in a brutal battle. But just because I'm here doesn't mean criminals will disappear, he reminded himself. There was still the unsolved case of the fear victims and the whereabouts of Edward Nashton.
And Batman knew the criminals of Gotham would see him as a personal challenge. He had to stay one step ahead of them.
Skreetch. Batman's head snapped towards the noise. That sounded like someone cutting through glass. He flew down to another roof in time to see a small circular piece of glass fall away from a window. A high-heeled boot emerged and then a woman wearing a catsuit. Batman grumbled when he noticed her headgear had cat-shaped ears on top. She has to be the cat burglar I've heard about.
She didn't notice him as she climbed up the roof and he silently followed her. "Like taking candy from a baby," he heard her croon. "The baby being a secret government organization."
He landed in front of her. "I don't know who you're supposed to be," he said, "but in case you didn't notice, this building's business hours are over."
The woman smirked and stood, pocketing a phone. "Oh, I noticed," she said. "And my business never sleeps. I'm nocturnal. Tell me you're not this place's over-dressed security guard."
"I just go where the crime is," Batman growled, stepping closer to the thief.
But she wasn't deterred as she strolled right by him. "You sure you want to cut this so short? You haven't even heard me purr yet."
"You won't be purring once you're in Blackgate," Batman snapped.
But before he could reach for his batarangs, he heard the sound of guns cocking and then targeting lasers were pointed at the thief. "Target acquired," someone shouted. "Target has the package. D.E.O. security squad Omega in response."
Four men, Batman counted, all armed. But they wouldn't be any match for Batman. "I'm handling this," Batman said as he approached the leader.
"You're on private property," the leader barked, "interfering with private business."
Batman swung his cape, forcing the leader to drop his gun. "We were just leaving." But as he turned back to the thief, he saw her on another rooftop running away. She's good… He thought.
"Munitions team, secure the package!" The leader ordered. "The rest of you, Batman is not to leave this rooftop!"
Batman suppressed a snort. It was going to be one of those nights.
-x-
After what felt like hours of chasing the thief across Gotham and fighting armed men who tried to get in his way, Batman finally cornered her.
"What a lousy way to end a first date," the thief grumbled from the ground as Batman towered over her. "I hoped you were a gentleman."
"I was being gentle," Batman growled. "Now tell me what you took."
"Just some files," she smirked and opened her hand as a phone and a flash drive fell out of it and down to Gotham. "And I've already used this to send them to my employer."
He gritted is teeth in annoyance. "You tell me what was in the files, and I'll see about you getting sent somewhere less dangerous than Blackgate."
Her tongue darted out of her mouth to lick the blood off her upper lip. "I like a little danger. And besides, what's in those files isn't my business. My business is stealing them."
"GOTHAM CITY POLICE! KEEP YOUR HANDS WHERE I CAN SEE THEM." Headlights flooded down on them as helicopters flew above. The thief held up a hand so she could see and Batman took that opportunity to cuff her to the steel beam behind her. She was Gordon's problem now. And then he flew off, disappearing into the dark.
-x-
That wraps up chapter twenty-three. I actually like this chapter a lot. It sets up some fun stuff coming up soon. And I think it'll keep some of you in suspense since some thought Scarecrow was going to show up this chapter. Nope. Not yet!
Casey and Bruce have taken their relationship to the next level! (But they haven't said the words yet.) You got a little smut since I wanted to keep the T rating. But I hope you still enjoyed it.
Reviews, favorites, and follows are love! See ya in chapter twenty-four!