The Batman walked closer and Adriana observed what he was wearing. Up close, the entirely black outfit looked like well-constructed armor. The cape moved behind him like a shadow, barely touching the ground. She couldn't see anything but his eyes, surrounded in black, and his mouth.
"You sent me this," Adriana assumed, indicating the cryptic letter she had received.
The Batman didn't move.
"I did." His voice was extremely raspy, and Adriana could tell he wasn't speaking normally. He was disguising his true voice.
"Okay," she said.
She felt lightheaded and loopy. Her gift had been mostly purged away and she was relieved. But she was also feeling ill.
"You're here because your services are needed," he continued.
"I can't help," Adriana started to say as he took another step closer. She paused, expecting him, like everyone else, to start trying to convince her to do as he needed. But he just waited silently and patiently. As if waiting for her to explain.
"I just.." she began talking again and suddenly felt nervous for some reason. "This is a lot of money and I definitely can't give you any information worth this," she then held out the check.
"Frankly," the Batman said in the husky voice. "I am not entirely sure I understand, or believe what it is you are supposed to be able to do."
"I was able to read minds," Adriana explained. "Current and past thoughts... and memories-"
"Was?" the Batman interrupted.
"Well I-" Adriana said, wishing she could just put the check into his hands and walk away. "Someone helped me get rid of this ability..for the most part..I don't even know if it's permanent."
She waited for him to say something, but she could tell he was slightly confused by what she had just said.
"Were you in the presence of the Joker when you still had the ability?" he asked.
"Yes, I was," she said. "But nothing I got from him was of use..He doesn't seem to have any weaknesses or vulnerabilities. His traumas are not something that he's aware of. He has no loved ones and he doesn't particularly care about his own life or survival. Doesn't remember most of his life at all."
She waited again as he stepped forward standing very close to her. She shivered a bit in the wind and crossed her arms over her chest.
"I won't keep you long," the Batman said noticing that she was cold and appeared to be wearing pajamas under her jacket. "Your information is valuable to me."
"Really?" she asked, certain that her information was useless.
"Yes," his raspy voice sounded. "You said this ability was gone...for the most part? Meaning what?"
"Yes, it seems like it," Adriana answered. "Mostly..."
"Are you able to gather any information about me?" he asked. It was a test.
"Well-" Adriana started to speak. "I can try."
He nodded again and waited. She got nothing at first, finding his presence and powerful appearance was quite distracting. He had the most masculine energy she had every been around. She decided to close her eyes and listen. Maybe, whatever Sidi had done was working and she was slowly losing her gift. If she couldn't help him, it was okay, she told herself.
She would lose the money but it was fine now. She would regain her sanity. Sidi had saved her life.
His thoughts weren't clear. She was getting nothing, and then a flash-
"Wayne Enterprises?" she said, not knowing what this meant. What did this multinational company have to do with anything?
"Mhm," the Batman replied, looking at her lips as her teeth chattered from the brisk winds. "Keep the money."
"But I didn't give you any good information," she said. "I don't even know who you are."
"I am impressed," he said. "I'm sure you will figure it out. Once you do, come see me."
"Ok-" she said as he started to walk away. She watched him disappear behind the wall where the door to for roof access was. She took a few steps after him but by the time she could see around the side of the wall he was gone.
.
.
Adriana slept for 12 hours that night. At 2pm she woke up feeling groggy but unbelievably happy that she had finally gotten some sleep. Sidi had told her the previous night that her abilities might come and go and be unpredictable. She looked at the check on her bedside table, unable to accept that she was now a millionaire. It was insane.
She sat up and pondered the brief moment she spent in the presence of the Batman. He seemed patient and optimistic.
Her computer started as she poured tap water over some powdered lemonade mix, once again reminding herself that she needed to go food shopping. After she sat in front of the computer she typed 'Wayne Enterprises' into the search engine and read about the history of the company. Sipping the sour drink, she scrolled down the company website as saw photos of some of the corporate leadership. She was unsure of how to find out who the Batman was. Research each person's family? Personal involvements? She sighed while reading through the lists of Wayne Enterprise subsidies. Wayne Oil..Wayne Foods..CEO Lucius Fox. Owner, Bruce Wayne.
Adriana laughed the instant that she considered the possibility of Bruce Wayne being the Batman. She didn't know much about him, other than that he seemed to be a rich, spoiled, pretty boy that did not seem to take anything seriously. A charitable, but publicly indulgent, billionaire always getting into vehicle and ski accidents. But, who else could afford to be the Batman but a billionaire? Bruce Wayne, in her mind, seemed careless, clumsy, pampered..everything the man she met the previous night was not. Could it really be that simple? Wayne Enterprises..was his?
There was a knock at the door that pulled her focus. She made sure her robe was tied tightly before going to answer it.
"Good afternoon," Damien said and let himself in with a large paper bag of what smelled like Chinese food. "Or morning," he said and laughed the fact that she was still in sleepwear.
"Hi," she replied and went back over to her desk while he went into the kitchen. She placed the check in her wallet and then placed the wallet into her purse. She did not want him to see it. "You brought food?" she asked, somewhat surprised at this considerate act.
"Of course" he said. "Aren't you hungry?"
"Yes," she said. "I should go get dressed-"
"No," he said. "Just sit, relax."
"Okay then." She said down as he pulled plates from the dishwasher.
"Have you given any thought to helping the police out," he asked, and Adriana sighed.
"Um," she said, sure that she was supposed the keep the fact that she actually working for the Batman a secret. "I don't know."
"It's a lot of money Adriana," he said. "You have to think about it."
"Who's paying me?" she asked immediately.
"What?" he said, thrown by the question. "The police department has said they will pay you. They wouldn't say they if they weren't good for it. Gordon values you too much to have you lied to about something like that."
"Yeah, but they can't afford to pay me ten million dollars, come on," she said back. "You told me they wouldn't even give you a $400 raise each month until next year-"
"I don't know where the money is coming from but you need to take it," he responded. "Think of what we could do with it. And you're making it sound like something you have to keep confidential, and that's fine. But our future it changing, baby. We've made it."
We. Adriana laughed in her mind.
"What would we do?" she asked sarcastically, but he seemed to think she was genuinely asking, as he placed a dish full of rice and beef in front of her.
"Pay off our houses," he said. "Live luxuriously."
"Yeah.." she said and looked down. She didn't want to tell him that she had already been paid the money. She was glad he didn't know about it. There was no way she was going to pay off his house.
He talked mostly to himself while they ate. When they were done he took her plate and started to massage her shoulders as she finished sipping her lemonade.
"You're tense," he said. "You know what would loosen you up-"
Then, she knew why he has come over with food and insisted she not get dressed. He always wanted something.
"I'm not really in the mood right now," she said and moved his hands from her shoulders. "Maybe later."
"Come on," he said. "Sweetheart. Don't make me beg."
She sighed and looked down into her cup almost wanting to throw it at him for some reason.
"I said no, okay?" she said quietly but then felt him kissing the side of her neck.
"I'll be quick," he said and reached for one of her breasts with his hand. "You feel so good-"
She zoned out for a moment, and realized she was once again thinking about the research she had done about Wayne Enterprises. The more that she thought about it the more she realized it was possible that Bruce Wayne could be the Batman. Damien pulled her to her feet and attempted to kiss her lips but she turned her head away.
"What's the matter?" he asked although she could tell he didn't really care. His hands held onto her back side and he kept kissing her neck.
She was never fond of sex. She was was never able to concentrate on anything other than the thoughts that would plague her mind. But now her mind was much quieter and she still didn't want him. Whenever she was intimate with anyone it was always initiated by the man she was with at the time and she always felt like she was just giving in because it was something that they wanted. She was entirely sure that she would have no problem with never having sex again. He licked the side of her neck as his erection pushed into her inner thigh and she pushed him back gently.
"I actually have an appointment in 45 minutes," she lied. "I have to take a quick shower."
"What?" he heaved a sigh of disappointment. "Reschedule."
"It's important.." she said making things up. "Uh..feminine appointment, you know."
"Fine," he said somewhat aggressively and moved away from her. "When will you be back?"
"I don't know," she said.
"Okay then," he said and went to take his jacket from the back of the chair he was sitting at. He could see she was just making excuses. "I guess I'll see you some other time."
"Yeah," she said and was a bit surprised yet relieved at how quickly he was leaving. She moved into his thoughts... he was going to go see another woman. One who he didn't like very much but she was always willing and available. Adriana had known about her for months, but it didn't bother her because she was away from him in the psychiatric hospital and was hoping the relationship between her and Damien would dissolve. But it didn't.
He kept coming back.
After he was gone, she showered and decided to visit Wayne Enterprises. She was actually unsure of what she would do once she got there other than scope the place out. She requested an Uber on her phone and placed on a bit of makeup before she left. She was wearing black jeans and leather knee high boots. The early fall weather wasn't cool enough for both a turtleneck and a jacket so she decided just to wear a black turtleneck sweater with a simple silver necklace with an aquamarine stone.
As she sat in the car for the 14 minute trip, she actually felt guilty for taking such a large amount of money for basically no work. She thought of the charities she had seen on the Wayne Enterprises website and actually felt greedy. There were less fortunate people. She would return the check.
Her mind was free now. She could survive and make a normal life for herself.
Wayne Tower was bustling. Men and women in suits holding cups of coffee or on their phones were everywhere and suddenly Adriana felt out of place. She walked over to the enormous reception desk where 4 different receptionists were working. She saw that one of them was free and walked up.
"Hi," Adriana said to the pretty blonde woman with dark brown eyes and very full well-shaped eyebrows. The woman looked at her and gave a very obviously fake smile.
"Can I help you?" she asked dryly.
"Yes, um," Adriana now felt silly. There was so much going on around her and she was feeling a bit ridiculous just outright asking to see Bruce Wayne. But she had to at least try, "I'm here to see Mr. Wayne."
The woman gave a small frown and looked at her computer screen. "He's not expecting anyone else today. All meetings concluded at 3. No appointments listed either."
"Oh, I don't have an appointment or anything, I just need to return something to him," Adriana explained.
"If you leave it here we can have that taken care of," the woman, Adriana now noticed her metallic badge said Rebecca, replied.
"Oh, uh.." Adriana realized the check said nothing about Bruce Wayne or Wayne Enterprises. It was written out by the police department. She didn't want to expose him in any way, even though she wasn't entirely sure he was the Batman. "It's quite personal."
"You'll need to contact one of his assistants to see if you are on the list for appointments," Rebecca went on, not listening still looking at her computer. "You can call ahead next time and be transferred to one of them."
"Rebecca," Adriana said and the woman looked at her. "It will only take a minute. I just need to talk to him for a minute."
Rebecca looked her up and down and gave a sympathetic smile and Adriana began to feel a bit of relief until she started talking again.
"Listen," Rebecca said with false sweetness. "Mr. Wayne is a busy man. Girls come in all the time, thinking whatever happened with him was something serious, but trust me he won't remember you."
"What?" Adriana asked. For the first time, being without her mind-reading abilities felt like a hinderance. She was confused.
"Mr. Wayne is busy," Rebecca said almost bitterly and looked back at her computer. Adriana almost couldn't believe she was speaking this way in earshot of other employees. "He doesn't remember your name, he doesn't want his boxers back if he left them at your place, so you don't need to come here to return them."
Adriana was a bit speechless and turned away from the desk. She felt foolish.
"Adriana Navarro," she heard and unfamiliar voice say.
"Yes?" she turned and saw Lucius Fox, she recognized him from the photos on the company website.
"Lucius Fox, CEO," he introduced himself.
Rebecca and all the other employees looked at them attentively. His presence commanded a lot of respect. Everyone moved more seriously and looked more intent on working when he was around.
"She was just leaving," Rebecca said assuming Adriana was bothering him.
"I certainly hope that's not the case. Mr. Wayne and I have been expecting her," Lucius said kindly.
"Oh," Rebecca said, somewhat stunned. "You know this woman."
"Yes," Lucius answered quickly. "Whenever she comes in, she is to be treated with the same esteem that you treat Mr. Wayne and myself."
The receptionists nodded, understanding. The look on Rebecca's face was one that would satisfy Adriana forever. She thought of trying to access the woman's thoughts, but she didn't even need to.
"Follow me," Lucius said to her.