Throughout the week I stayed in Bruce's penthouse since my apartment building was condemned. Hazard of living in Metropolis, any kind of insurance was super expensive and required. Clark was nice enough to help me pick up boxes of my stuff that were salvaged from the wreckage. Another pro of being friends with a superhero, moving heavy things was no biggie for them. Clark dropped the final box on the ground and looked around the penthouse.
"Why weren't you just staying here the whole time," Clark asked.
"Because Clark, secret identities and all," I said rolling my eyes.
"Yes but you're staying here now," he replied giving me a strange look.
"That can now be explained. One, it is temporary. Two, Bruce Wayne is a philanthropist and he heard his ward's old tutor needed a place to crash for a little while so he was happy to accommodate her," I replied smiling.
"All the lying gets exhausting," he replied running a hand through his hair.
"Yes, but it's necessary," I said sighing.
"I suppose so," he said trailing off.
"You've cut back on the lying. I can tell," I said with a bit of a smile.
"I don't know what you mean," he replied knowing exactly what I meant. I decided to not press him on his relationship with Lois. It was none of my business really.
"What are you going to do when I'm back in Gotham? You aren't going to have anyone to ask you questions that you don't want to answer," I asked jokingly.
"I'm sure I will be fine with that aspect of it, but I will miss having you around. It's nice to have someone at work who knows about my other life," Clark replied. That was actually a really nice thing to say. I blushed a little.
"Don't worry, I'll at least visit Smallville. You can't keep me away from your mom's cooking," I said giving a small smile.
"I'm glad you've become close with my parents," he replied sincerely, "too bad I can't get to know your father more. I only really met him the one time and I was pretending to be Batman then." I remembered Tim telling me about the whole incident once Dick and I got back from searching for Bruce overseas. We thought it was possible that Ra's al Ghul had something to do with Bruce's disappearance. It never crossed our minds that Bruce was still in Gotham and being controlled by Brainiac.
"I know, he'd probably get a kick out of you," I replied. My phone rang then and I saw that Bruce was calling. I was hesitant to pick it up because Clark was there but I really did want to hear Bruce's voice. We had not been able to talk a lot since our time in the penthouse. I knew we were in the early stages of a relationship where we couldn't get enough of each other because the intimacy was new and felt almost like a drug. Eventually, the newness would wear off, but for now, our drive to be around each other was pretty strong.
"Do you need to get that," Clark asked.
"It's just Bruce. It'll be just a sec," I replied back answering my phone.
"Hello," I replied as normally as possible. Chill out Barbara, Clark is not going to catch on if you just play it cool.
"You have company, don't you," he replied.
"That is creepy but yes I do. Say hi to your friendly neighborhood Superman," I said caught a bit off guard.
Silence was on the other end of the line. Typical Bruce. Sometimes I swear the two of them act more like brothers than friends.
"Bruce says hi," I said telling Clark.
"He doesn't but that is kind of you to cover for him," he replied. Ya Barbara, you can't fool a man with super hearing.
"What can I help you with," I said to Bruce with hopes of changing the subject.
"Alfred will be there at noon tomorrow with the keys," he replied.
"Oh good I can't wait to see him," I replied feeling a little disappointed. I was hoping to see Bruce but I knew that wouldn't be keeping the low profile that we needed to maintain.
"Let Alfred know what accommodations you will need for the move. He will be happy to assist you with it," he replied and then hung up in typical Batman fashion. No goodbyes or pleasantries, just business. He knew Clark was there. He had to maintain appearances.
"Bruce told me about your new setup in Gotham," Clark said after realizing Bruce just hung up.
"I'm pretty good at this information broker business. I'd like to support the League and other heroes as much as I can," I said. I could tell that maybe Clark wasn't crazy about it.
"Why are you not an official member of the League again," he asked.
"I don't want to be. I'd rather be on the outside looking in. Besides, Batman is supposed to be part-time. The League is supposed to get along without us," I replied.
"If you ever wanted to join you'd have my vote," Clark replied. I smiled at that. It was never going to happen, but it was nice to hear that Superman wanted me to be a part of the Justice League.
Not even back in Gotham for one night and Batman and I were scouring the sewer tunnels looking for the newest criminal to Gotham. He called himself Ratcatcher. Of course with my luck, I come back to patrolling Gotham this week. We were about 20 feet below 49th street in one of Gotham's oldest sewer tunnels. Batman was in front of me with his pen light searching for anything out of place. I'm glad he was concentrating because all I could think about was how the horrible stench of the sewers was making me nauseous despite us both wearing small filters in our nostrils. One of the perks of being a partner with a billionaire is that you get to try out and use all the new tech and equipment you can get your hand on.
As we continued our way down the sewer I started to feel anxious. When I first started out as Batgirl I hated having that feeling. It made me feel weak. That didn't change until I was honest about it with Bruce. When Bruce started training me, I learned to appreciate feelings of anxiety. Bruce taught me that anxious feelings were fear and that when fear came naturally, it was a gift. It was a signal from my unconscious self to my conscious self. The signal said there was something wrong and something dangerous up ahead even though it has not fully made its presence known. Unfortunately of late, I have not been able to trust my fear due to the fear toxin that still poisoned my body. That is why I am glad I had Batman with me. I could at least trust his fear.
A few moments later Batman stopped up short at one point and held a hand behind him to catch me and motion for me to no longer move forward. He flicked off the penlight a stood still, I could tell he was trying to listen to something. I didn't speak. I knew better than to break his concentration. Then I noticed it too. Why had all the rats gone quiet? We had been hearing their incessant squeaking all night and all of a sudden nothing. He looked back toward me to see if I was thinking what he was thinking. I nodded. Sometimes it felt like we were telepathically linked even though Martin Manhunter was nowhere to be found at the moment. Batman went into his utility belt and grabbed the sonic device he had been working on earlier that day. He held it up but didn't turn it on yet. Instead, we continued forward and he was ready to use it when the time came.
Then I heard it, a whistle, the type dog trainers use. Batman told me that Flannegan used it to control the rats. Our perp was nearby. Batman's finger hovered over the trigger of the sonic device. He had to choose the right moment to use it. Then from above us, from a narrow ledge that we both failed to see in the darkness of the sewers, the rats attacked. They launched themselves at us like tiny fury missiles with their glowing red eyes.
"Damn it," he cursed. One landed on Batman's hand and caused him to drop the sonic device into the sewer water.
"You're joking," I said in disbelief that he dropped it. He just grunted back irritated. I knew it wouldn't be easy to find the device in the murky water and with rats on top of it.
I pushed rats off of my shoulder and stomped at them to get them to keep away. I wanted to scream but I knew panicking would do me no good. I had to remain calm and focused. The volume of rats was soon going to be too much unless we did something else. Batman then turned the penlight clicked the penlight back on and shined it down the tunnel at the peril we faced. Thousands of rats were on their way ready to gnaw on us and consume us at the will of the Ratcatcher. It was a living river of rats and they all had murderous intent. Directing them was Otis Flannegan. He was wearing an oxygen mask with a hose that went to an oxygen canister on his belt.
"You fight them off. I'll search for the device," I yelled knowing we had to do something quickly. I used my own penlight to survey the ground, desperately searching for the only thing that might save us at this point.
"Feast on their flesh boys," the Ratcatcher cackled. We only had fifteen seconds at most to spare. Then I saw the sonic device a few feet away from me. I dove for it before it was out of my sight again or carried off by rats. The rats were not expecting that move and the majority of them got out of the way as I dove for the device. I, unfortunately, did feel some of them get crushed from the force of my body landing on the ground. Once the device was in my hand my finger touched the button I pressed it hard. The rats stopped in their tracks and screeched in agony. Before we knew it, the living river of rats that were trying to drown us fled. They ignored the Ratcatcher's pleas to come back as they ran from the device that was causing their little nervous systems to rattle in pain.
"It's over Flannegan," Batman said throwing a batarang at Ratcatcher before he could shoot his gun at us. The gun went flying and Otis Flannegan screamed in pain.
Batman then darted toward him and punched Flannegan across the face. I saw that the eye plates on Flannegan's mask were broken when Batman turned him around and cuffed him. Flannegan was definitely seeing stars after that punch. When we finally dragged Flannegan out of the sewer, Bullock and Montoya were there ready to put him in the back of a squad car and back to Arkham.
"That was a bit of a rough collar," Montoya said looking at the muck all over me, "I haven't seen you in a while. Where have you been hiding?"
"I've been around, just working more under the radar," I replied. I quickly shot off a grapple and escaped to a roof nearby. Montoya was someone I had to be careful with, she could easily put two and two together and figure out I'm Batgirl. I don't think she would ever say anything; but nonetheless, I still don't want her to be privy to that information.
When we got back to the cave Alfred was there with fresh robes and plastic bags. The robe was for us to change into and the bag was for us to put our costumes into. He knew we would be disgusting and would need to shower the stench of sewers and rats off.
"Mistress Barbara, I'm sorry you have received such a poor homecoming," Alfred said handing me the robe.
"I think we might need to burn this costume, I don't know how I will ever get this smell out," I replied.
"Leave that to me, you have done Gotham a great service tonight. I can at least help you with the laundry," he replied with a smile.
"I think I missed you the most," I replied, "I'd hug you but-" I stopped and gestured to the mess I was.
"You are always thoughtful Mistress Barbara," he nodded looking at me.
Alfred set up a room for just me. It was like staying at a hotel. Fresh linens and toiletries, and he even had fresh clothes in my size in the closet and dresser drawers. I suppose I was for sure staying the night since I had nothing unpacked yet in my loft. Bruce and I never let on around the others that something was going on between us. We acted as if my tenure in Metropolis never happened and we just picked up right where we left off. Bruce was almost too convincing because I began to wonder if he was still feeling the same way about me. That feeling subsided when I heard a knock on my bedroom door later that night.
I went to the door and opened it a crack. It was Bruce. He was freshly showered and in clean clothes. He was wearing a navy blue robe and pajama pants.
"Hi," was all I could muster out. I didn't know what else to say—this evening had been a bit weird.
"Are you-," he hesitated for a moment. Then I realized it. He was just as unsure about everything as I was.
"Just get in here," I replied pulling him by the arm inside my room. I quickly closed the door behind him. Before I knew it he had me pulled into his embrace and was kissing me. A wave of warmth washed over me. Good, I wasn't imagining things.
"I've been thinking about kissing you all day," he said breaking away for a moment.
"Hmm really. Even when thousands of rats were about to gnaw us to death," I replied giving him a strange look.
"Maybe not at that moment," he said looking to the side sheepishly.
"You played it so cool today that I almost thought I imagined what happened back in Metropolis," I spoke honestly. He could tell that I was serious now.
"I had to," he said moving a strand of hair from my face, "I needed to stay in the pocket."
"In the pocket," I asked not sure what that meant exactly.
"It's where I have to be mentally when I'm out there," he replied slightly embarrassed that he indulged me with the inner workings of his mind.
"I'd rather you be 'in the pocket' than concerned about my feelings out there," I said sincerely.
He was quiet. I could tell for a moment he wasn't sure what to say. "Your feelings do matter to me," he said with a concerned face.
"I know," I said taking his robe off and letting it drop to the floor.
He kissed me after that and I stood on my tip toes so I could reach him better. He backed up till he hit the bed. I pushed him and he purposely fell backward onto the bed taking me with him. We were sure to be quiet as possible. There were a few times when we had to cover each other's mouths and remind the other to be quiet. We had not been together since that time we spent in the penthouse. Some of our wounds were still healing from that day. Bruce's shoulder in particular still looked a bit discolored from all the bruising. I felt a little bit of guilt over it. He took the brunt of that fall and protected me from getting hurt badly that day. He noticed that I was staring intently at it.
"Stop, I've had worse," he said turning my chin towards him. He then kissed me to try and distract me from it. My heart fluttered and I kissed him more deeply than I had earlier. After a couple of successful rounds of reaching our peaks almost simultaneously, we both settled down in the bed with him holding me close to his core. I fit perfectly in his embrace.
"I'll stay with you till you fall asleep," he whispered in my ear and then kissed me from my neck to my shoulder. A small moan escaped my lips in acknowledgment. Before I knew it my eyelids grew heavy and I drifted off. I woke up the next morning to him gone but with a note on the bedside table next to me. It simply read "Good Morning" and it was in Bruce's handwriting.
Later I walked downstairs to see Tim and Bruce at the breakfast table. Tim was shoveling food quickly into his mouth and Bruce was reading the Gotham Gazette.
"Look who decided to finally wake up," Tim chimed, "Metropolis made you soft."
"You ready for your history test today," I spat back. I knew how to shut down that smart-mouth kid. Studying for the test was one of the reasons why Tim was not allowed to go on patrol last night.
"Whatever, I'm glad I couldn't go last night. The whole thing sounded disgusting," Tim countered while dropping his fork on the plate and signaling he was now done eating just thinking about it.
Bruce put his newspaper down for a second to give Tim a pointed look, "You will be staying in more nights if you don't get your grades up."
Tim glared at me for a second. "Hey kid I had no idea, or else I would have not brought it up," I said putting my hands up.
"Ya well I guess I better get going then I don't want to be late," Tim said getting up and straightening out the tie of his school uniform. He looked so cute in it. I couldn't help but smile.
"What are you smiling at," Tim said noticing.
"Nothing. I just realized how much I missed our quality time together," I said.
"You mean you watching as Bruce nags me about something," he asked. Bruce shot him a glare.
"Some things just don't change," I replied taking a sip of coffee.
When Tim and Alfred left, I turned my attention to Bruce. I let my foot go up his leg to signal that we were alone.
"Good morning to you too," I said alluding that I received his note.
"How did you sleep," he asked putting his newspaper down.
"Amazingly," I said smiling. I really did sleep great. It was probably the best sleep I had had in months.
"Good," he said picking up the newspaper again. He seemed to derive pleasure from knowing he probably had a hand in my quality of sleep.
"How'd you sleep," I inquired hoping for the same answer.
"Not too bad," he replied with a smirk. I took a bite out of my toast and playfully glared at him.
"I'm going to get busy unpacking today," I replied, "I should be at the loft around the time that you usually leave for the office."
"Good to know. Maybe I should stop by and see how things are coming along."
"You should. This guy I know hooked me up with an amazing place. It's in Gotham's old clock tower. My loft is on the top floor," I said coyly.
"Oh really. I wonder what you did for him to get you that place," he said lifting his eyebrows. Did he just make a joke about me being promiscuous with him? And it was actually kind of funny? I lightly kicked his shin under the table.
"You jerk," I said laughing, "see I knew you had a sense of humor. You just stifle it on purpose."
"Or maybe you just bring it out of me," he said placing a hand on mine. The warmth of his hand gave me a slight chill up my spine. I glanced at his hand and then at him. He felt it too.
"How long do we got till Alfred is back," I asked running my foot up his leg.
"A half hour tops," he replied getting up and knowing exactly why I was asking and the urgency of it. I got up too but before I could get too far he swooped me up in his arms. I was startled a little at first and then started laughing but my giggle was soon muffled by his kiss. We were definitely addicted to each other right now. I would later wonder when that would subside.