Chapter 3

"Hello, Neighbor. Welcome to Lazy Royal Apart…" Barbara stopped dead when seeing who her neighbor was.

"Hello, to you as well, Barbara." said CJ, looking at her with interest.

The two were both starting to feel that undescribed feeling once again. Along with having a memory of the last time that they have last spoken to one another in private. Ironically it so happened to be the same apartment that they are currently standing in.

*CJ and Barbara's Flashback*

Barabara, who is currently laying on the couch with her shoes off, watched her best friend set down his second luggage in the living room with sadness. Both being 14 years old and about to enter freshman year of highschool after the summer ends. That is what Barbara has thought and believed that this is going to happen. Instead it was the complete opposite. Why?. Simple. CJ had applied and successfully met the desired requirements to enroll in a military high school that is located in New Orleans, Louisiana.

It crushed Barbara so deeply when hearing this news from the mouth of her own best friend when her father had taken them to a reserved booth at Red Lobster to celebrate their middle school graduation that day. CJ told her and her father plainly that there is nothing out there or anything left staying in Gotham City. That made Barbara emotionally hurt.

"Alright." CJ looked at his luggage. "That should be everything that I need for four years."

He looked at Barbara and spoke as if nothing seemed wrong. "Wanna order pizza and watch Space Jam?. I have a few more hours left to burn before I get on the plane."

Barbara had that glumnes facial expression along with having her arms crossed. "I do not want you to go. You do not belong in Louisiana. You belong here in Gotham with me."

CJ sighed with a bit of frustration. Rubbed his freshly cut hair. "Look Barbara how many times do I have to tell you?. There is nothing out here in Gotham for me anymore. Times changed. I changed. It's time to accept and embrace the change. Nothing stays the same forever."

Barbara got right up off the couch and spoke with her hurt feelings guiding her. "Our friendship should stay the same, CJ!. You and I are supposed to be a team. A duo. We are supposed to be down with one another all the way through thick and thin. But now you act like our friendship's value has gone dull and shineless."

"I did not say that, BG. You know it. Look, I'm pretty sure you can find and make a few companions during your time at Gotham City High School. You have an undoubtedly likable personality." said CJ, making his way to the kitchen to grab himself an apple from the fruit bowl.

Barbara followed CJ. Still arguing her case. "CJ you know it is not going to happen. You know full well that not a single person would dare talk to me or have anything to do with me, since I am the daughter of a cop. You know the child of a police officer stereotype. For crying out loud CJ, no one even dares to sit with me at the lunch table. You know that!."

CJ took a few bites of his green apple before responding. "That sounds like a personal problem."

"No, the personal problem is you." Barbara put her hands on her hips. "You are the person that I trust and know that you always have my back. We keep each other's safe."

"I'm sorry Barbara, but I want to leave Gotham." CJ threw the half eaten apple to Barbara. Then making his way back to the living room. "I need to see something new in a brand new environment."

"They say moving to a new environment will change the inner you and possibly remove your inner you, and become an empty shell of who you once were. It is a proven fact." said Barbara, before taking a bite of her shared apple before sitting back down on the couch.

CJ sat down on the couch with Barbara. Having that unamused facial expression. "And who told you that shit?. A pothead hippie?. If so then you are taking advice from someone who doesn't want to get a damn job or refusing to get their environmental loving ass off the weed. I'm going to Louisiana whether you are happy for me or not."

Barbara starts to feel that she is losing the battle of keeping CJ here. Feeling that she needed to point out key facts to make him realize that is making a huge mistake. "You are throwing away your inheritance money that your parents have left you."

"Nice try, BG. You need to convince me a little bit harder. Because my inheritance money is my choice and my choice alone on how I want to spend it." said CJ, getting up from the couch to go get his plane ticket off the dresser from his room.

Barbara thought really hard until she found the perfect excuse. She waited until CJ returned from his room with the plane ticket in hand. "If you leave, then I will tell my Dad you shamelessly and heartlessly murdered that homeless man that chased us back in elementary and get you sent away to juvenile correction facility. Better yet, maybe have a one way ticket to Arkham Asylum. That is if I tell Dad you plead insanity."

CJ was in shock and panic when hearing this. That is until he remembered the downside of Barbara's blackmail.

"You do realize that if you do then your Dad and the cops are going to ask why you waited all this time to say anything. The courts are going to send you to Arkham as well. Believing that you have a mental illness of two different personalities."

"Damnit." Barbara spoke in defeat. "I hate it when you come up with a quick encounter."

CJ shrugged. "It is what it is, BG. Look, I'm going and that is final. Be happy for me."

"It is not easy." Barbara sighs in defeat before walking the other way. "I will be in the bathroom."

"Make sure you spray and put the fan on." CJ called back when sitting back on the couch and went to flip a few channels."

"I'm just going to pee. Not taking a shit." Barbara called back. "The nerve of some people."

As Barbara entered the bathroom and sat down on it and went to peeing, she took the time to look around while letting her mind wander. Everything went to a stop when she looked down in front of her and saw a piece of thin written paper. Of course anyone would just simply ignore it or just pick it and throw it in the garbage. That is until you read up on what it was written out to. Barbara got up from the toilet seat and picked up the paper to read what it said. Her eyes grew wide.

CJ was in the kitchen making sandwiches for himself and Barbara, since he needs to get rid of the cold cuts before leaving his former apartment. Just then a tipped off Barbara came in and slammed that paper she found on the countertop. CJ paused while having the butterknife in the jar of mayonnaise.

"You did it. Didn't you?." Barbara frowned at CJ. "Don't lie or play me as a fool because the address to where the desired package of explosives was being delivered to is on here."

CJ had that look on his face. That look of no regret and plain. "I was wondering where I dropped that slip."

"CJ…you were the one that sent that package of undetected explosives to Blackgate prison to the guy that murdered your parents." said Barbara.

CJ resumed making the sandwiches. "I did. It was really simple. I invested some of my inheritance in buying that exploded upon opening the package product. Then go to the post office and have it specially delivered. I did my homework on when the inmates in Blackgate will go to their cells for night sleep. I know that getting my package to the man that murdered my parents at that time is impossible. And so I have to pay the top guard to have it delivered to him personally. He told me exactly what I instructed him to do. Give him the package as soon as his cell door is closed and programmed to lock. He informed me that he sat down and opened the package and got himself blown up and his cell on fire. He was pitch black bone burnt."

Barbara looked at CJ in utter horror. Hearing the monstrous truth of crime that her best friend has shamelessly committed. She watched him pour out what was left in the bag of photochips on each plate.

"I can not believe that you have become the same people that my Dad throws in jail. You're a killer." said Barbara, having sadness in her voice and facial expression.

"No, I am not a killer. You are only a killer if you kill an innocent. A wise person said this." CJ looked at Barbara after fixing their sandwiches. "And I quote. 'Can One Murderer Be Avenged By Another?'."

"Perhaps only the future will tell." Barbara spoke before changing her face with a frown. "Dude, you are quoting the lines from Battle for The Planet of the Apes!. You think I do not know my cinema?. CJ this is wrong and you are going against the justice system!."

"The justice system isn't really doing any justice anyway. If you want something done then you have to do it right. Here." CJ handed Barbara her plate of sandwiches and chips. "I cut off the crust off your sandwiches. Just how you like it, BG."

In response, Barbara knocked the plate out of CJ's hand to show how angry she is at him. CJ had that blank facial expression and looked at Barbara. Barbara holds back her tears that dared to run down her face. Especially when she is getting ready to speak her piece of mind.

"I can no longer take this shit with you." Barbara frowned hard. "Your ass is not a damn judge, jury, nor an executioner. I'm tired of being your wanna be crime assistant coverup cleaner. You need to stop?."

"Why stop?. Crime does not stop." CJ stood up with his arms crossed. "Barbara, I realized that the justice system and the laws of the police do not benefit the people. The civilians. Us. Sickcos, crooks, gangs to name a few know what they are doing and know that they are doing wrong. But they do not care nonwhatsoever. They know that they can continue doing the same ass process without any fear of getting real punishments. What I am doing is giving free service to the public and just. As a best friend, I would have thought that you would be on my side."

"On your side?. Your side!?. Why would I side with someone who kills crime committers and not let the system do its thing?. Huh?. Huh!?." yelled Barbara.

"You are weak. You know that?!." CJ lets his anger come into play. "So weak to the point you are naive to think and believe that the system truly does its job."

"You're an asshole!." yelled Barbara.

"You're a bitch!." CJ yelled back in anger. "You know what?. I think this is no longer working."

"We finally agree on the same page." Barbara moved away from the kitchen. She stopped to turn to face him with tears finally running down. "I never want to see your face ever again!. Never!."

"Well, fine then!. I do not need your ass anyway!. You need me!. Have fun having no friends, Daddy's Little Girl. Bounch, bitch!." said CJ.

Barbara bolted out of the whole home while slamming the door shut. CJ blew out air through his mouth before flipping his plate of sandwiches and chips over in anger. Barbara ran over to the elevator and got inside after someone left the inside. Barbara had her back up against the back wall. As soon as the elevator's doors were closed and the box started to move, Barbara started crying as she slid down to the floor. Tears running hard along with her snots running and dripping.

She took the moment to rub one of her tired achy feet. Barbara ran out of CJ's former home and left her prescription custom orthotic shoes, since she has severe flat feet. A genetic inheritance on her father's side of the family that is called the Gordan Family genetic curse. Even though her flat feet pain in the arch area is hurting, it does not compare to the emotional broken friendship that Barbara has shattered.

*End of Flashback*

"I…uh…I…baked you a nice helping of warm soft cookies." said Barbara, making the attempt to talk.

"You don't say?." CJ looked at the box in her hands. "Well, I hate to have your hard work go to waste. Thank you.".

CJ took the box off of Barbara's hands. The two began to look at each other. Barbara rubbed her arm while looking at the ceiling for a brief second before looking around. CJ tapped the box with his index finger.

"Aren't you going to…I don't know…invite me in?." Barbara waited for a response.

"Oh, right. Please come in." CJ moved out of the doorway.

Barbara happily got inside CJ's place and was in utter surprise. The inside is a whole lot bigger and way nicer than hers or anyone else's home. The floors and ceiling were black wooden. The walls were painted dark gray. Barbara looked around when walking all the way in with a mouth drop when seeing a 150inch flatscreen tv that is bolted to the wall with an entertainment desk with soundbar and an Xbox One X.

"Damn!. How can you afford this home?." Barbara looked at CJ, who sat the box down on the countertop. "My place doesn't have this."

"I do not know if I should tell my personal business to people I have not talked to in years." said CJ, opening the box and taking a cookie out.

Barbara catches the hint that CJ is trying to say. "I am not some typical golddigger. I just asked."

CJ took a seat in one of his cushion backside bar stools. He looked at Barbara with a sigh. "The Lazy Royal Apartment is owned by me. It is one of the things that my parents had left me in my inheritance."

"Really?. Damn, my ass had no idea your folks own this apartment." said Barbara, walking over to grab a cookie.

"Mmmm, this is good." CJ took another bite of his cookie. "Had no idea you could burn."

Barbara took another bite of her cookie. "You will be surprised. Got any milk?."

"It is in the fridge. Here let me…" CJ was stopped when Barbara went over to the fridge.

"I can self-serve myself. I am not lazy." said Barbara.

CJ looked at Barbara with an interested smile. "Making yourself at home I see. That is very bold of you."

"A certain somebody once told me that I need to be bold in order to make it in the real world." said Barbara pulling out the jug of milk. "Ewww, almond milk. Why not regular milk?. Why not chocolate or strawberry milk?."

"Becauae regular milk does not have more calcium than almond milk. Plus, almond milk lasts longer than dairy and is more healthy. That, and I love me some Almond Breeze vanilla flavored milk." said CJ, while getting two clear plastic cups.

"You are gross, CJ. Almond milk is nasty." Barbara sat the jug down.

Pouring each other's cups before dipping their cookies and eating them. Usually, CJ would try and hurry up the conversation and get them out of his place. Somehow Barbara is staying longer than anyone, more than two minutes.

"Oh, wow." CJ grinned.

"What?." Barbara looked at the man while soaking her cookie.

"Your braces. You no longer have them on your teeth." said CJ, with a chuckle.

Barbara chuckled. "You finally notice?. I had them removed the year after you left Gotham."

"Crazy. Are you still flat footed?." CJ took a few sips of his milk.

"Is it not obvious?. I can't have corrective surgery since my feet are too complicated to mess with. Another unfortunate fact of the Gordan Family genetic curse." Barbara drank a bit of her milk before putting her cup down. "CJ, I am sorry for how I acted back at GCPD."

"That is alright. It is common. Especially how you soured our friendship." said CJ, grabbing another cookie from the box.

Barbara nodded. "Yeah, and…wait…" She looked at him as if he cussed her out. "Did you just say I soured our friendship?."

"I did not stutter." CJ dipped his cookie. "Instead of agreeing and valuing my version of justice values, we would have stayed in touch."

Barbara started to feel upset but managed to hold it in. "That is ancient history, CJ. Look, my Dad wants me to partner up with you in the evidence locker room department. It is not my idea, it is my father's idea, before you go pointing your finger at me."

"He took the next step ahead of me. Well played old man. Well played." CJ told himself before looking back at Barbara. "Very well, I do not have a choice. Now, can you be so kind as to leave?. I want to sleep. I did not get a good comfortable sleep on the train on my way over here. We can catch up more at work. Cool?."

Barbara nodded. "Cool, I had to do some night work in my home anyway. Gotta keep GCPD's computer systems running smoothly and solve a few troubleshoots. So do not bother me throughout the entire day. Cool?. See you at GCPD. Try not to eat my cookies all at once."

"Note it." said CJ, guiding Barbara out of his home.

As soon as Barbara went back into her home and locked her door, she used that excuse to not let CJ ring her doorbell in case he needed something. When she said nightwork, she did not mean IT Support. She is talking about vigilante night work. With that in mind, Barbara went over to her bookshelf that is located in her workroom. She stared in front of it.

"Bacon and Grits." Barbara spoke.

'Password access and Voice recognition granted.' said the Batcomputer.

With that said the book shelf opened itself up. Showing an open sphere pod fit for one person. When the apartment was due for home renovations, the superintendent had called up the contracted service of one of the all purpose construction teams of Wayne Enterprise. Meaning that Bruce, Lucious, and a few trusted people had constructed a two way travel tunnel to Barbara's living place to the ClockTower where her Bat suit and gears were located.

Getting inside the pod and watching the door close itself down, Barbara relaxed when taking a medium speed ride through the manmade cave tunnel. Barbara can not get her mind off of CJ or stop that good warmy feeling in her chest.

"I never had any guy on my mind and feeling deeply at all. Dick or Tim can make me be like this." Barbara talks to herself while rubbing her leg. "Mmm, it must be the feeling of wanting to be friends with CJ. Yeah, that is it. Right?."

The pod stopped at its destination as it broke Barbara's confused emotions. The pod's door opened up as Barbara exited out and walked towards the short steps. When reaching the door she placed her hand on the pad for scanning. The security to her secret hero chambers is tight. Once the pad went green the door unlocked and opened. Entering through the clock furniture, Barbara entered the inside of the clocktower as soon as the closed itself back. The inside of the clocktower is like Barbara's second home.

The Clocktower is close to GCPD. Jim thought it would be a good place for Barbara to be here in case she has to do some overtime for the police department. That, and Jim, like any typical overprotective father that he is, did not want her to drive back to her apartment at night. That is when the crime rate jumps. After getting her face scan from the bust that is on the last shelf, the whole entire room began to morph into her personal Batcave.

(A/N): If any of you had played Arkham Knight or watched the walkthrough on Youtube, then you know what I am talking about.

Barbara approached the digital keypad that opened to her batsuit and punched in the letters. When doing so the section opened up and showed her beloved Batgirl outwit.

"Hello, gorgeous." Barbara approached her suit.

Removing her glasses and putting in her clear contact lenses, Barbara went to undress herself and leave her bra and panties on. Then she put on her Batgirl suit. Feeling like a new woman every time she puts it on and being a crime fighter. Something that her father would never let her do. Collecting her gears and stuff she then closed the suits pod and then pulled out her claw to pull herself up through the air event that would lead her to the roof.

"A little ass kicking would calm my nerves and anger." said Barbara, before running off the rooftop and then gliding through the air in search of crime.

Since Bruce left Gotham due to doing some out of town work. But really he is just putting his time in for the Justice League as Batman. No telling when Bruce will return to Gotham City after he is done handling business with his Justice League buddies at the watchtower that is currently orbiting earth, Barbara and Tim would have to be pulling a fulltime work. Barbara glided down on a nearby roof and looked down to see a group of baseball bat armored thugs standing around talking amongst themselves, with one of them trying to break into the back of the bank truck with the bank driver on the ground unconscious.

"I found my hunt." Barbara jumped down and zoomed down and crashed into the guy from behind and threw him to the other side. Alerting the group.

"Ah, shit, it's Batman's little sister!." said a thug.

Barbara intercepted a thug behind her who was going to hit her with his bat. Once hitting the man in the face and swinging his bat to his gut, she then backflipped over and kicked a few that were close. Putting in a few punches before knocking out a thug, she threw down a smoke pellet to have a better advantage.

"Shit, I can't see!." cried a thug.

"That is the plan, dumbass." Barbara told him before dropped kicking him.

One of those idiots charged at her but she quickly stopped him with her cap and put him in a dizzy daze. In response she threw in multiple punches like no tomorrow and knocked him out cold. She kicked every single thug ass and even had to footrace a runaway with ease with the help of her grappling hook gadget. Grabbing him by the ankle and then pulling him hard towards him, Barbara jumped up on him and kicked him unconscious with her foot. When done she checked her arm tech to see if it is in working order.

"For the record my name is Batgirl. Not Batman's little sister, smartass." said Barbara, before picking him up and putting him on her shoulder.

After putting all the unconscious thugs together and tagging one of them so the police can no where they are, while alerting the paramedics to come aid the bank truck driver, a certain butler called her up.

"Good evening, Ms. Gordon. How was your day?."

Barbara smiled at hearing that man before putting her hand on the right side where her communication device in her crawl is located.

"Good evening to you as well, Alfred. My day was good. You?."

"It was fair. How is your day at GCPD?." asked Alfred.

Barbara grappled out of sight and glided while still talking. "The usual. We have a new cop that is transferred here. He is my old childhood best friend. Shit, he is my only true friend. It is a long story and I really do not want to talk about it."

"Understood, Ms. Gordon. By the way, Master Bruce has wanted me to inform you that he wants you to follow a lead to Penguin's recent weapons snuggling. His recent lead is at the docks." informed Alfred.

"The docks you say?. I am all over it." Barbara stayed gliding.

"He also wants you to track down to one of the weapons houses and go from there. Tim is on standby." said Alfred.

"Over and out, Alfred. I will keep you and Tim posted." said Barbara.

Little did Barbara know, due to not paying no attention to what was going on in the skies, a flash of shiny light covered the skies of Gotham City. It was temporary and short as it vanished. Somewhere inside an air vent tunnel located in a secret hidden building of a cocaine cartel operation, a figure appeared by the same light in the skies from thin air. The figure that is inside the airvent tunnel is a medium sized puddle of multicolored goo. The multicolored goo was motionless for a short few seconds until it started to move on its own.

(A/N): And here we go. Hope you all enjoy this chapter. Till next time. Yowie Wowie!.