"It doesn't add up."
"What's that Master Bruce?" Alfred asked as he wrapped gauze around his masters' bicep.
"Most of the Gallery tend to stick to their own turfs, but recently there have been sightings in a sector of the Narrow," Bruce pulled a map up on his screen, red lights dotting the overhead map of the Narrows. "and there are rumors."
"Rumors of what?"
"A new 'hangout'." Bruce grunting slightly as Alfred tightened the last knot on his arm. "Lots of different gangs intermingling. The only place that happens is the Iceberg."
"Maybe Mr. Cobblepot has expanded."
"Penguin prefers the finer luxuries. The Narrows is too run down for him." Bruce began marking the map with green dots, points of interest. "I'm going to make a few calls, set up lookouts. See if we can find a pattern."
"I wouldn't put too much stock into rumors, Master Wayne. After all, look at what people say about you." The butler picked up the polished silver tray littered with bloodied swabs and antiseptics.
"Every rumor has a grain of truth." Alfred hummed as he began up the stairs out of the cave.
"Don't forget you have a meeting in the morning."
"Hey Dollface!" Alexandera sighed, lodging the phone between the crook of her neck and her shoulder as she flipped the burger on the grill.
"What do you want Jay?" Joker chortled at the name, Alexandera had taken to calling him that when he called, in case anyone was eavesdropping.
"We aren't coming by for lunch today." That was odd. Joker and Harley usually dropped by during the restaurants midday break, when all the rest of the customers had left. Not that Alexandera was complaining.
"Good. I got a new recipe I wanna test." the chef could almost see the pout the clown had on his face.
"Aaaww shucks, you make it sound like you DON'T want us there." Alexandera didn't even give that a response. "I just...have a hunch." Alexandera was surprised by how serious he sounded. It was far more intimidating than any laugh he could spout out.
"Okay...well... stay safe?" Nevermind, the laugh was still scarier.
"HAHAHAhahaha...hehe, Doll, nothing is ever safe with me around." There was a click, and Alexandera powered off the phone, shoving it in her boot. It was a little prepaid, off the shelf cell phone. One the Rouges used to contact her from time to time. Alexandera knew that it was walking probable cause, so she kept it somewhere relatively unseen.
"Boss, we got three more Mac Burgers." Gary called through the little window that was recently installed. Two more hours before test time.
"Alright Boys," Alexandera couldn't remember when she started to consider her employees "her Boys", but that's what they were now. "The rest of the day is yours. I got something I'm gonna test, and I don't need you under foot." Marcus, Gary and Kyle chuckled, knowing she meant it hardheartedly.
"Can do." Marcus patted her shoulder as they walked out the front door. Kyle closed the blinds (a habit they had all picked up for 'lunch time') as she walked out, Gary giving a small wave.
"Try not to do anything illegal." That got the boys laughing. Alexandera locked the front door, and made her way into the walk in, grabbing various meats and veggies, before haphazardly dumping them on the prep counter to chop. Today, Chef will be attempting Gumbo. Prep work was so menial, Alexandera tended to zone off into her own thoughts.
Having the Rouges as customers had its perks. No one dared fuck with her, knowing her little diner was unofficial Joker turf, all the goons payed for their meals, business was booming. However, Alexandera had already had her life threatened twice, she's almost lost her restaurant through the working of the Penguin. She also had a Hatter giving her googly eyes at tea time. Though despite her best efforts... Movement from the corner of her eyes.
"Kyle, did you forget your wallet again?" There was no response. Alexandera turned her gaze setting eyes on someone she had hoped to never see.
The Batman was as imposing as imagination would permit. Taller then most men, and broad across, he looked like he could take on any feat of strength. And the grim expression didn't help ease the tension in Alexandera. He was downright intimidating. Alexandera was so caught up in her shock, she didn't notice how close the knife was to her knuckles til her knife knicked them.
"Shit!" her hand went to her mouth, sucking in blood and garlic clove.
"Miss Fox." A statement from the ebony statue in her kitchen, not a question as to who she was. Alexandera breezed past him to her medkit on the wall, opening it to grab antibacterial ointment.
"I thought bats only emerged at night?" Alexandera bit the edge of the ointment pouch as she walked past the Batman again, washing her hands of the blood in the sink.
"I'd like to ask you some questions." the Chef hissed as the soap burned her hand.
"Ask away."
"Have you noticed any suspicious activity in the area?" Alexandera gave the bat an incredulous look.
"Dude, its Gotham. Its the NARROWS! The little old grandma walking her dog could be a dope dealer."
"Have you noticed any suspicious Rouge activity in the area?"
"I know that a few months back Joker was supposed to be in the area, but I haven't seen anything." Alexandera squeezed some ointment on her hand, rubbing it in lightly.
"Can you explain why you have known Joker associates in you employment?"
"I didn't know they worked for him, they showed up when I had a help wanted sign in the window." Alexandera replied evenly.
"Did you know that your clientele is mainly comprised of known gang members?" The Chef scoffed, leveling a glare at the Caped Crusader.
"Look, Batman. I don't have 'clientele', I have customers. People walk in, order food, get their food, eat their food, pay for their food, and leave. I'm not their barber, I don't ask their business. They don't tell me their business. As far as I'm concerned, as long as they don't cause trouble here, I couldn't care less what they do out there." Alexandera gestured broadly towards where the street would be.
"There are rumors that you have connections to several Rouges."
"The only Rouge," sarcasm dripped heavily at the word, "that I've had to deal with is that old Bird Brain who thinks he can hustle me outta business. I ain't movin' town because he's pissy that I've been getting business."
The Batman kept his steady gaze on the blonde. Her face not showing any signs of deception that he could see. The chef scoffed before turning back to her cutting board, beginning to toss the bloodied garlic away.
"If you're gonna grill me, you better order some food. If not, you better leave unnoticed. I don't wanna lose business because you scared off my customers." A new knife was grabbed off a wall magnet. Onions being chopped harshly, in agitation.
"If you notice anything, give me a call."
"I don't exactly have a bat light on my roof."
"No, but you do have the beginnings of a leak."
"What?!" Alexandera's head whipped to the Batman, only to see he was gone. In his place was a tiny phone. The only button was a oval with a bat emblazed on it.
Alexandera picked it up, before settling it on her spice rack. Back to prep work, Alexandera mind wondered again.
Having the Rouges as customers had its perks. No one dared fuck with her, knowing her little diner was unofficial Joker turf, all the goons payed for their meals, business was booming. However, Alexandera had already had her life threatened twice, she's almost lost her restaurant through the working of the Penguin. She also had a Hatter giving her googly eyes at tea time.
Now she had a Bat looking over her shoulder, and a leak in her roof.
But despite her best efforts, she didn't consider the Rouges her 'Clientele', she didn't lie. She considered them to be acquaintances...Friends.
And you don't turn your back on friends, especially in Gotham.
Batman went over everything he had recorded. Heart levels spiked during entrance, and anger. Not deviations to show deception. No clues as to where the Gallery was, or why thugs were frequenting the little diner. In other words, the Chef seemed innocent.
"I told you, Master Wayne. Don't put too much stock in rumors."
"You're right Alfred, but my gut is telling me something."
"Then perhaps, a different approach?"
.
.
.
So Bats finally showed up. What do you think?
Also who do you think showed be a romance option? I'm leaning towards Tetch, but I'm open to suggestions.