"Ugh..."

Staring up the flight of stairs she was going to have to walk up, Velma groaned at the prospect of having to go up the few floors to reach where she was staying. It had been a long day, and while Bruce had been nice enough to drop her off, she still had to scale up the high trail of steps to finally get there.

And while she bet if she asked, Bruce would jump to carry her up to the bedroom... She was not ready for that; physically, mentally or emotionally. Plus what if someone would see them? No, it was just a one on one battle with gravity, to reach the comfort of the place she was calling home. A battle she would have to face alone.

Step by step, it felt like it lasted forever. But eventually she managed to reach the Blake residence. And thankfully she had enough food earlier, and left overs that she was given. That Velma wasn't hungry or worrying about what would be for a later meal. So, it was just a short stop to drop off the food into the fridge, before she crawled to Daphne's bedroom for the night. Collapsing on the fluffy bed, face first.

"Mrrrmmmmm..."

Grumbling into the material, she pushed up reluctantly before the comfort of the blanket swept her up and kept her there. Moving to get dressed into something more relaxed, letting her be able to unwind and unpack what had happened. Aiming for some nearby pajama's, she struggled to get dressed for the night. Ignoring that she had worn it the yesterday. She was too drained to want to dig for something new out of the wash. Plus it was only one day old, she had done worse at home between mysteries and caught up in a project.

Checking her cell phone, she made sure to plug it in and start it for charging before she collapsed on the bed again. Letting herself sink into the duvet and the pillows under her head. Pulling off her glasses and placing them safety nearby on the side table, she gave up seeing the world in clarity to allow her mind to focus on other thoughts.

Bringing up a blurry form of her hand, she recalled what had happened after their first 'experiment'. Her face rushing to blush as she recalled his answers to her questions. But soon after the lab had called them down, and they were unable to continue their conversation much after that. But they at least was able to put out a few fires... Figuratively and one literally. Surprise at the reaction that had occurred, which needed some tweaking to the product testing. And before they knew it, it was night and time to head home.

Staring up at the out of focus ceiling, Velma sighed. "What a week it's been... And it's not ever a full one yet."

Usually she loved solving a mystery. But every so often, the truth comes with more then she was prepared to know. And while her denial wasn't having to compete against things like werecats, and warlocks. It instead was being forced to take on the fact that she was falling in love with Bruce Wayne who was also Batman, and he cared for her back. Enjoying the compliments and words that he sweet talked his way into her head.

But at what cost?

"Was that just him pulling on Playboy airs? Or did he really mean all of that?" Velma lamented to the back of her hand, covering her face with her arm. "He spent so long lying, that I am not sure what is the truth and what to believe."

"Though he had a very good reason to lie to me. Heck, I am not even sure what I would do in that situation. I mean, years of putting on such a facade... well, I guess it's not hard to see that he might just be so used to playing the role, that it is more natural then his normal self. Which he has to hide for Gotham's sake."

"Almost like he has to find out who he really is... now."

Thinking back to the day he decided to drop the ruse, she had been thinking about how nice it would be to have him flirting at her. And now that it was happening, she wasn't sure how to accept it. One, she just wasn't used to guys saying that sorts of things to her in the first place. At least in general. And two, she recalled all those moments that he had dropped the ruse in the past and she had seen through it. Though while she didn't know at the time, that his super jerk moments was him jumping to scramble to put his slipped mask back on... She knew it now. And had a small personal smile cross her face at the thought.

"His womanizing is false, ruse and a front. No wonder he had been with so many ladies and no one for very long. And well, he made it very clear his position about me on his arm...I wanted his attention, I certainly got it." Having to think, that she was now allowed to have those types of daydreams she had shook off before. She certainly looked more forward to going to the Wayne Enterprise building. And the amount of times she was seeing him as the 'nice guy' she had only sighed thinking about, had long surpassed needing both hands to count. And it had only been less then a week.

"Though I was off the mark about him being hung over... or Dumped. Instead it was a total lie about him saving Gotham yet again from the villain of the week, and also him coming to the grips of the idea of... me? Jinkies..." Made her mind spin, though thinking about it.

"Well... At least those shoulders don't lie." Which as soon as she spoke those words aloud, she rolled over and grabbed one of Daphne's pillows to hide her face against what she had just said. Her heart not ready to dealing with that sort of idle thoughts.

~RING!~

Making Velma jump, she hadn't expected her phone to ring. Almost falling off the bed in surprise. But as the phone started its jingle she needed to get it. Pushing off from the pillow, she scrambled to get her glasses on. Granting her sight, and allowed her to see who was calling. The image of her best friend lit up the screen, letting her know that Daphne was calling her.

"Oh sure, I mutter one word about a man having sexy shoulders, and Daphne's radar goes off. That woman." Velma shook her head for a second, almost disappointed but not really. Unhooking the phone from the cable attached to the wall.

"Though is his shoulders more Handsome, as a verb...? Usage? I called them athletic before... And shoot, oh Hi Daph!"

Forgetting about the phone in her hand, she stopped babbling to herself and direct her attention to her best friend on the phone. Stopping her rambling before she actually picked up the line to the woman. Trying to push those thoughts out of her head, less Daphne pick up on such things through the cellphone connection.

"Sorry about that, I was not by my phone. I only got back home a bit ago." It wasn't a full lie, totally.

"Hey Velma, I figured I would give you a call and chat. The guys are watching some movie marathon and I didn't feel like watching. I can only take so many hours of the Lord of the Rings before I had to cave. The guys have been geared up all day to start it. It's like half the day long!" Not that Daphne didn't like the movies, but it certainly wasn't something she was jumping to sit down and watch all in one sitting.

"With or without the Hobbit Trilogy." Velma was happy for a geeky break from her current thoughts, focusing on Daphne and her current problems. Though she was a bit sad the guys had been watching it without her. But she had told them to go ahead without her since she was going to be in Gotham. And that she would join them another night for another movie binge.

"With. I stayed to watch one of the Hobbits I missed earlier, but I wasn't up for watching all six movies in a row." Daphne lamented on the other line.

"With, and if it's the extended, as I know the guys would totally do. You shouldn't wait up for them. I think, well, if I remember correctly, it's a runtime about like twenty something hours total."

"Oh god, really? I'll have to send out the search parties eventually. They're lost for the next while. I would say they will need to come up for air eventually, but the guys had stocked up with enough snacks and munchies to last the marathon with some to spare. It was almost to the ceiling in spots." Daphne sighed in acceptance.

"Well..."

"Well?"

"How did it go?"

"How did what go?" Velma said, trying to avoid the subject. But she knew it was a foolish venture.

"Avoid it all you want, but eventually you'll tell me. You had a Date today, didn't you?"

It was her own fault, that Daphne knew. Unable to control herself when Bruce had asked her out, to not gush to her best friend in a fit of uncontrolled but ill advised glee and spilled the beans. Well, spilled about the date over text message, thankfully not some of the other facts that Daphne didn't know about yet. As Velma was still having to tell herself it was true, let along say that aloud to anyone else. Especially before she had gotten her answers, which she now had. So, Daphne was still in the dark about who and what all was happening. Not that it stopped her from being ever curious to eek out any bit of information she could.

"Well, it certainly wasn't what I was expecting."

"What did happen then? Gimmie all the details you are willing to give meeeeeeee..." Pleaded the ever eager best friend. Hanging on her every word on the other side of the phone.

"Well, it was more of a work date, then a date date. We were sitting around doing paperwork and talking." It wasn't a lie. That is mostly what they had done all that day. (Ignoring their little experiment.) Just the contents of those conversations, and who she was talking too... Velma wasn't prepared to say, yet. Still sorting out her emotions, that Daphne had interrupted.

"Ah, well, it was expected, right? Since you guys are still working on your project together in Waynetech." Daphne pointed out. "You guys probably don't have much time to see each other outside of that?"

"Yeah, at least for now. Since we need to supervise and keep a close watch on it. There was a literal fire earlier that we had to put out. So, not something that could exactly play hooky and go on a night on the town. We have responsibilities to keep in mind."

'Some greater then others.' Velma mentally added.

"I heard an 'at least for now' So, that means you are willing to go on a date date with the guy, eh?" Velma could hear the smile in her voice.

'Sure, that is the main thing she heard from all of that.' Velma lamented, though unsurprising. Darn Detective Daphne and her selective hearing.

"You must really like this guy, huh? That amazing. Eeeeee... I'm so happy for you Velma! I would hug you, if you were over here, or I was over there."

Daphne squealed in her ear. Mixed feelings for sure, since she was glad to have Daph's support. But also still coming to grips with her own feelings towards Bruce. But she was willing, and hoping to get to have another date with Bruce. And maybe next time they could do something more engaging then just being in the office. But she knew that there was reasons for that location and all the secrecy. She wasn't sure when Bruce would set up the safe communications in order for them to talk about any more of her questions and his revealing answers via email. So for now, their only option was in selective private areas in Wayne Enterprises main building.

"One step at a time, Daph. I'll be home soon-ish. We shouldn't have too many more heavy lab days left till things should settle down and production can begin. But not sure what will happen in the mean time." And that was the honest truth.

"Well, I am looking forward to the day I get to meet this guy of yours!" Daphne was really excited. "Got to make sure he is the right guy for you! Measure him up to the right standards."

"...He'll have to answer to me if he makes you cry!" Daphne threatened, making Velma thankful that she wasn't in the same room with her. Since she must have made a face that the other woman would have instantly knew that something was up.

"Let me see how this goes first. Don't want to put the horse before the cart, or count my chickens before they hatched. And other idioms and proverbs that means I should wait and see." Velma tried to cover it over with logic and reason, her normal fall backs.

"Yeah, that is smart." She could hear Daphne kinda trailing off, her side of the line going quiet for a bit before she spoke again.

"So, you really like this guy?"

It was a question with a lot of weight behind it. Daphne knowing full well Velma's history, and the many times thing didn't exactly work out for her. So, while she wanted to be hopeful and positive, there was that lingering concern on the best friend side. Wanting to make sure Velma was ready and willing... And hoping for everything to work out in Velma's favor. Daphne knew that Velma had tried some attempts at dating, but most hadn't been as serious... but this sounded different.

"Yeah, I think I really do. I mean, I can't say my mind isn't getting the better of me. Or my self doubt won't be a pain in the butt." Her mind was her greatest weapon, and also her biggest crutch. Constantly arguing and doubting against the words that Bruce had been telling her. But she knew that it was mostly her own insecurity and not used to having someone like a 'boyfriend' to tell her these things.

"But, I think I want to try and take the risk on this one."

"Well then, that is good enough for me... For now." Daphne admitted, ever nosy and over protective. A small tone rang off in her ear, a notification that something pinged her phone.

"Hey Daph, I'll take to you later. I just got a message or something, and want to be lazy and check it on my phone. Plus it's been a long day, so talk to you tomorrow?" Velma asked, realizing how late it was, and how tired she felt.

"Heh, yeah. I might go to bed myself if the guys are going to be up all night. No clue if the living room will have survive the onslaught and I might need to clean up. If the guys aren't passed out down there once they are done." Daphne said with a laugh.

"I wish I was over there, I would have been there to help."

"No you wouldn't, you would be passed out along with the guys. And if not, just sitting there like a zombie after twenty plus hours of Tolkien binge watching with a bleary eyed look to you." Daphne accused, which Velma couldn't argue with.

"True I would have watched with the guys. You got me there Daph."

"Well, get yourself to bed missy, you got work and flirting to do when you wake up!"

"Work yes, flirting... I can't say for sure." Velma groaned just thinking about it. Her record wasn't very good in that department, and some things she would rather be forgotten. "Night Daph. Get some rest."

"Sleep well Velma, talk to you tomorrow." And then the phone went silent, as Daphne hung up and left Velma with her own thoughts again. But she had to see what that sound was of.

Rolling over, Velma tucked a pillow under her chest and rested her chin on it. Letting her arms stick out under it so she was able to hold the cell phone in front of her. Checking it, it seemed that she had an email from Wayne Enterprise. A single eyebrow raising, she clicked open the email. It was the lab report from what happened earlier in the day. With the included changes and notes from the fire and alterations to the testing methods. But there was a note to her at the end of it, which confused her for a second.

"To Velma Dinkley. The experiment didn't go as planned. So, I found a suitable location to do similar testing in regards to the project's next stages. I will be sending you the address and will meet you there tomorrow at 10am. Any further questions, please contact Alfred or Mr. Lucius at the main office for more details. What the...?"

Velma was confused at what this was in regards too. It was openly messaged in their lab report, which was seen by more eyes when just his and hers. Why they had encoded their earlier messages before, for more private conversations. But with her searching the file, she couldn't find anything that was an altered file or image for a hidden message. So, she could only go off of the words included at the end of the email.

But there was enough rumors going around since he had swept her off her feet and ran off with her. That she really didn't need any more rumors cropping up. No matter how true they were. She wasn't ready to tell people that she was working with, that she was dating their boss. And all the rumors that would come with that admission.

"Well, I guess I will meet him tomorrow... Not sure what this entails but maybe it's something as simple as some early testing grounds for the product to get some feed back. Hm, I wonder... YAWN... when the address will get here. Let me set my alarm just in case I...YAWN fall sleep waiting for it."