"Here?"

Looking up at him, her face had gone from joyous from their held hand experimental romp to stone faced. Looking at him over her glasses in a huff. But this was to be expected, since he had been lying to her. And he had been expecting this sort of reaction of out her. Well, he hoped it wasn't as bad.

"So, you made such a big deal about playboy this and that, and you are taking me... HERE!" She raised her voice slightly, tossing her hands at the location.

"Yep! I mean, you have to admit. It can be really costly hobby. I figure that me being a patron here, has at least doubled their revenue." He admitted and watched her face palm in annoyance and he heard a slight snort from her. Exhaling sharply out of her nose at the truth behind his grandstanding. Also watching her scurry to clean her glasses from the sudden face palming.

Here, she had been expecting his mention of spending lots of money, for the shop to be something more Bruce Wayne like. A high brow, fancy shmancy place where she was going to regret but have to deal with for his sake. Knowing that there would be moments if they continued to see each other that she would have to deal with those sorts of things. But no... The reality in front of her was something she not only liked... but Loved!

Sitting wedged between two other stores, was a elegant looking, old fashioned book store. Ornate but old wooden trim made the store stand out from the rest of the local shops. But it certainly showed its age and ability to stay open in such a city as Gotham. But well, with Bruce spending as much money here as he did. The little shop didn't have to worry about funding to stay in business.

"You're a jerk, you know that."

Back handing him slightly, she whacked him accusingly with a bit of a sting to it to get her point across. Making him grunt slightly at the impact.

"Sorry, I couldn't help myself. I'll be good." He said putting up his hands in defense against another blow. This time ready for a second one, but it never came.

"I'm not a fan of that kind of teasing. I know you are used to it as your other self, but I would appreciate when it's the two of us and especially us like this. That you don't need to do that." Velma gave him a look with mixed feelings behind it, and he instantly felt bad. Realizing that he had taken it too far, even though it was harmless and at a place she would like as well.

"I'll keep that in mind, and be better about it." He hung his head a bit, before she placed a knuckle under his chin to raise his head up.

"Come on BJ, you said you have to get something here. I guess I can FORCE myself to go inside while you go shopping."

Chuckling a bit, seeing as she was trying to lighten the mood. And well no doubt actually eager to go into an old looking bookstore to look around. So, he gave in and moved to open the door for her. Pulling the large glass door open to let her go by, giving her a bit of a bow as he offered. His arm gesturing for her to pass by and enter the store before him.

"After you, my dear Lydia."

"Why, thank you."

Doing a small curtsy to him, she then pressed into the shop. He followed in behind her, watching her face light up taking in the shop. And tried not to laugh when he saw her taking in a deep sniff of the air. As one does, being a bookworm and lover of the written word. He followed behind her for a bit as she wandered the stacks, peering at the spines and tilting her head to read the many titles. They had gotten close to the register, tucked on a thick wooden counter top with several books that sat on its surface. But the owner didn't seem to be behind it, making Bruce call out.

"Hey Oscar! You here?"

Turning her head around with a puzzled look, Velma looked at Bruce. "Oscar?"

"Hold your horses, I'm coming."

Came the shouted voice of an older sounding gentleman. It only took a short bit of time for the man to come down the rod iron staircase that sat on one side of the store. Leading up to a higher floor that was covered in even more literature. With books in hand, Bruce saw the shopkeeper wander over, tossing him a wave when he saw his customers. The man was a thin, graying gentleman. He wore a faded navy button down shirt that had been repaired at the elbows for reinforcement, and suspenders kept up his slacks about his waist. Pulling up the two halves of his glasses that hung around his neck, they magnetically connected to grant the man sight to take in the couple that entered his shop. A smile crossed his face as the man recognized him... or at least that is what Bruce thought at first.

"VELMA! It's good to see you!" Making waving motions, Oscar put down his books and gestured for her to come to him. Tossing his hands up, outstretched. "Come over here girl and give this old man a hug!"

Pulling down her hood, Velma crossed the distance and accepted the offered hug. A huge smile crossing her face, making Bruce jealous for a second that the smile wasn't directed at him. Though confusing the man, as his contact was chatting it up with his girlfriend. Grabbing her in a hug, like one would do to an old friend, that you hadn't seen in a while.

"It's been ages, Oscar. I forgot you had a place in Gotham. How's the misses?"

"The old Bat is still kicking, she would love to hear you came and visited. Though I bet she would be mad at me that she missed not being able to give you a hug."

"Well, then give one to her from me." Velma said, hugging the man a second time to pass along to his wife.

"It won't be the same, but I bet she'd appreciate it. Though speaking about Bats... You friends with that one, over there?" Oscar didn't miss Bruce standing there, but apparently decided to address Velma first. Seeing past Bruce's masterful disguise. Though his comment made Velma's face slightly pale and flicker a glance to Bruce who just shook his head. Trying to be covert, but only using her eyes to convey her thoughts and the minimum amount of visual tells. Though who she was dealing with, would noticed such things, even with her trying to be covert about it.

"Don't worry about it Velma, the old codger is more clever then he seems. Though I was a bit surprised at the fact that you two know each other. And not sure I am thrilled about his choice in wording had he not been correct with us being together and you knowing what you know." Bruce sighed, but Oscar was more then he seemed. He trusted the man to know when to say the things he was saying, and when to keep his mouth shut. He paid him enough to do that much.

"Rumors have gotten even to me, about the lass and you. Lucius also gave me a heads up you would be checking on your package some time soon. So, I figured once I saw young Velma here, well... the rumors seemed to be correct."

"I'm confused." Velma admitted, trying to follow what he was saying. Which earned a chuckle from the old man.

"It's usually pretty dead around now. Take her to the back, let me lock up."

Moving from Velma, Oscar moved passed Bruce only stopping to pat the man on the shoulder before disappearing towards the front. Bruce shook his head for a second before coming up to Velma and offering for her to follow him. Though, he bet she would enjoy this part!

Making his way to the back of the store, he checked that she was following him when he stopped at the back wall of books.

"Look here."

Bruce pointed out a book. It seemed like a normal book to her at first. But he then moved to grip her hand and placed a finger on the top of the book before nodding to her. She looked puzzled for a second, before her eyes grew wide at what her finger was on, then looking back to him. He snickered and nodded, making a motion for her to go ahead. Earning a small happy noise from her as she tugged the small book down. Realizing that it was not a real book, but actually a trigger for the wall to release and let them back into a secret room past the shelves. She knew this all too well, at least the stories she had told in the past... it seemed that she had come across more then one of these on a mystery.

"I knew she would like that." Oscar chuckled, seeming to have appeared out of the books themselves. Waving his battered looking hands at them to go inside. Making sure they got past before he closed the door behind them. It being another false wall of bookcase on the other side. Seamlessly fusing to not reveal that there was a door in the first place, unless you knew where to look.

"I want one of these for my book store..." Velma said in a whisper, petting the wall. Making Bruce smile seeing her admire the altered shelving. Earning a personal mental note to be eager once they got far enough in their relationship, for him to bring her to his home. And how much of a kick she was going to get searching the place to look for all the ways he has to get to the Batcave. Certainly would be a fun later date, for sure. Wondering how many ways she would figure out how to get there, if just this small of a trick made her happy.

She was going to flip!

"Have a seat, would you want some tea?" Oscar offered, showing them to table that sat in the back, hidden room. It sat in the middle of a very cluttered room. Piles of books and papers lined most of the floor, only leaving so much room for them to walk around to get to the table in the center of the room. With a few smaller paths leading to various bits on the walls and other shelving.

"We can't stay for long, but I thought Velma would like the place. But didn't think that she would know you. You get around don't you?" He lightly accused her with a snicker. Pulling out a chair, and offered it for Velma to sit in. Accepting it, once she realized he was pulling it out for her.

"Oscar and I know each other from a Bookstore workshop that is sometimes held. Like a convention for networking between small time bookstores to help each other with stock and finding rare books. Oscar has a talent for finding a bunch of books my customers and myself had been looking for. And I always wondered how he got his hands on some of them. But now, it makes a bit more sense..." Velma was surprised, but in some regards she wasn't as much. Peering up at Bruce from the seat, her eyes looking between him and Oscar. Taking in the information.

"Yeah, Well... let's just say that my old job made me need to seek new employment in exchange for my freedom and well, Batman is a generous benefactor and making plenty use of my skills."

"He's a conman." Bruce said flat out. "But one that is really good at his job and I trust him to be professional."

"I am a conman, but now I'm working for the good guys. And Bruce here was not going to let my contacts and skills go to waste in prison. Plus, I really never did anything myself, being more of a information dealer. But well... was connected to really bad fellows. So, I helped take them down, and am making up for all the misdeeds that led the problems of others. And well, Now I get to sit surrounded by books all day. And interact with cute, other book keepers like Velma over there. Who actually puts up with the wife of mine."

Oscar told her truthfully. And while he would never have revealed all of this normally. Knowing that Velma was now part of Bruce's inner circle and well, rumors had them dating. The old man seemed tickled to see them together. The boy could use someone like Velma in his corner.

"At some point, we might need to sit down and talk about who we all know."

Bruce mentioned as he looked down at Velma in the chair in front of him. To think Velma had Oscar as a connection, he would need to find out later who she all knew, as they moved forward in their relationship. Less, something like this would happen again in the future. He wasn't sure his heart could take it. It was hard enough letting her know recently, let alone hear Oscar say it out loud so casually. (Especially in such a public place, but thankfully there was no other customers.) Plus the lingering future that had the rest of the gang finding out his secret as well. Enough to make his stomach flip internally. Also a tiny worry with how quickly this 'rumor' hit the ears of the old man. Even if the man's head was normally down to the ground.

"..."

He must have been making some type of face, or something... Because he felt Velma's hand upon his as he leaned on the chair she was sitting on. Offering a squeeze before she spoke up.

"Well, we will have to stop in again. Bruce was saying he needed to ask you for something before we headed off to our destination he had planned. But I would love to see Dotty again some time. I would like to look around while you two finish up. And it was lovely to see you again, Oscar."

Looking up at him, Bruce got the message and he pulled out her chair letting her get up so she could give Oscar one more hug. Before walking to the hidden passage way. And not surprisingly, it didn't take her very long before she found the right book to trigger the wall to open back up to the store beyond.

Tossing them a wave, she left leaving then two men alone to do business.

"...That is a keeper there." Oscar spoke before an approving whistle. He had known that she was clever, but for her to be involved in all of 'this' like he was. The old man was impressed all over again!

"Yeah, I don't know how lucky I am." Bruce wistfully spoke at the books behind them, where Velma vanished past. No doubt gleefully diving into the stacks with a passion. Possibly earning the old man a purchase that day. Especially if he had anything to do about it.

"So, that is the reason for the upped security, eh? Barbara was letting me know we will be having some upgrades soon." Oscar got right to the point. Moving to pull some paperwork from a nearby file cabinet. Offering the paperwork to Bruce, who took it and read it over. With his attention at what Oscar handed to him, Bruce was almost caught off guard when the older gentleman had grasped a nearby letter opener and thrust it at Bruce's neck. Bruce could feel the sharp tip of the metal implement pressing into his skin, as he used his eyes to see the shopkeeper giving him a leveled and serious look.

"You know if you hurt that woman out there, The Library will be an enemy of you."

A tense few seconds passed, as Bruce considered his wording in response. Turning in place, he aimed the point at a more vital area on his neck and met Oscar's look with an equal serious one.

"I have done some things that I wish I didn't do to her... I can not change that past, but I will spend the rest of my time involved with her to make up for it. That, I can promise. And if not, The Library can get in line behind the Gang, who has first dibs." Bruce admitted honestly. Knowing full well that if anything happened to Velma, he would certainly have to answer to Mystery Inc, first and foremost.

Then The Library could have what was left.

Considering it, Bruce watched Oscar squint and then pull away the metal from his neck. Putting the weapon aside and offering one more piece of paperwork for Bruce to look over. As if their exchange had never happened between them. Accepting Bruce's answer.

"Aye, the Lads and Lass would have first dibs. So, you better keep your promise then. Or I'll sic Dotty on ya' as well."

"Well then, I really have to keep myself in line." Bruce nodded, taking the last bit of paperwork to look over. If anything, Bruce was more scared of Dotty, than Oscar. She was a solidly build, Russian Babushka who was as skilled with an axe as she was with a rifle. And while city life might have given her less time to practice both, Bruce wasn't going to risk it. Plus, it was yet more people to keep him in line, if he was to step out of it in regards to Velma. It was nice to know that she garnered such protection, even from him.

"Seems like everything is in order. I'll let you know any changes, or Barb will keep you updated. Good seeing you Oscar, I better let you get back to your day job." Bruce said handing back the papers for Oscar to get rid of properly, now that he had seen them.

"Aye, and you have a date to get back to. I don't want to keep you two from it." Oscar came up beside Bruce and elbowed him, with a lopsided grin on his face.

"Well, this is a stop for a reason. Might look around to see if anything catches my attention while Velma looks around for something." Bruce grinned, pulling the trigger book to let him back into the main body of the library and out of the secret back room.

"Can't complain if my biggest patron wants to treat the lass to something new. Come up to the register when you two are ready." Oscar said with a wave, moving into the shelving to head to re-open the store since their other business was done. And now letting other customers come in, if they wanted too. Leaving Bruce to wander the store before he came upon a very stiff Velma.

"Hey."

Bruce called out simply, earning her startling and hiding her face behind the book she had in her hands. But coming upon her, he had managed to catch the flushed look on her face before she brought up the book as a boundary between them. Though she was almost glowing in a blush, that was radiating past the pages of what she had darted to use as cover. Also, in her flustered state, she had missed that the book in her hands, was upside down. Also giving him clues to her state of mind. He was about to question it, when a small voice came whispered into his ear.

"... you and Oscar finished up?"

"Oh. Yeah. We are done." Made sense now. She had heard everything over the earbud about their interaction a second ago. So, she was taking in his comments, and dealing with his claims emotionally. Earning the cute reddening of her face, pity she was hiding it from him. Another time, maybe once she was more used to him, that he would be able to enjoy that adorable flustered face of hers. Though, he meant everything, so he would readily say it in front of her as well. Anything to prove how serious he was about her.

"Found something you wanted?" Bruce waited, letting her calm down a bit before speaking up and moving to pluck the book from her hands. Flipping it around to look at the cover, to see what grabbed her attention. Reading the cover, it was a familiar bit of text.

"Oh, don't own a copy of The Time Machine, by HG Wells?" Good book, and he had several copies in his library's at home.

"Well, I have owned one in the past, but I'm afraid to read it anymore. It went through a bit of a rough mystery, and I have lost a few pages that were coming out of the spine. And as well as I can repair a book, it might be worth just looking into a new copy to muck about with. Though thankfully it wasn't a Holt." Velma explained, getting up and knocking the back of the hardback cover with a knuckle. She did love a good hardback, and this was an older version that wasn't a paperback. Which she had a habit of murdering sometimes in transit.

Also hardbacks could double as a makeshift weapon in a pinch, something she bet his other half might appreciate.

Bruce knew well the amount of various editions and versions a book can have. Especially a book as well known and old as The Time Machine. And how well known the author HG Wells is, now a days at least. Looking at the book in his hands, he didn't know the particulars of that particular edition, but it had some gold embossing on the cover that said 'one hundred copy' which he figured was a limited edition run. Though he would have to bug Velma later on the specifics. It certainly wasn't a pre-owned copy... or a paper back to make the price a smaller amount. But, he had also seen an original edition, with a misspelling on the cloth clover run a pretty penny at auction. So, while his wallet was more then capable for such a purchase. He doubted that she would let him do such a thing... yet.

... But that didn't stop him from doing this for her now.

"Got it. So, one Time Machine, coming right up." He commented as he shook the copy in his hands. He wiggled it at her a second before he made his way off to the front counter. His only advantage, was that he knew the quickest path to the register, while she was still new to the place. Allowing him to make his way to Oscar and put in the purchase before she was able to extract herself from the book shelves. Also them being taller then her and him as well, aided in him being sneaky and buying it for her before she could catch up.

"Bruuuuce."

"What is it? Lydia, my dear?" He asked innocently, moving to grab her bag and tuck the new purchase into the satchel in its new brown baggy. Though he kept the receipt to himself. Earning a chuckle from Oscar behind him.

"... I'll get you for that. First the clothes, and now the book. You're just as bad as Daphne!" Velma huffed in a lament, but did nothing to remove the new book from her possession. He figured she enjoyed the addition of the hard cover compared to the apparel for earlier. But he was taking mental notes and would make sure to only purchase any new clothing for her, with her permission. Less he encouraged more of her wraith of revenge. Within reason.

"I'll take that as a compliment."

"As you should." Pipped up Oscar from the counter, grinning at the pair.

Bruce did hope that he will be able to soon rely on Daphne's expertise when in came to putting Velma in nice clothing. Because if they planned to continue dating, it was going to be all too soon that he would have to bring her up to the public eye. And the red head might be able to help with the transition, since she knew how it went on both sides of the coin. But that was a worry for another day.

Today, was about them and enjoying each other company.

"But feel free to take revenge. Please do!" He gave her as a response. Seeing her fight to actually be mad, and enjoying the gift he gave her. Holding her bag possessively, clutching her new book prize.

"It was nice to see you again Oscar, we'll be in touch." Giving the man a wave, Bruce moved to lightly push Velma out of the store so they could make it to there next destination on his planned date for them.

"Now, shall we get something to eat? I'm starving!"