Normality (?)

Kara slipped an arm around Barbara’s waist and held her friend close to her. At times she thought of Babs as a friend, other times as a sister, and some nights as a lover. Kara smiled as they walked over to an open table at the coffee house. As Kara let go of Babs she looked the red head up and down. They were about the same height, but right now Babs was shorter due to the flat leather knee moto-boots with the leather pants tucked in. Kara always thought Babs was hot in her ‘moto-chic’ outfit of black leather pants and black leather moto jacket.

“Just you two?” a waitress said as she came over.

“Yes,” Babs smiled at the young Hispanic girl.

As Babs opened her jacket, Kara snickered at the pink Dark Eldar logo on her tee-shirt.

“You are such a nerd,” Kara giggled.

“Hay, it doesn’t stop me from getting laid,” Babs shrugged off the remark.

“Speaking of which,” Kara transitioned the conversation, “How was your visit with Dick?”

“Nice,” Babs had a cat that ate the canary grin on her face, “Dick was very happy to see me. And on top of that Kory was there in full swing too. That was a fun threesome.”

“Ouh,” Kara said, “Kory is the perfect specimen of Tamerian Sex Kitten.”

“Oh yeah,” Babs smiled, “She has a tongue to die for.”

As Babs sat down she took out her Wayne Electrics super laptop and opened it. The waitress came over with a pair of menus.

“Frappuccino, Half and Half,” Kara ordered.

“Mochaccino” Babs ordered, “And a plain bagel?”

The Waitress hurried off. Both girls waited for her to leave then looked back each other.

“So,” Kara asked, “Which numbers are we going over?”

“The numbers for Professor Mullens,” Babs sighed.

“Shit,” Kara muttered disappointedly, “Financial Math, shoot me.”

“You have always been good at math,” Babs arched an eyebrow.

“Yeah, back before I came to Gotham, my dad was a rocket scientist,” Kara muttered, “Doesn’t mean that I found all the math even remotely fun.”

“Well, our homework is to figure out these numbers from Apple Computing,” Babs rolled her eyes, “And we got two hours to figure this out.”

“Rao help us,” Kara said, “I need something stronger than coffee.”

*

GCPD Headquarters

James Gordon looked over the paper sent from Imigrations and Customs Enforement. It was a list of people that ICE wanted to deport and suspected that GCPD had in lock up. He was stuck in the middle since many of the people on the list matched people his department had arrested for ****, ****, weapons chargers and other violent crimes, but at the same time activists were demanding that there be no deportations of anyone ever. Gordon just sighed.

“Come in,” James called to the figure at the door.

“Commissioner,” Alexander Knox said as he walked into the office, “I wanted to know if you had an official statement regarding this report that ICE is coming for GCPD lock up?”

James swept all the papers together and dumbed them in an empty drawer.

“Knox, GCPD reviews all requests for cooperation with outside agencies on a case by case basis according to local, State, and Federal Law,” Gordon said as he leaned back in his chair.

“That isn’t a denial,” Knox quipped.

“It wasn’t meant to be,” James frowned, “Let me guess, you have a statement from the Federal Prosecutor?”

“Yeah,” Knox said, “Real sweat heart that one, any truth to the rumor she was raised by sharks?”

“Well I can confirm she sent over requests,” Gordon said, “However I am sure you know the standard line about ‘Policy does not allow us to talk about specific cases…’ and all that, so my response stands. As of now, we are reviewing all requests for cooperation with outside agencies on a case by case basis according to local, State, and Federal Law.”

“OK,” Knox put his recorder away, “Personal question Commissioner. How are you do? You look very pale. Are you getting enough sleep?”

“Concerned for my health?” James asked.

“Concerned for mine,” Knox said, “You are the only think keeping Bullock from tossing me off the roof.”

“I’ll be sure to tell Bullock to take you to the top of Wayne tower and then throw you off the roof,” James smirked sarcastically, “This is a thankless job with no time for vacations Knox. You should know, you are in my office nearly everyday.”

“Just until you come clean about the gargoyles,” Knox said.

“Go,” James said, “I need to get work done so I can get some dinner.”

*

Edward paced around the apartment built out of the management offices over looking the warehouse floor. Sitting at the table next to him was his red-haired daughter.

“What are you thinking?” the girl asked as she played with a carving knife.

“Contemplating what cards to play next Emily,” Edwards said as he stopped and looked out the window, “Tell me, how many stitches did Joseph need when you were done with him?”

“Not enough,” Emily said as she stabbed the knife into the table at the mention of her step father, “Never enough.”

*

Bruce sat at the computer in the Batcave looking over information. Kara and Jason were getting changed and he listened to Barbara pull up on the electric motorcycle he had supplied her with. Bruce didn’t look away as the red head in her Oracle “Bat Suit” walked past him on her way to the locker area that Kara was changing in.

“Hay Bruce!” Barbara called in a friendly tone.

Bruce grunted in acknowledgement. Another motorcycle pulled up and Bruce recognized the sound of the Kate’s boots on the decking.

“Evening Bruce,” Kate called to her cousin.

Bruce grunted that he heard her as he looked from one screen to the next at the information. There was a ring, a whirl and the clicking of heels as Selina exited the elevator from the kitchen to the batcave.

“Evening Bruce,” Selina purred.

Bruce again grunted in response.

“Broody as always,” Selina snickered as she went over to the locker alcove with Barbara, Kate, and Kara.

Bruce continued working for a few minutes before the ladies and Jason returned. They paraded out towards Bruce. Kara being first tossed her arms around Bruce and gave him a kiss on the cheek from behind.

“Brucie!” Kara snickered.

“I forwarded Nigma’s location to your GPS for your little outing with Jason,” Bruce said still looking at a screen.

“Brucie!” Barbara tossed her arms around Bruce’s neck and kissed him on the cheek.

“I already had Lucius send the upgraded memory for your system to the remote cave you are using down town,” Bruce looked down at a smaller screen. As Barbara stepped away, Kate took her place and kissed Bruce on the cheek.

“Brucie!” Kate snickered.

“Yes, I sent that check to the LGBT rescue home on third street. It will not be closing down,” Bruce said with slight annoyance.

Kate stood up and another took her place.

“Brucie!” Jason said as he tossed his arms around Bruce.

“Really?” Bruce said without looking away from the screens.

Jason let go of Bruce and before the next person could hug him Bruce raised a finger.

“I am drawing a line Alfred,” Bruce said without looking away from the screen.

“Well,” Alfred said with a huff.

Bruce saved his work and closed down the interface to the famed “Bat-Computer.” He turned his chair around and looked at the gathered fellow vigilantes. Selina was sitting on the table next to the forensics lab. She was clad in a black satin cocktail dress and black heels. Bruce looked at Jason in the Red and Green Robin armor and the black wig over his distinctive red hair. Next to him was Kara in her black batsuit with the silver bats details on the tops of the thighs of her thigh high heeled boots, the black base suit with the corset and silver utility belt around the waist and the silver bat on her chest, on arms were the black opera gloves with silver fins and the silver mask highlighted bat cowl on her head with her blonde pony tail sticking out behind and below the cowl. Barbara was in her suit with the armored black suit with gold accented utility belt, chest bat with circuit board details, and arm mounted computer parts and gold boots. Kate was dressed in her black and red detailed batsuit with the Red Bat across her chest. Alfred of course was in his driving suit ready to take Bruce Wayne to the latest charity fund raiser for the children’s hospital.

“So,” Selina said, “Is this where the team gets their go team moment?”

All of the bats looked at the feline fem fatal.

“Riddler hunting? Raiding the Falcone family accountants? And looking into the missing doctors from Gotham General?” Bruce pointed at Kara and Jason, then Barbara and finally at Kate.

They all nodded in agreement at their plans for the night.

“I am sure my other black suit is in the trunk just in case the Joker or someone of that stupidity tries to rob the charity dinner,” Bruce said calmly.

“Even clown boy knows to not get in the way when I am on date night,” Selina said, “He already has scares from making that mistake before.”

All of the bats looked at Selina with arched eyebrows.

“And on that note,” Alfred said, “Let us whisk Bruce Wayne and Miss Selina Kyle off to the party. I can’t wait to watch the ensuing catfight.”

Everyone looked with arched eyebrows.

“Is he being sarcastic or not?” Kate asked.

Nobody said anything because they weren’t sure.