SEL Chapter 26

“Much as I appreciate this extortion attempt, I’m going to turn it down. It’s a shame we couldn’t have had a more civil conversation,” Barbara says, and ends the call.

She puts the phone down and takes perhaps the deepest breath of her life. She can feel her fingernails biting into her palms, but she can’t feel her legs.

SEL

“The Gotham Gazette has announced the termination of their contract with Vicki Vale, and the Daily Planet issued a similar statement. We go now to District Attorney and Mayoral Candidate, Viti Saxena, for comment.”

Viti appears in front of the Gotham City crest.

“I believe commentary here about the alleged video would be in poor taste. This is a terrible crime that happens to girls and women across this country on a regular basis, and that’s how it should be treated. Not as a spectacle. I think what we should be looking at now is how we can support both my opponent and Summer Gleeson during this difficult time. And yes, my office will be looking into charges if we are able to determine with certainty who is responsible for the creation and distribution of this recording,” Viti says.

“Oh jeez,” Stephanie Brown says, swallowing as she gazes up at the TV on the gym wall.

Mel and Pol are on either side of her. A moment ago, they were chatting and Steph’s heart was racing. Muscles. Sweat. Bulges. Flirting.

Now her heart is doing other stuff.

“That sucks,” Mel says sympathetically.

“Couple hot redheads? Sex tape? I kind of want to see it,” Pol replies.

“Girl. No.” Mel glares at her. “You OK, Sara?”

“I’m good,” Steph says distantly.

“I mean, that other hot redhead’s not here today,” Pol is saying.

“Let it go,” Mel says, exasperated. “Hey, Sara? Uh, we aren’t working tonight. You want to hang out?”

SEL

Helena stands in the teacher’s lounge, leaning on the counter in her slacks and blouse, hoop earrings gleaming. She sips coffee with her eyes on the TV.

She knows one guy in Gotham who’s dealing in sex tapes at the moment. What is this? A warning shot? Coincidence? Is Penguin throwing in with Saxena?

She’s more worried about Vicki Vale. Not because she’s losing lucrative deals with popular outlets, but because this tape supposedly came with aliases that she’s worked under for gossip rags. Vicki has done some shit and burned a lot of people. Some of those people are dangerous. Helena actively dislikes Vicki, and even more now, but she can’t let someone put her head in a duffel bag.

Helena knows what she’ll have to do tonight.

SEL

Kate hurries through the door and locks it behind her, going straight to her bedroom. It’s still a mess from the last girl from GCPD that she brought back here. There’s a thong hanging from the bedpost. Kate ignores that and grabs her laptop, throwing it on the bed. She whips her trainee polo off, almost tears her bra, and jumps on the bed, kicking her legs up while she struggles with her belt. She wiggles her pants over her hips and kicks those off along with her briefs.

Hurriedly, she opens the laptop and types, then cradles the computer against her ribs with one hand while she grabs her cock with the other. $24.95? She can afford it.

The video is of good quality, but taken in bad conditions. Knowing that Vicki Vale is behind this explains the technical proficiency. The video is taken at long range, but using a good lens, through the window of a high-rise apartment. Summer Gleeson’s apartment. It only works because Barbara and Summer apparently liked to do it with the lights on.

There’s the briefest shot of them kissing as the clothes come off; both faces are visible, confirming their identities. This was taken before Barbara lost the use of her legs. Then they’re on the bed. Kate sees bare feet and toes curling, but finally there is the good stuff: the camera has Barbara Gordon’s bare ass in clear view as they’re doing it missionary. Barbara starts slow.

Kate drops the computer on the bed and pushes it away to get comfy. She squeezes her breast and jerks away happily.

Barbara picks it up a little, and soon Summer’s legs wrap around her waist.

“Fuck,” Kate whines, then clenches her teeth. Her tattooed abs flex as she erupts all over her stomach and chest, eyes locked on Barbara’s luscious booty.

She goes limp and lets out her breath, still pulling.

SEL

Summer looks calm as she lets Barbara into the apartment. The sound of Barbara’s wheels is loud in the horrible silence. Summer is a TV personality; her control of her appearance is perfect. It’s still evident that she’s been crying. There’s a half-empty bottle of wine on the counter.

“Want some?” Summer asks.

“Sure,” Barbara replies.

They drink quietly for a minute, Barbara in her chair and Summer leaning against the counter. The sun’s setting, and Barbara is pissed at herself for a lot of things. She’s not even fully present right now. Dick called to check on her when he heard the news. It’s always hard to focus after she talks to him. None of this feels real, which is wild given some of the stuff that Barbara’s been through.

“What can I do?” Barbara asks.

“These things happen.”

“Oswald Cobblepot called me. He offered to stop it from coming out.”

“You told him no.”

“That’s right.”

“You did the right thing.”

“I know. Doesn’t make it hurt any less,” Barbara says.

“You know what would make it hurt less?”

“What?”

“I feel like I could handle something like this if I had something to show for it. Like a relationship. Or something. Someone to be with me to deal with it. But I don’t. Because she dropped me the second I wasn’t useful and went off to screw a famous criminal. You can go now, Barbara. I don’t feel like talking.”

SEL

“Well? What do you think?”

Aki Aramaki stands tall, bathed in the sunset. Behind her is the final slide of her presentation. The full board of Wayne Enterprises is gathered around the table in front of her, near the top of Wayne Tower.

“May I see hands from everyone who supports this plan?” she prompts.

All the hands go up. She smiles at Lucius Fox.

“Lucius—did you hear me correctly?”

“I heard you, Ms. Aramaki. I’m with you. I see no downside here.”

Aki is surprised by that, but not so surprised that she’s going to let it show. Her smile is wide and heartfelt as she beams at the board. Today is a good day.

Who are we following tonight?

Steph—on the trail of Roxy Rocket

Helena—worried for Vicki Vale’s safety

Barbara—on the ropes

Aki—on offense