SEL Chapter 27

Ivy is expecting Barbara, clearly. There’s something defensive about her outfit: voluminous slacks with a real blouse. Her hair is up, and she wears her glasses. It’s not Poison Ivy or the real Pamela Isley in front of Barbara, it’s some idea of who Ivy probably feels like she needs to be under the circumstances. Very squared away. She’s lovely, of course, but there’s something off-putting about the effort that has been put into this confrontation.

Barbara doesn’t let that show as she rolls off the elevator and smiles at the guards.

“It’s OK,” she assures them. They step into the elevator and the doors close, leaving her sort of alone with Ivy.

“You want an explanation,” Ivy says, arms folded. She’s good, but she can’t fool Barbara. She expects a fight.

“I just want to make sure we’re OK.”

“What happens when you lose this race? Because I think you’re great, but it looks like you will. You lose the race. You lose the pull you have with this company. You can find comfort in the arms of TV personalities,” Ivy says with an ironic smile. “But I’m a prisoner and I’m on my own. I have to look out for myself.”

Barbara nods. “Right. If I lose and Aki forces me out, Lucius will be the only one watching your back.”

“He seems OK,” Ivy admits. “Never thought I’d say that about a bigshot at Wayne Enterprises. But he’s not you. He doesn’t have what it takes.”

“To do what?”

“I’m trying to be reasonable, Barbara. I really am. I don’t expect Wayne Enterprises to save the world, but I expect them to try. But it would take a lot more juice than Lucius Fox has to give it that push.”

Barbara grimaces. “When you’re right, you’re right. Going after Aki makes sense.”

“She’s driven.” Ivy leans forward slightly, looking over her glasses at Barbara. “And she’s got a libido. You can see it, can’t you? There’s a lot of drive there too. I like that. And I know how to work with that.”

Barbara remembers that awkward dinner with Aki. Safe to say that the DA’s wife has some kinks.

“So, you’re not mad at me? You’re not here to ask why I didn’t bring this to you? Or to tell me how ungrateful I am because of all you’ve done for me?”

“More like what you’ve done for me,” Barbara says. “I’m a cripple now and you still fool around with me.”

Ivy squints suspiciously. It’s pretty cute in those glasses. After a moment, she stamps one foot.

“Can’t you be a little mad?”

Barbara shakes her head. “I wouldn’t respect you if you were a total pushover.”

Ivy sighs and looks away, annoyed. She pushes her glasses up the bridge of her nose, then approaches the chair. She bends down to come face to face with Barbara, resting her hands on the arms.

“Now I feel bad.”

“It’s OK. I like a challenge. Now I’m just doing my campaign to save the city on hard mode,” Barbara says.

Ivy rolls her eyes. “You’re annoying. If I was going to have feelings for a mammal, it would be someone like you.”

“Don’t tell Harley you said that,” Barbara says.

“Don’t tell Summer about this.” Ivy sinks to her knees and unfastens Barbara’s pants.

SEL

“I’m going to tell Renee that you asked me here,” Maggie Sawyer promises. “Whatever it is you think you’re doing, you won’t be able to.”

She sits across from Kate in a fancy restaurant high over the city. This tower has an incredible view of the night skyline. It is a well-known romantic spot.

“This isn’t a date. And I haven’t even seen Renee since I started the academy,” Kate adds, swirling the wine in her glass.

“Then what the hell are you doing?”

“I’m not sure. Trying to make things right, I guess. Or at least to show that I’m trying. Doing this has let me slow down. Compared to what I was doing before. I can think a little.”

“I know you’re sleeping with every girl in that program.”

Kate nods. “It’s not as fun as you would think, but I’m enjoying it for what it is. I’m not breaking any hearts. Everyone knows what my deal is. I’m not pretending to be looking for anything more than I say.”

Maggie frowns, her food forgotten.

“Jesus. You really aren’t trying anything, are you?”

“I’m trying to get my shit together.”

“By hooking up with someone different each night?”

“By doing what I feel like and actually being honest with myself and everyone else about it. It’s a start. And Seed is part of it,” Kate adds, a little defensively.

Maggie swallows, turning pink. “Right. I heard it makes you horny. Not that you weren’t to start with.”

“I’m figuring it out.”

“So, what is this? You’re here to apologize?”

“I’ve apologized before. I guess I just want to figure out how you and me are going to be on this police **** together and try not to have too much drama.”

“You can start by not deflowering every bi-curious girl who puts on a uniform.”

Kate grins. “We can circle back to that.”

Before Maggie can wearily respond, both women notice the change in the restaurant’s atmosphere. People are getting up from their tables and going to the huge window.

Kate and Maggie exchange a look, then join them. There’s a funny noise, audible even this high up. People have their phones out to take pictures.

Something zooms past the window with a roar, a rope or line trailing behind it. Everyone screams, then the familiar, caped form flies by, dangling crazily. She still finds time to wave at the people clustered at the window as she’s yanked past by the tiny aircraft.

Maggie has brought her drink with her. She knocks it back and shakes her head.

“Only in Gotham,” she says. “Which one was that?”

Kate cringes. “Spoiler.”

Maggie makes a face. “Who?”

Finish the night with Aki and Barbara?

Or Stef and Helena?