What have the others been up to over the week and weekend?

The week flew past in a rush as things came quickly and busy. Kara was busy each day getting fitted with each outfit for the fashion show part of the party on Friday. Dick was helping Eel O’Brian set up some sort of shop on the outskirts of Gotham. It was clear, this was Eel, in a wheel chair. Kara knew that Bruce had a plan and that Dick and Eel had been briefed on it, but she was in the dark.

*

Lunch Time Thursday

Kara exited the elevator to a meeting she was not expecting. Hal Jordon was sitting on the coffee table of the waiting area playing with a small model plane, while Carol Ferris was talking to Bruce and Lucius.

“… but they won’t work without the control solenoids?” Lucius asked, the concern plan as day on his face.

“Absolutely not,” Carrol spread her arms out dramatically, “I was going to hand deliver those personally. And we made sure that that these ones use a different voltage system from all the standards so it has to be my control packs or they don’t work.”

Kara looked from Hal to Lucius to Bruce. She could tell that Carrol was looking at Bruce as well as Lucius as they waited for him to say something.

“It would seem my track record of not wanting to get involved in weapons has been justified,” Bruce said in a flat tone.

“That is the highest class ‘told you soo,’ I ever heard,” Hal mumbled under his breath.

Bruce made a show of clearing his throat before speaking again.

“Ah, Kara, you are here. This is miss Carrol Ferris of Ferris Aerospace and her right-hand test pilot, mister Jordan,” Bruce made a point to introducing them.

Hal stood up, smiled and waved. He looked natural and comfortable in his flight suit. Carrol was clearly trying to be professional in the black suit and completely buttoned up blouse, but as she turned around to address Kara, Kara could see Carrol was off put by her own outfit.

“Yes, we have… met… before,” Carrol said, “What have you been up to Miss Wayne?”

“Charity,” Kara smiled as she stepped forward with a pop of her latex catsuit.

As much as the cropped leather biker jacket and Flannel button down shirt covered, it was clear that Kara was wearing a pink rubber catsuit with big chunky biker boots.

“Speaking of which,” Lucius said, “I hope you don’t mind Bruce, but I asked some of my people to look into the partners for the Charity that Kara’s little party is benefiting, and here is the recommendation…”

Bruce took the folder Lucius handed him.

“I have no objections,” Bruce smiled, “Would you like to comment?”

Bruce put the folder in front of Carrol’s face as she turned back around. Carrol looked at it and seemed to be impressed before closing the folder and handing it back to Lucius.

“I will have my people be in touch Mister Fox, Mister Wayne, Miss Wayne. Lets go Hal,” Carrol said trying to smile.

“Bird is the word Miss Ferris,” Hal smiled, “Safe flying folks.”

Kara watched the pair board the elevator and then looked at Lucius and Bruce.

“What was that about?” Kara asked.

“Well it seems some prototypes one of my divisions ordered from Ferris Aerospace were stolen enroute,” Lucius said looking at Bruce, “So we will have to cancel our participation in a certain government contract… but it isn’t that big of a deal for us financially. And it seems that your friends cleaned up their charity goals pretty neatly now that Miss Zuel is no longer associated with the charitable effort.”

“Going to throw one some leather chaps and come down to make a donation?” Kara snickered.

“No, that isn’t my thing. Maybe you can convince Bruce to lend you a few grand to donate,” Lucius smiled.

“Come on, lets get lunch,” Bruce smiled, “Alfred made reservations for us.”

*

Thursday afternoon

Jason let out a laud belch.

“Sexy,” Raven rolled her eyes.

“I was going for manly,” Jason shrugged, “But, whatever. You talk to Kara about that party thing she is doing tomorrow?”

“Yeah, seems she can’t bring me along, so I am free tomorrow night,” Raven smiled at Jason.

“He he,” Jason smiled back.

“They are adorable, aren’t they?” Megan asked the fourth at the table.

“Eh,” Mary shrugged.

The Junior High Schooler looked at the goth girl and the red-haired punk and just shrugged.

“Where is Rose?” Raven asked.

“Getting yelled at for fighting,” Megan smiled.

“Where are your buddies?” Raven asked Mary.

“Probably getting yelled at too,” Mary shrugged.

Since joining Gotham Academy she found herself hanging out with Billy Batson and Freddy Freeman in classes or with Raven, Megan and Rose (and Jason) out side of classes.

“You know, I swear, it seems like Billy and Freddy are hiding something from me,” Mary said after thinking for a second.

“If they are not comfortable coming out, don’t push them,” Jason said in a sarcastic tone, “Besides. They are too young to really understand their love.”

“Ok, gross,” Raven said, “Can we get back to this history?”

“Rejoice Lady Roth, for I come to take your hemariod away,” a new voice said walking up to the table.

Mary looked at the lean athletic man walking to them. She noted he was a mess, his jeans were dirty, his shirt had something stained on it and there was a hole in the sleeve of the jacket.

“It’s a murder hobo,” Jason noted entirely too calmly.

“Yeah, yeah, some of use had to do actually manual labor,” the man said, “Come on jackass.”

“What were you reburying Bruce’s ex-girlfriends?” Jason asked.

“No, digging up bodies to put together your Frankenstein form after Raven kills you,” the mans smiled.

“I don’t want to kill him,” Raven hugged Jason, “Not yet.”

“Alright, break it up, lets go,” the man said, “Sorry you will have to hold off using him as a sacrifice for a later time Raven.”

Jason grabbed his stuff and went off with the man.

“Who was that?” Mary asked.

“Dick Grayson,” Megan smiled, “One of the older orphans that Bruce Wayne adopted.”

A man’s voice in the back of Mary’s head spoke to her; [that is right child, like you there is more to him that it is clear now].

*

Surprisingly it wasn’t Jean-Paul or even Dick that made Kara blush at the charity party on Friday night. Half way in between the first set of the Freaks of Gotham Fashion show, Bruce and Selina got up on stage. Bruce in a normal suit and tie, Selina is a black latex cocktail dress. Everyone including Kara and the MC were confused as Bruce stole the microphone and asked for people’s pardon, as he told Kara that she forgot the envelope she was suppose to deliver for the opening. He then started on like the fop about how she just got so excited she forgot the envelope, at which point Selina prodded him and he got on with calling the head of the whole event out and handing him “the Envelope”, and the check inside for a few million dollars for the AIDs research fund they were collecting for. One of the guys tried to kiss Bruce only for Selina to point a cat-of-nine-tails whip in his face and state that Bruce is hers. While the rest of the crowd cheered, Bruce made a show of trying to find somewhere to pat Kara given the first outfit was covered in spiked studs and her hair had metal pins in it, the finally just told her to have a nice night before leaving with Selina. On the way-out Bruce made a show of giving Dick the stink eye as Barbara lead him up on a leash. Jean-Paul was a little shocked by the end of the night, but he had taken everything in turn with good humor.

*

After the Party Saturday Morning

Kara sat with Dick and Jean-Paul at a table as people were leaving. Barbara was getting off the costume that she had been modeling for Freaks of Gotham.

“Thank you again Kara,” one of the coordinators of the party said walking past.

“So what did you think?” Dick asked.

“There were a lot of people who may be sick tomorrow,” Jean-Paul said, “I am sure they caught a cold wearing so little in the middle of the winter.”

“Think he is trying to be polite about the lack of material in club wear?” Dick asked.

“Probably,” Kara smiled.

“Yes,” Jean-Paul said.

“What do you think of my outfit?” Kara asked.

She was wearing one of the rubber catsuits made to look like a combination of leather motorcycle pants and a leather motorcycle jacket, but in black rubber with chrome studs and zippers.

“It looks impressive,” Jean-Paul said, “I am not sure how well it breathes.”

“It doesn’t sweetie,” one of the other ladies in a latex catsuit said as she walked by.

“She is going to have a nice chill when she steps out,” Dick said, “I hope you brought an extra long coat for her to use. Speaking of which, hello my red-haired sweetheart.”

“Hay Dickie boy,” Barbara smiled as she kissed Dick, “Good call on the wool pants and sweater for the ride home.”

“Are you going to come to the after party?” another of the event staff asked.

“No, I have to get home before I get arrested,” Barbara said, “And he has to drop me off or he will get arrested.”

That got a nervous laugh.

“Daddy Gordon has done it before,” Dick looked at Jean-Paul.

“I think I will just get my ride home and call you tomorrow,” Jean-Paul said getting up and looking at Kara.

“Night,” Barbara smiled.

“I’ll walk you out,” Kara smiled.

*

Saturday Night

“You know if Lane doesn’t move her car, I will not be responsible for the next bunch of hooligans that jacks the wheels off of it,” Jason said over the com link.

“Say that again?” Kara asked.

“Lois Lane drove into town Friday afternoon to see the staff at Gotham Academy and is still there,” Batman’s voice intoned over the channel.

“And you aren’t concerned about what she is doing here?” Barbara asked on the line.

“Probably being brainwashed by the evil dominatrix who runs the place,” Dick chuckled.

“Not funny boy blunder,” Barbara stated, “Now get over here, I got a purse snatching gang setting up by the bars getting ready to kick everyone out for the night.”

“On it,” Dick snickered.

“Don’t you mean ‘Yes Dear’?” Jason quipped.

“Hay, if it gets me laid, junior,” Dick retorted.

“Focus,” Batman intoned.

“Well I know one stud who is most certainly getting some tonight,” Selina’s voice came over the commlink, “I am robbing the safe at the penthouse, and I am not wearing underwear.”

“Go on,” Kara snickered, “She is still worked up over your performance last night, stud.”

*

Sunday afternoon

Jason sat in the family room looking at something on a tablet, Dick was off talking to Barbara on the phone, and Kara playing her VR game. There was a ringing of her phone.

“Don’t you touch that Jason!” Kara said as she struggled to pause her game.

“Oh, look, it’s the soulless lover boy,” Jason stated sarcastically.

“Why don’t you go lick an electrical socket?” Kara intoned spitefully as she took off the headset, “Hello… What? Really? Where? This is short notice… What about work? Well, if you need anything, just let me know… Ok. Bye.”

Kara hung up her phone and put it down on the coffee table. She thought for a moment, then looked around.

“I need to tell Bruce,” Kara muttered.

*

While Bruce was dressed rather casual; jeans and a sweater, his demeaner was anything but. In spite of Selina seated on Bruce’s lap, he was scowling as he turned and looked at Kara as she walked out of the elevator.

“Jean-Paul is going to France,” Bruce intoned.

“Gay Pariee” Selina cooed.

“He said he got a call that his father turned up in a hospital outside of Paris and is going right away,” Kara said.

“Some one spoofed the phone number for the United States Embassy Switch board in Paris France and the line was encrypted at both ends as soon as Jean-Paul picked up,” Bruce noted, “I have the computer trying to crack the encryption.”

“Is this because Jean-Paul was seen hanging out with my perverted Kitten?” Selina purred in Bruce’s ear.

“His father has been missing for some time,” Kara said, “The Justice League twits never found a body, so if whoever is handling Azrael managed to get senior out of NYC and have been trying to revive him, this might mean they pulled the plug.”

“Either way,” Bruce said, “This could mean trouble for you. Are you sure you can handle it?

“Well I better be, right?” Kara shrugged.

There was another beep from the terminal.

“What?” Kara asked.

“It seems that Miss Lane is heading home,” Bruce noted.

“She doesn’t seem all that upset that she doesn’t have a rear window or rear-view mirrors,” Selina noted.

“No, she isn’t upset at all,” Kara noted as she came around to watch the camera feed.