Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Kate and her sister were in the back seats of their mom’s car, on their way home from their bar mitzvah. Kate was holding up a camera, her and Beth were taking a photo with their new matching red necklaces, after she clicked the button a school bus hit them from behind. Their car swerved, the front half of it hanging over the Gotham bridge, her mom was knocked unconscious by the impact of the driver side airbag. Batman came, he used his grappling hook to balance the car but it didn’t work, with them all still in the car it went over the bridge into the river.

Kate and Beth were swept away from their mother by the tide, Kate was fighting everything, the pain, the water, her heavy eyelids so she could protect her sister, she was the only one still conscious. Using the last of her strength before she too closed her eyes, Kate latched onto her sister, using her own body as a shield for Beth.

Though she was the last to close her eyes, Kate was the first to open them. She found herself laying next to Beth on land. With all of her strength Kate picked her sister up, carrying her to the first house she saw, and collapsed with her sister still in her arms on the doorstep.

“Kate, Kate wake up.” Said Safiyah, as she shook Kate into consciousness

Kate woke up by raising her body into a sitting position panting and sweating. Safiyah comfortingly placed her hand on Kate’s chest and the other on her back as she muttered “it’s okay, he can’t hurt you anymore”

Kate simply just nodded 

“It’s been awhile since your last nightmare, does it have anything to do with you going back to Gotham?”

“I need to” Kate signed, refusing to make eye contact

“No you don’t, you could stay here, with me” Safiyah letting the last part show more emotion than she intended

“I need to, for me, I need to see her just once, just for a little bit” Safiyah did not need to hear the words, she could see all the emotion through Kate’s eyes.

“I know, and I want you to so you can be at peace, I just don’t want you to get hurt.”

“I promise I will be safe and careful, and I will protect my families, both of them.” Kate mouthed the last part while signing it, so Safiyah knew she was talking about her and Ocean.

“I know but please” Safiyah moved her hand from Kate’s chest to her neck where there was a considerably large scar “don’t ever trade what you can’t get back, again” that last part hit harder than intended, only her and Ocean knew the reason for Kate’s muteness 

Kate put her head down again and just nodded 

“I’m sorry, I know you don’t like talking about it” Safiyah’s voice filled with regret 

“It’s okay, but if I had to, I would do it again” 

“And I’m sure Beth turned out great because of it, but she won’t ever know that, or ever truly know you, not in the way you know her”

“I know, but I need to see her, to meet her, again”

“I understand, your forged papers are done, whenever you need them, you can leave.” 

And Kate did just that on the very same day.

Beth and Mary were in line at the only good coffee stand on the Gatham University campus, the sisters were debating and betting the other on how long they thought their new Crows bodyguard would last. 

“Ten weeks” Beth said confidently 

“That’s generous” Mary replied, her sister’s max was always seven weeks

“Well I haven’t seen her before when I visit dad at work, so my guess is she’s a new recruit meaning she doesn’t get to be picky when it comes to assignments” Beth said casually, confident in her observation.

“I’m going to go with…a double chocolatey chip frappuccino with four shots of espresso, large.” Mary redirected once she realized she was next.

“I’ll have the same but a medium, thank you” Beth said

“And three months” Mary replied as the duo moved to the pick up area.

“Always the optimist” Beth said before she gazed back at the line they were just in. her eyes landed on a woman with short blonde hair, blue eyes, and a scar on her neck using a notebook to order her drink. She didn’t know why but something about her seemed so familiar, the kind of familiar and old friend brings.

“Hello, Beth?” Mary said for the third time.

“Yeah, sorry, I just…I don’t know, do-do we know her?” Beth asked while pointing at the mystery woman.

“No, maybe she’s in one of your classes.” Mary responded.

“That’s-no, that’s not it” Beth said, her gaze still fixed on the woman who was now heading in her direction.

“Medium black hot for Kate” the barista said, and Beth froze at the name, her eyes still remained on the women who picked up the drink, but the emotions in them changed. They went from confusion and entrancement to sadness and grief.

“Hey you okay?” Mary asked before she went to place a hand over Beth’s reassuringly.

“Yeah I’m fine.” she responded when she finally broke her gaze away from the woman.

Chapter Text

Kate threw the almost empty disposable cup in the public trash can before entering the abandoned building that had become her temporary home. It was okay, a step down from her place on Coryana, but a step up from Cartwright’s basement. She didn’t have a bed, but she brought a hammock with her that was now set up, both ends tied to separate pillars in her hideout, it was one of the few things she took with her. Her brother, Ocean, gifted her with plant seeds before she left, nothing fancy, only useful stuff like avocados, radishes, pole beans, chamomile flowers, and English lavender flowers. There was not much she could do with the seeds at the moment, she already wasted some of her low spending money on coffee while spying on her sister, she wasn’t about to let herself lose more to get dirt.

She started to set up the rest of her limited supplies in her temporary home. She started with her weapons, taking out her favorite first. It was a Japanese Wakizashi tanto knife that she forged herself, it was her favorite because she forged the gem from her necklace into it. She used the knife to pry open a broken radiator, and removed most of its components before placing her sniper rifle inside the compartment, and closed it. She placed her bags of seeds with the phone that Safiyah gave her under one of the loose floor boards before carving a “S” on the wood and putting it back into place.

Kate then took out her red notebook where she had written details about her sister down, from her back pocket. From her front pocket she took out the receiver that connects with the tracking device she had planted on Beth. She sat on the floor, leaning against a pillar taking notes for hours. 

It was Tuesday, from 9:30am to 10:45am Beth was in the Science and Mathematics building at Gotham University, on the south west side of the fourth floor. From 11:00am to 1:45pm she was on the south east side of the second floor, she waited until 2pm and then left to her penthouse at 132 George Street on the east side of floor ten, in the Crows district.

Kate then looked at a previous note at the top of her page, it read “bodyguard” next to it, followed by “Mary Hamilton and Beth?” Kate made a new note to place a tracker on her sister’s bodyguard as well. 

“So how do you girls feel about agent Moore?” Jacob asked his daughters while at the dinner table.

“She’s okay I guess” Mary said nonchalantly 

“Alright and Beth?”

“Uhm yeah, sure whatever you say” Beth responded, her eyes glued to the mashed potatoes in front of her, scooping them up with her spoon only to let them fall back onto her plate over and over again.

“You okay kiddo?”

“Mumhum” Beth responded, her eyes still fixed on her uneaten food.

“Hey dad do we know any mute people?” Mary asked, earning the gaze of everyone, even Beth.

“What?”

“Well at the coffee shop on campus, we saw someone who seemed familiar but couldn’t tell from where, and they were mute, so I thought defining characteristics and all. So do we?”

“How do you know that this man is mute and not deaf, Mary?” Catherine jumped into the conversation.

“Okay, first of all I said they, trying to not assume gender here, and because when their name was called, they nodded and picked up their coffee.”

“Her name was Kate” Beth finally said

“Gender” Mary asserted not taking the hint

“I would have remembered them if their name was Kate” Beth asserted

“No Mary, I don't think we know her-them.” Jacob quickly corrected himself

The next day all three of the sisters returned to the coffee shop. Kate didn’t plan on wasting more money today, she saw the help wanted sign before she walked in, and she wrote a request for an application on her black notebook. Mary and Beth ordered the same drinks they got the previous day as agent Moore watched them from the entrance. As Kate approached the counter she showed the question written in her notebook to the employee.

“Um well the only positions we have available right now are front of the house, which is mostly just customer service.” The cashier responded, which made Mary’s head turn toward their conversation

Kate nodded her head slightly, as a way of telling the cashier to keep going

“And our customer service jobs require someone with good communication skills, and I don’t feel like you have that.” At that Mary’s jaw dropped, she didn’t even know these people but she was suddenly filled with the overwhelming desire to hug one of them and punch the other.

Kate just simply nodded yet again, this time with a forced smirk and sad eyes. She went to take a seat at one of the tables near the entrance to try and slip a tracker onto her sisters bodyguard but Mary blocked her path.

“I’m so sorry that happened to you, it was messed up” Mary told the stranger “I’m Mary by the way, she/her” Mary said with a smile.

“Kate she/her as well” Kate signed to her step-sister, who didn’t know she was her step-sister

“I’m going to be completely honest, I have no idea what that means,” Mary replied, still smiling.

“Kate she/her” Kate wrote in her book before showing it to Mary.

“Nice to meet you Kate, me and my sister Beth” Mary pointed to her which made Beth feel slightly uncomfortable “we come here almost every morning at this time if you ever want to join us.”

“Thanks, that sounds really nice” Mary saw her write. The pair then walked over to Beth, who still seemed uneasy, and Mary introduced the siblings to each other.

“Kate this is my sister Beth she/her, Beth this is my new friend Kate she/her.” Kate never intended to become friends with her, but it could have its advantages. The twins then shook hands to greet each other, it had been ten years since the last time they touched and Kate felt it, so did Beth but she didn’t know what it was yet. “And this” Mary pointed to Sophie who was now approaching them “is agent Moore, pronouns?” She asked once the bodyguard was close enough.

“Not now” Sophie said to Mary.

“Okay” Mary replied while rolling her eyes

“Who are you?” Sophie turned to Kate before asking.

“Kate she/her” Kate held up the same note she used to introduce herself to Mary

“You have a last name?”

Kate nodded

“Can you say it?” Sophie asked, impatience.

Kate shook her head from side to side.

“Easy there, no need to be aggressive” Mary told Sophie.

“Ya Sophie, chill.” Beth chimed in.

“How do you know my first name?” Sophie asked surprised, during the confusion Kate clipped a tracker onto Sophie’s Crow blazer.

“I look at your file on my dad’s laptop” Beth replied nonchalantly while taking a sip from her frappuccino “What?”  

“That’s a huge invasion of my privacy” Sophie responded her gaze cold, not showing any emotions.

“Sohail” Kate ripped the page out of her notebook and placed it on the table the group was gathered around.

Chapter Text

After their conversation at the coffee shop, Mary, Beth, and Sophie left for classes, but before she left, Mary asked Kate if she wanted to hang out after classes, and gave Kate her number. After the trio left Kate walked back to her den to retrieve the phone hidden in the floorboards. It was a 1999 Ericsson T28, a flip phone, if it was up to Kate she wouldn’t have gotten a phone at all, she didn’t see the use for one given that she already had a pager that Safiyah used to keep in contact with her. But Safiyah gifted it to her anyways before she left, telling her that the people she will be around now insisted on having many things that they don’t need, and it was best to blend in. Though it would be hard to blend in in 2014 with a flip phone, Kate insisted because there was a slim chance she would ever use it, and now that chance has come.

After taking the phone out she put Mary’s name and number into her contacts, which before was limited to Safiyah and Ocean.

Kate: Hey Mary it’s Kate from the coffee shop.

Mary didn’t respond right away which got Kate a little worried that she only gave her the number out of pity.

Mary: Hi Kate so so sorry I didn’t right back sooner, the professor in my last class has a no phones policy

Kate: Totally understand, I was wondering if the offer still stands to hang out with you and Beth later?

Mary: Of course we’re done with classes at around 1 if you're free then?  

“Who are you texting?” Mary heard from behind her, and jumped slightly.

“Jesus Sophie, we gotta put a bell on you or something” Mary replied when she saw who it was after she turned around to look.

“I would recommend you don’t” Sophie said standing next to Beth who was now also curious.

“Don’t worry it’s not a guy or anything like that, it’s just Kate” Mary replied sensing what the next question was going to be and answering before it was asked.

“Why are you texting Kate?” It was Beth’s turn to interage Mary

“She wanted to know if we could hang out after we’re done with our classes” 

“I haven’t seen her around campus before, when are her classes done?” Beth asked, misinterpreting the ‘we’ Mary was talking about.

“Oh, I don’t know, be ‘we’ and ‘our’ I meant me and you, as in she is going to hang out with us.” Mary said while gesturing to Beth then back at her.

“Yes, all of us.” Sophie chimed in, and gestured to the three of them.

“Or how about just the two of you?” Beth asked, pointing to Mary and Sophie.

“Well it’s too late now, I already confirmed.” Mary said, showing Beth the phone with the last message.

Kate: 1 is great, see you guys then :)

“Why would you do that?” Beth asked, her voice harsh and accusatory but not with anger.

“I thought you liked Kate, she’s nice, why do you suddenly have a problem with her?” Mary asked, genuinely confused.

“I do, she just …she just …I don’t know she makes me tense when I’m around her, and I got the sense that she knows me but she doesn’t mention it.” Beth admitted

“I too find her suspicious.” Sophie admitted 

“Well maybe she’ll tell you where you know her from over lunch, because we’re going” Mary said putting her foot down.

It was now 9pm, Mary had rescheduled with Kate because after their argument Beth had told her that she had plans for 1 until 4, and Mary had her clinic to run, not that anyone knew that, so she wasn’t free until after 8. Kate was completely fine with that so she waited in her hideout, taking notes on Beth and Sophie’s whereabouts in the meantime. She noticed that in the time between 1 and 4 Beth and Sophie only went back to the coffee shop, and Beth’s movements traced the entire building of the shop inside and out.

The four met at a gay bar that Mary’s friend, Evan Blake recently bought and encorporated weekly drag shows into it. Beth was also his friend but they weren’t as close, they used to be because Kate and him were as thick as thieves, and after she died Beth was one of the first people he came out to. 

“Mary Hamilton, welcome to my humble abode” Evan greeted her “and what’s this” he said gesturing to Kate and Sophie “fresh meat, you’re too kind, truely” he smiled at her “gifting my bar all the queers you meet.”

“I-I’m not ..that” Sophie said, stumbling over her words in the process.

“Huhm sure” Evan replied while nodding, clear not convinced 

“In my opinion everyone is considered to be either pansexual or asexual, until proven or they claim to be otherwise.” Beth chimed in, also not believing Sophie’s words

“Well I claim to be straight.” Sophie said authoritatively

“‘Or proven otherwise’, there is such a thing as closetted” Beth stated 

“Yes, and who is this one?” Evan asked, pointing at Kate before he looked at her “We know each other don’t we?” he asked, smiling.

Kate nodded, which got Beth’s attention 

“Bars?” he asked, but Kate shook her head no “Highschool?” he asked, but Kate shook her head again

“Middle School” Kate wrote in her notebook 

“Middle School but not Highschool?” Evan asked, perplexed 

“Moved at 13” Kate showed him

“13?” Beth asked in a whisper “Why?” she pushed

“I don’t really want to talk about it if that’s okay” Kate wrote

“It’s fine, you don’t have to tell us anything you don’t want to” Mary reassured her

“Yeah, this is a safe space, for everyone.” Evan added 

It was 11 when the group left the bar, Kate drank the most out of everyone yet she was the least drunk. After pestering her repeatedly, Mary finally got Sophie to loosen up a little and have a drink. Sophie had been looking uncomfortable since they had entered and both Mary and Beth had their own theories as to why. Sophie and Mary got tipsy fairly quickly Sophie stopped herself before she was able to get drunk but Mary didn’t .And that left Beth and Kate to have a silent duel with the liquor getting, and hitting stronger each time. Eventually Kate won, both used drinking as a coping mechanism for losing the other, but Kate’s liver fought tonight for time with Beth. 

The group was walking down the alleyway to get to Sophie’s car so she could drive Mary and Beth back to the penthouse. While walking to the car, Mary was stumbling over her own feet with every step she took, and Sophie was trying her hardest to make sure she didn’t fall on her face. Kate and Beth were walking a few feet behind them. “Did we know each other in middle school?” Beth asked, breaking the silence that had lasted since they had left the bar.

Kate looked a little surprised but she nodded yes.

“My sister was named Kate too, did you know her?” Beth asked in a somber tone.

Kate looked sad at this but still nodded yes.

“W-” Beth didn’t have time to ask her next question as a woman wearing an all black Victorian long coat and a black veil that hid her face, ran up to Mary, ripping her from out of Sophie’s hands and bit her neck. Mary immediately fell to the ground, unconscious as Sophie stepped back in shock before pulling out her gun. Kate was quick to get into action as well, but she did not take a fighting stance, instead she went in front of Beth and spread her arms out to cover her sister.

“Hands in the air, Now!” Sophie demanded, pointing her gun at the assailant.

“Now here I thought I would go for a late night snack, but tonight I’ll have a feast. I always wondered what crow blood would taste like.” The woman said before hitting Sophie’s gun away with her tonfa. Sophie then pulled out her expandable baton and engaged in a fight with what seemed to be a modern day vampire. The blood sucker had the upper hand, placing many hits with her tonfa on Sophie’s body, and blocking almost all of Sophie’s strikes with her weapon. After what couldn’t have been longer than two minutes, the vampire was about to knock Sophie out with a final blow until Kate finally stepped in.

She was trying to take Safiyah’s advice and not do anything that would make her look suspicious, but her top priority was to keep Beth safe. She had her fingers crossed that Sophie could manage but when she realized she couldn’t she pushed herself to do it.  

She moved away from her sister and picked up one of the more intact discarded glass bottles that was next to a large dumpster. She threw the bottle not at the vampire, but to the building wall she was just a few feet in front of. As expected she didn’t see it coming because it wasn’t aimed to hit her, the glass shattered on impact against the wall, the shards flying pierced some of the skin on the vampire's face. She closed her eyes and held up her hand to shield her face from further glass, that’s when Kate ran towards her. Taking her out in a single move, she used the vampires own lower thigh to launch herself higher, Kate then used her other foot to push her body further away from the wall in the direction of the vampire and grabbed onto the arm she used to protect her face from the glass, with her other hand Kate slabbed her in the back with the tip of her pen. Using her body weight and gravity Kate fell on top of the vampire, pulling the arm she latched onto behind the vampire’s back, and keeping her down with a knee on her other hand’s wrist. 

Sophie and Beth stared at her in shock, Kate looked at Sophie first, making brief eye contact before lowering her gaze to Sophie’s belt which contained a pair of handcuffs, trying to communicate with her what she wanted. Sophie, after watching where Kate’s eyes landed, raised herself from the ground and went to cuff the woman’s hands before reporting what happened over the Crows radio. 

After the woman was cuffed, Kate stood up from where she had taken the assailant down, and glanced at Beth who was still staring at her, the look of shock on her face mirrored the one in her eyes, and she was breathing heavily. 

When some Crow agents came to take the vamp away into custody, paramedic’s also came for Mary, and so did the Commander. Kate had been so wrapped up in protecting Beth and seeing her father for the first time in a decade she didn’t even notice the blood dripping from her hand.

“Are you okay?” Sophie asked her when she saw the red leaking from her hand, the question finally pulled Kate out of her thoughts.

She looked away from the ambulance Mary was being loaded into, and turned to look at Sophie and nodded, still not realizing she had been injured.

“Are you sure? It looks like you might need stitches” Sophie persisted

“What?” Kate mouthed to her, a look of confusion on her face. Sophie took the back of Kate’s hand and brought it up so both could view it. Her palm was covered in a dark red color and had different sized shards of glass sticking out of it. Kate gazed at the wound, she didn’t feel it when she picked up the bottle as it pierced her skin, she didn’t feel it when she gripped her hand tightly around the pen, nor when she used it to hold the vampire down, and she barely felt it now.

“We can take you to the hospital with Mary to get that fixed up.” Sophie said, unknowingly still holding her hand.

Kate looked down at the ground as she shook her head no.

“Hey” Beth said while walking up to the duo, and Kate looked up to see her “Oh my god” she said as she saw Kate’s wounded hand, and Sophie pulled her hand away from Kate’s “Ho-how?” she asked.

Kate didn’t respond, she just kept looking at her.

“Come on, we have to get you to the hospital.” Beth asserted, worriedly.

“She doesn’t want to go.” Sophie said, and Beth looked at her as if she was insane.

“Why?” Beth asked, louder than she intended.

Kate lowered her head and responded by shaking it no, yet again.

“Beth” the Commander said as he approached his daughter from behind “Agent Moore” he greeted, and Sophie nodded “Who’s this?” He asked, noticing the third woman.

“Dad, this is Kate,” Beth told him, “she’s my friend.” Hearing that made Kate smile.

“We have to go now, your sister needs you.” He stated, which made Kate’s smile drop, she wasn’t jealous of Mary, but that statement was hard to hear, it hurt to hear.

“Okay” Beth told him, he nodded and went back to his car to wait for her “Sophie did you go through any medical training while serving?” Beth asked, still worried about Kate.

“Yeah, a little” Sophie responded

“Okay, do you think that if Kate went back to your apartment, you could help her?” Beth asked, a pleading look in her eyes.

“Uhm I-I don’t ..I don’t know” Sophie said, she then met Kate’s eyes while trying not to look at Beth’s. They were captivating blue orbs that were chipping through the wall Sophie spent years building to hide herself behind. For some inexplicable reason she liked it, no other blue eyes, no other eyes, have given her this feeling. She felt the fear of liking it when heart rate affected her breathing, and she averted her gaze to the ground. “Yeah” she finally answered.

When Sophie took Kate back to her apartment, she went straight to work, taking out her first aid kit, and bringing her to the bathroom. With a pair of tweezers, Sophie started taking out each individual piece of glass, thinking about how it takes a second for something to break, but what feels like forever to put it back together again. Kate kept her composure, not so much as flinching when the pieces were taken out. After Sophie was done with the stitches she asked Kate why she didn’t just go with Mary to the hospital. 

Kate breathed heavily on the mirror above the bathroom sink, and wrote in the condensation she created “don’t like” Sophie just nodded, and then she got an idea.

She led Kate to her living room couch and asked her to sit, when she did Sophie pulled out her phone and asked for her number, luckily Kate brought her own phone with her before she left. She took out her own phone to make sure she put the number in right, then added her name. She got distracted by the set of emojis that were on the newer phone before deciding to put a wooden stake, and a vampire next to her name. Then she handed the device back to Sophie who smiled at Kate’s contact before she messaged her.

Sophie: Why do you have a flip phone?

Kate smiled at her when she read the question, of all the things Sophie has learned, and is yet to learn about her, that was the first question.

Kate: All I need is something I can text on.

Sophie: You can text on a phone that’s from this century.

Kate: Agreed, but mine cost less 

“Fair” Sophie said out loud, Kate was the only one who actually had to communicate using a phone. “Where did you learn how to fight like that?”

Kate: My brother taught me.

“Why did you want to hang out with Mary and Beth?” She asked.

Kate: Mary was the first person who was nice to me here.

That was true, of course it wasn’t why she wanted to hang out with them, it was Beth not Mary. “So you risked your life for her because she was nice to you?” Sophie asked, clearly not buying it.

Kate: Didn’t you?

“That’s different, it’s my job to protect them.” Sophie stated

Kate: Because of the Crows?

“Yeah, from what I’ve heard, the Commander has always been overprotective of his daughters, since his other biological daughter died.” Sophie confirmed.

Kate: Is he hiring? 

Chapter Text

Sophie was the first to wake up, after she was done stitching Kate’s wound it was already past midnight and Sophie couldn’t remember anything that happened after talking to Kate about the Crows. Which is why she didn’t wake up in her bed, she woke up on the couch, or more specifically she woke up on Kate who was on the couch.

Which made Sophie realize another thing that didn’t happen last night was Kate going home. Kate was sleeping on her back, and Sophie fell asleep on her front. Sophie’s head rested on Kate’s chest, thankfully she was still asleep, she was holding Sophie in place with one arm bent as it ran up her back and put her hand in Sophie’s hair, the other was placed on the back of Sophie’s thigh. Sophie’s own hands were on Kate’s body, in some of her more sensitive areas as well. She had her left hand placed on the side of her neck, and her other hand on the side of Kate’s upper thigh. The fingertips on her left hand could feel the parts of Kate’s skin where her scar started and where it ended. And her nose could smell what deodorant still remained on her since yesterday, she didn’t smell like flowers or trees, she had the faintest scent of sweet, spicy, musky earth. Sophie was tempted to burrow her face deeper into the fabric of Kate’s shirt where the scent was but stopped herself before doing so, out of fear that would wake her up.

After a few more moments, and a few inhales and exhales from her nose, Sophie decided she needed to move. She moved her hand off of Kate’s scar first, then the other off of her thigh. With that hand free she used it to carefully move Kate’s hand down so it was out of her hair, and placed it against the back pillow of the couch. She then used the thumb of her other hand to push the tips of Kate’s fingers back so her hand was no longer cupping her thigh, as the rest of her fingers hovered above Kate’s hand. Once Kate’s hand was flat enough Sophie used her thumb and index finger to grasp onto the crease between Kate’s and slowly took it off of her body and released it, letting it hang off the couch.

Sophie then tried to raise herself off of Kate but while trying to push herself up she accidentally returned her right hand to the side of her thigh while pushing herself up and forward. As a result of the pressure to her thigh, Kate unconsciously returned her left hand to Sophie’s thigh which lowered her body to where she could feel Kate’s breath against her cheek. But not for long because, also as a reaction, Kate, rose her head, opened her mouth and bit down on the upper helix of Sophie’s ear, before falling back. Which caused Sophie to close her eyes and bite down on her bottom lip, as to not let out noises that would wake her up. 

After a few moments she opened her eyes and decided to try again. She removed the hand from her thigh in the same way as before then placed her left hand on the edge of the couch before taking her right off of the body beneath her. Using the free hand she brought it up to Kate’s face, letting it hover over skin, trying to figure out what the best course of action was. She decided to apply the smallest amount of pressure to her bottom lip using the tip of her middle finger, pushing it down and towards her. It worked and her teeth released the skin, it was sure to leave a mark later though. Sophie acted quickly by leaning on the hand holding her up, rolling off of Kate and onto the floor before getting up and checking to see if she woke up. She didn’t. 

Kate woke up roughly thirty minutes later, while Sophie was in the shower, completely unaware of what both she and Sophie did while she was asleep. Hearing the shower running, Kate found it to be the perfect time to scope the place out. To seem inconspicuous all she did was take out her outdated phone, and took pictures of anything that seemed important, such as her Point Rock boxing metal that was framed, her fire alarm on the ceiling, and the different locks on her door. She was going to attempt to sneak into the bedroom to take more photos but was interrupted by a text from Ocean.

Ocean: Just checking in to make sure you’re still alive.

Kate smirked at her brother’s text before composing her own.

Kate: Unfortunately no, but I was buried with this thing, so I got to bring it over to the other side

Ocean: Yeah that’s another good thing about the later models, more weather protection 3:)

Kate: What the hell does 3:) mean?

Ocean: Exactly

Kate: ?

Ocean: ‘hell’ 3:) is the devil.

Kate: I might need a newer model then because that in no way was clear

Ocean: If that’s the reason then you would have to get us both one then

Kate: If you pay for it I would be happy to

“Who are you texting?” Sophie said from behind her, she didn’t even realize she had gotten out of the shower. Kate turned around to see her, her breath hitched a little when she saw that Sophie only had a towel on. She did nothing but stare at her for a few more moments before she managed to pull herself back.

Kate: My brother

She texted Sophie, they both heard the chime go off in her bedroom. Still in the short towel she walked into her room and retrieved the phone. “Oh okay” she said after reading the text, “Shit is that time?” She asked, more to herself than Kate, “Your interview at Crows HQ is in 47 minutes.”

Kate: Shit

“I didn’t use all the hot water, and I have a lot of white button downs, dress pants, and black blazers, if you want to just go from here?” She asked, hoping the answer would be yes.

Kate nodded before she closed her phone and put it into her pocket. 

“Okay great, I just will need your clothes so I can put them separately from mine.” 

Kate looked confused before nodding slightly in acknowledgement, she then pulled the sweatshirt she’d been wearing over her head and then flooded it neatly and placed it on the couch cushion. She did the same with her shirt, exposing her abs and tattoos in the process, on her chest she had a tribal tattoo of a roaring lioness with flames that ran to her shoulder and a little down her arm. Right above her hips was an all black abstract tribal tattoo of a tree with tiny bats where the leaves were supposed to be, she also had some scars around it. Her last tattoo was on her other arm, it was of a wolf’s head, only having half of it done in a tribal style, the other half was abstract, and the sides were spit and designed like a yin and yang symbol. 

Sophie was so captivated by the designs she barely registered the fact that Kate was currently taking off her belt, that was until she heard the sound of its metal creaking.

“Uhm yu-you don’t need to…uh…You can do that in the bathroom” she managed to say

Kate then met her eyes with her own, smiled, and nodded before going into the bathroom, closing the door, and locking it.

She hadn’t used a shower since she’d escaped Cartwright’s house when she was sixteen, Coryana didn’t exactly have running water, even in the queen’s chambers. She finished unlatching her belt all the way, and removed her pants, then her bra, underwear, and socks. Sophie was right, there was a lot of hot water left, and it felt so good. Kate relished in the feeling that was given by water pressure, it was the first time she ever felt it in seven years. It felt like the first time ever because since then she became reborn, her skin told that story by itself, noting it was no longer virgin as like the rest of her, which made her miss Coryana more.

After she finished, she heard a knock on the door, and exited in one of the short towels.

“Hi” Sophie greeted her, she was now fully dressed in a white button up dress shirt, black dress pants, and a black blazer “Here” she said as she handed Kate the same outfit. She accepted it with a smile as she re-entered the bathroom to change into them. Sophie followed to pick up Kate’s clothes that she intended to wash separately, leaving the door open behind her. Kate was again confused, but when she first arrived at Coryana, she went through a similar situation to ensure she wasn’t hiding anything. She turned her back towards Sophie and slid the towel down from her chest to her hips. Her back exposed another tattoo, running along the line of her spine there was a tribal tattoo of a dragon and snake intertwined with each other, Sophie might not have even noticed there was a snake if Kate still had her bra on. She didn’t wait for her to put on the one she lent her, and quickly scooped up the rest of Kate’s clothes and left the bathroom. 

Despite the earlier hiccup, Sophie and Kate reached Crows HQ early, and saw Jacob waiting for them to start the interview. After Sophie wished her good lock they went their separate ways. Jacob wanted to interview her himself after seeing what she could do the other night, she still hadn’t worn off the after shock of seeing him last night, and it made Kate’s nerves grow. 

“So let’s get started shall we?” Jacob said while trying to find something to write with in his jacket “ Have you ever worked in a security-related position before? If so, what positions have you held?” He asked while searching in his jacket pockets.

Last she checked, her father didn’t know sign language, so Kate took out her pen from Sophie’s inside jacket pocket, and before she could do the same with her notebook, Jacob took the pen out of her hand.

“Ah, thank you.” He said in regards to the pen, not noticing the shocked expression on Kate’s face “So have you, and if so what was your job title?” he asked again.

Kate only stared at him, her mouth agape, her eyes going from him to the pen then back to him, not knowing how to communicate what she needed. “I need my pen” she eventually signed to him, knowing he wouldn’t understand the message.

“I-I don’t understand” he admitted 

Kate then pointed at her pen, which he was still holding. He then gave it back to her, and she wrote “I haven’t, but I know I can”

After the paperwork part of the interview was finished, Jacob took Kate out of his office to the training sector, to test her fighting skills. 

“I know that yesterday, you kicked some weirdo’s ass, but one good takedown is not enough, it is time to see if yesterday was luck or not” Jacob said gesturing to the fighting ring that already had an agent in it “meet agent Taveroff, your sparring partner.”

Kate held out her hand to shake as a greeting, but Taveroff just scoffed and finished putting on the rest of his equipment.

“Let’s see what you got” Jacob said before going to stand next to Sophie to watch the match. Kate took a deep breath and let it go before going to change into the appropriate gear herself. Before the match started she talked herself out of knocking the agent out in the first round, she needed it to look like an even match, the least she could do was make sure he didn’t cry. With her in just a sports bra and shorts, her tattoos were on full display, Jacob seemed more curious than shocked at them, Sophie was a mix of both even though she’d already seen them. After wrapping her hands, Kate went to shake her opponents, like before he only scoffed, okay maybe there was room to make him cry. 

As the first round started, Kate tried her hardest to look nervous, even a little overwhelmed, as she let the man hit her a few times over. Once she felt satisfied with the number of hits he got in, Kate struck him a couple of times, lighting fast in the chest. Mostly to catch him off guard and to get him to stubble back a little, then once he used one of his hands to guard his chest, she used the bent arm to throw him to the floor. He wasn’t even bleeding, this was going to be easier than she thought. As soon as the second round started he lunged at her, Kate barely fought back, letting the poor man win this round, after all she didn’t want him to cry. During the third round Taveroff got cocky, he broke the rules by choking Kate after he landed a punch on her face. Kate was taken aback by this, she let him land the punch but she didn’t expect the hands to then wrap around her scar tissue. For a brief moment it caused her thoughts to go back to that day. 

“I’ll do anything please, just let her go and keep me please!” Kate pleaded to her captor 

She pulled herself back into the moment, punched the agent square in his face, knocking him to his knees as his hands clutched his bleeding, broken nose. He didn’t cry though.

After she was declared the victor, Jacob informed her she starts Friday, tomorrow. Sophie offered her a ride home which Kate declined at first, but after Sophie persisted she gave in, but didn’t disclose her actual address. The address she gave Sophie was of an apartment complex outside the Crows district that was only a block away from her hideout. 

After she dropped Kate off, Sophie texted Beth her address, Beth, not entirely trusting either of them, followed Sophie’s car from the moment she left Crows HQ with Kate. Once she noticed that Kate didn’t enter the building, she kept tailing her in her car, Sophie did the same. They both watched in their separate cars as Kate entered the abandoned building, before Sophie entered Beth’s car nonchalantly which startled her.

“What the hell are you doing here?” Beth asked her

“You were the one who asked me to get her address” Sophie reminded her

“Yeah, but, how did you know I was here?” 

“You read my confidential file, I figured this is something you would do.” 

Kate knew her sister and Sophie had followed her, so when someone entered her home she didn’t even lift her head to see who it was. 

“Nice suit” that wasn’t the voice of Beth or Sophie, and Kate finally raised her head to see the woman, it was Safiyah “Hi” 

Chapter Text

“Hi” she said before being interrupted by Kate's lips, stopping her own from speaking further. Their kiss was passionate, full of longing, and full of emotions, different ones on both ends. After Safiyah said her first words and Kate caught sight of her, she crossed the room, moving towards the queen with purpose. The image of her alone was enough for all her thoughts to vanish, what replaced them was what drove her to Safiyah in the first place, pure animalistic desire. Kate kept moving herself forward, only now with less speed since she closed her eyes moments before the kiss, and still had them closed along with Safiyah’s. 

Safiyah was pushed back by Kate until she felt herself being pinned against a metal pillar, both of Kate’s hands had cupped her face at the beginning of the kiss, only one remained, the other was now at her side. Safiyah’s hands were on her hips, she couldn’t help it, her brain went into airplane mode, after a minute Kate’s mouth migrated to her neck, and she finally got to take in a breath. 

“Wow” Beth said, more to herself than Sophie, who was just blankly staring at the exchange “That escalated quickly” Beth couldn’t help but notice how Sophie’s right hand formed into a fist, her knuckles bordering on a shade of white.

“Muhm hum” she replied after coiling her lips into her mouth

Soon after Kate moved her mouth again, this time not further down but up. She began biting Safiyah’s ear gently at first but it got progressively rougher as her sets of teeth moved closer together being called into the action like magnets. 

“Kate” Safiyah cried out to her, though her eyes were looking at the ceiling “Ah it’s only been a few days and you’re pulling out all your moves” She said, her eyes still closed from the initial kiss. Kate was so wrapped up in the moment, so infatuated with the women, so desperate for a distraction, a hit of dopamine, she had forgotten they were being watched. “I think we should stop, your sister is watching us after all” but Safiyah hadn't forgotten. 

“And her bodyguard” Kate signed, after her mouth detached from the skin.

“I didn’t notice them…might be losing my touch” 

“Joined Beth in her car, I only know because she followed me in her own car” Kate signed, knowing full well that Sophie and Beth would have no idea what she was saying.

“Your sister is actually why I came to talk to you” Safiyah said in a serious tone

“Okay” Kate mouthed, instead of signed

“A part of me, a selfish part of me…never wanted you to meet her again, because I knew once you came here, you would never come back.” She said, tears filling her eyes, knowing what she needs to do but hating doing it. “And I….I can’t come with you, this is where you belong but it's not where I belong.” A single tear signaled the breaking of her damn “Which is why, we need to end this”

Kate shook her head, no, as she cupped Safiyah’s face with her hands, and too, let her damn fall, with the water that streamed down her face. “I love you” she mouthed. 

“No” she said somberly “no, you don’t” she shook her head at Kate “this isn’t love, and…deep down inside I think you know that, I think you’ve always known that.”

Kate stared at her for a few moments longer with her drenched eyes, and then with her hands now hovering over Safiyah’s face, her thumbs over the skiing that followed her eyes, she placed her forehead on hers, closing her eyes. 

“The selflessness you have for her, putting her needs above yours, wanting for her to have everything she wants no matter how much it destroys you, that’s love….and that is not what this is.” She said through sniffles 

“I want you to have what you want” Kate signed, moving hands away from Safiyah’s face, knowing it would do nothing to change her mind but still needing to try.

“I want you to be with someone you would walk through hell for, that’s love…and for her you did more than just walk through it” 

“It was reimbursement for bringing her to the devil's doorstep, bringing her to hell in the first place.” she signed.

 “Unknowingly, and you traded more than just your soul, for her safe passage out of hell.” She said, glancing at the scar on Kate’s neck.

“So what happens now?” She questioned

“I still care about you, so try not to die” she said, and Kate actually smiled “So I would like us to remain in contact, if you need anything ask” Kate nodded

It was Friday, Kate was wearing the same clothes Sophie had lent her the previous day, it was the only pair she had that matched the Crows uniform. She intended on wearing it to the job until she got her first check, until then she wouldn’t be able to afford it because for some reason, nice clothes are really expensive. According to Jacob they got paid by-weekly, but luckily for her, she got hired in the middle of the pay weeks, so she would only have to wear the uniform a couple of hours for the next seven days. She planned on avoiding long conversations with Sophie until then, she couldn’t afford for her to ask for her clothes back until then. That seemed like it was going to be a problem though, because they had both been assigned to watch over her sisters for the day. 

Mary had woken up in the hospital the day prior and had made a full recovery, surprisingly instead of wanting to stay home and rest, she wanted to go back to school. Insisting that she was perfectly fine and had important lectures to attend, she convinced the duo. Kate and Sophie drove to the penthouse in Sophie’s SUV, unlike the last time, they kept to themselves for most of the ride. Kate took note of this, she found it quite odd in fact, she had actually grow to quite like Sophie’s company. 

When they arrived at the penthouse, it was still early, Mary was in her room doing her makeup, and Beth was in the shower. Sophie went to wait in Mary’s room for her, as Kate went to wait in Beth’s, more to snoop around than wait though. She didn’t have to look for long though, in a matter of seconds she hit the jackpot, a box with her name on it.

Chapter Text

For some inexplicable reason, it felt nice, seeing as Beth kept it all these years, she could tell it was old, the edges were peeling off, and her name was written in old newspaper clippings. She pulled it out from under Beth’s bed and placed it on top of the bed before carefully removing the lid. The first thing she pulled out was a map, she recognized some of the places on it that had markings. There was a green circle drawn, marking the place Beth was found at, it was the last time she saw her, when she still had her voice.

Kate watched from the passenger seat of the mad man’s car as the boy, she later learned was named Johnny, placed her sister on the doorstep of a dark blue house, and rang the doorbell, before running back to the car. Kate’s hands were zip tied to the inside of the car door, as part of their deal, Cartwright would remove her larynx, taking away her ability to speak. There was nothing physically preventing her from making a sound at the moment though, no duct tape, no gag over her mouth. Nothing on her, just fear inside her, just a mad man pointing a sniper rifle with a silencer on it at the person she cared about most.

There was a blue triangle drawn in the center of the Gotham river, not the whole river, just where the bridge was and where it hit land. On the parts where the river ended and land began, there was a mix of yellow, orange, and red triangles, the yellow triangles were the ones closest to the green circle, red was farthest away, and orange was in the middle. There was a big yellow circle drawn that covered the area of the yellow triangles and the green circle, with the walking trails in the circle also lined yellow. The yellow trails went out of the circle and at some point turned orange, and then red, some places on the trails had small circles either yellow, orange, or red, they were the same size as the green circle, each also had a red X on them. 

When she went deeper into the box, she found newspaper clippings, all had dates that were days, weeks, and a few months after the accident. The parts that talked about the accident, and the progress that the different search teams were making were highlighted. She remembered some of the dates well, all except for April 12th, 2003, the title read “Goodbye Kate Kane”, apparently her bone fragments were discovered, tested, and she was dead.

“What are you doing?” Sophie asked from behind her, which caused Kate to jump a little. She turned around to face her, and then looked down at the box in her hands, and back up at her. “Put that away before she sees you.” Sophie ordered in a whisper.

Kate nodded, and placed the lid back on before placing it back under the bed. 

After Beth and Mary finished getting ready, they all got into Sophie’s car, with Kate riding shotgun, and drove to the University. Much to her dismay, Kate was assigned to watch over Mary for the day, it’s not that she didn’t like Mary, in fact Mary was the most nice to her, she just wanted to spend time with Beth. As she proceeded to accompany her step-sister to her first few classes, she kept in constant contact with Sophie, updating her on Mary, as she did the same with Beth. 

Kate: All good over here you?

Sophie: We’re fine.

Kate: Good, where are you located?

Sophie: Why does that matter?

Kate: Well I got Mary’s class schedule, and so did you, but I don’t have Beth’s?

Sophie: So why do you need to know?

Kate: You know, in case I need to stake a =K, ; )

Sophie: What does =K mean

Kate: It’s supposed to be a vampire

Kate: My brother sent me a picture that told me what each emoji means

Sophie: That’s not an emoji 

Sophie: It’s an emoticon 

Kate: What’s the difference?

Sophie: Emojis are sort of like little pictures cartoon characters, and emoticons are symbols made of other symbols

Reading it made Kate smirk, for a moment it made her feel like she was thirteen again, and she was passing notes in class with Jenny Goldberg. This uncharacteristic display of emotion, did not go unnoticed by Mary, who had her interest piqued, wondering who her friend was texting.

Kate: I’ll make sure to tell my brother that ; ) <3

Sophie: <3?

Kate: A terrible attempt to make a heart

Now it was Sophie’s turn to smile, and to feel her stomach fill with butterflies, like Mary did with Kate, Beth noticed. 

“You texting Kate?” Beth asked, Sophie was so engrossed in her phone, in her texts with Kate, with Kate, that she didn’t realize the class ended. In that time Beth had made her way over to her, and read her all too well.

“Yeah-Why-H-how…did you know?” She asked in return, feeling a tad flustered, as she finally got pulled away from her thoughts.

“The only times you have ignored me this much, was when you had her on your mind, so I just figured..”

“Times? What are you talking about?” She asked, genuinely confused.

“Well there was the time I asked if you could stitch her up, and you didn’t give me a straight answer at first because you were busy staring into her eyes, into her soul.” Beth added, she didn’t know if the part about her soul was true or not, but it was fun to say. “And there was last night, when you couldn’t form actual words while watching her with someone else. ” That last word caused Sophie to involuntarily scowl at Beth. “I would have been less surprised if she had taken out a bag of cocaine from under the floorboards, or started talking. I thought she had a thing for you.” That caused Sophie’s expression to soften, “Then again, someone could be with someone, and still have feelings for someone else.”

“It’s not like that…I’m not like that, I-I’m straight, I don’t like her like that, I don’t like girls like that.” Sophie stated more to herself than Beth.

“You don’t need to convince me, and just for the record, it’s okay if you do, the world won’t end if you do.” Beth placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. 

Kate hadn’t worn a suit since her bat mitzvah, it was more uncomfortable than she remembered, the pants felt fine, but the dress shirt felt suffocating. The buttons on the sleeves and the arms of the shirt were what she found unbearable. Like the smile, Mary noticed, and she gave her permission to change. Since she planned on wearing it for several days, Kate didn’t wear anything under the button up, as to not sweat as much and cause it to smell. After she told Mary, they made a trip down to the buildings lost and found, during Mary’s break between classes when she normally had her lunch, to find Kate a change of clothes. After five minutes of rummaging through the bin of discarded clothes, Mary found the so-called “perfect shirt” for Kate. It was a black short sleeve men’s medium collared polo shirt, with a red rose on each shoulder, it was her style. 

After Kate had changed into the polo, she neatly folded up the white button down, and the blazer and placed them in Mary’s backpack, for safekeeping, she looked more like a student than a bodyguard now. With that out of the way, the duo made their way over to the nearest cafeteria, Mary got herself and Kate slices of pepperoni pizza, and she sat down at one of the tables outside as Kate texted Sophie again. 

Kate: We just got pizza from ECC, and are sitting outside 

Sophie: We will meet you there in 10 mins =)

Kate: Just so you know, the emojis you send me appear as emoticons 

Sophie: Then what did the emoticon I just sent appear as : /

Kate: ; D

After that exchange, she placed her phone in the right front pocket of her pants, when she set her gaze back on Mary she saw something, or rather someone, that wasn’t there before, a boy. Kate slowly walked over to the table and sat next to Mary on the bench of the round picnic table, which gave two feet of distance between her and the man. 

“Uhm, we were having a private conversation, if you don’t mind” The boy said, he looked like a typical frat guy, light blue collared polo short sleeve shirt, backwards baseball cap over his short blonde hair, polarized sport sunglasses hanging from the buttons on his shirt, and a sports watch. 

Kate didn’t nod or shake her head in response, she didn’t respond at all, the only movement she made was blinking. She didn’t know who he was, but she already knew she didn’t like him, not just for his arrogance towards her, but because she could tell he was making Mary uncomfortable.

“Christ, can’t take the hint can you.” He said more aggressively “This doesn’t concern you, so I highly suggest you leave, and find somewhere else to sit.” He pushed

In response Kate took out her CROWS pin that she had put in her pants front left pocket, when she changed, and started intentionally fidgeting with it in her hand while making eye contact with the aggressive man. 

“Aren’t you supposed to be wearing that on a blazer?” He asked in a sheepish tone, “Message received” he said taking his hand off his yeti mug, and reached into his pocket to take out his wallet “Will this do?” He asked her, pulling out a fifty. 

Kate, still fidgeting with her badge, raised an eyebrow.

“How about now?” He asked, pulling out another fifty, along with two twenties.

Kate got up from her seat and walked closer to the man, she then sat on the table, took the money from his hand and folded it as small, and thin as she could. After she was satisfied with the money’s shape she grabbed the man’s yeti mug from its handle and raised it to her chest. She slid the slider back, so the lid opened, and proceeded to insert the cash into the man’s hot coffee, before clicking the slider back in place and placing the mug on the table. The frat boy had been so frustrated, he ended up just storming off.

“Wow” Mary said after a moment.

Kate shifted her body, turning towards her.

“Thanks, I have a feeling he won’t be bothering me anymore.” She smiled

Kate then reached into her pocket to take out her phone, and text her.

Kate: Has he ever bothered you before? 

Mary seemed to understand and took out her own phone from her pockets, before the ding even went off.

“Unfortunately, yes” She sighed “But he doesn’t whenever I’m with an agent”

Kate: Have you told your dad?

“His family is one of the ones that fund the CROWS so, no”

Kate: It explains why an idiot like him could go to the same school as you

“Thanks” She said, giving Kate a half smile “Would it be okay if we don’t tell Beth and Sophie about this? Sophie would tell my dad, and Beth would hut him down.”

Kate gave off a full smile at that statement, she told Mary her secret was safe, by using her hand to symbolize her locking her lips and throwing away the key.

Chapter Text

It was Friday, no vampires, muggers, or crazies for the whole week, this silence was not what everyone told her to fear. This was not what she read about in the newspapers passed under her cell door, or what she heard from the stories she was told on Coryana. It was not that she wanted an adversary to add to her already complicated story, she didn’t come to Gotham to slay dragons, she was just told she would have to. She had trained so hard, not just on Coryana, but in her cell, to conquer such dragons, such demons, the devil that kept her. But she didn’t train just to slay such evils, she trained to protect the ones she loved from such evils, she once sold so much of herself to a great evil to protect Beth from it, and she will continue to protect her sister until the day she dies. 

But a week has passed and she had only put down one evil, because that was all that came, one evil. Maybe it would be like a video game, maybe it would keep getting harder as time went on, maybe a worse evil was lurking in the shadows, waiting for the right time to strike. It did seem like a video game, she started from the bottom with virtually nothing, she got a reward for defeating the vampire, her first salary, 715 dollars, though in a real video game, taxes wouldn’t exist to take off over a hundred dollars. That being said, it was still a lot of money, with it she could buy her own uniform, probably get two sets, and return the one she’d been wearing to Sophie. Hell she could even waste a little on herself and buy dirt and pots to plant her seeds in, Ocean was going to move to Gotham in a few weeks, hopefully she wouldn’t kill anything before then. There was not much else she wanted for herself, a ride would be nice but she knew she would have to wait a few weeks or months to get enough for the motorcycle she wanted, especially considering that her brother was going to drop off her forged license when he arrived. Maybe she could get some things for her hideout, nothing fancy, perhaps a table, or a chair, maybe curtains. 

“Oh hey Kate,” Sophie said, pulling her out of her thoughts, Kate blinked several times, bringing herself back to the present. She tore her eyes off of the check to look at Sophie. “Oh cool you got your first paycheck” She said pointing at the slip of paper. 

Kate, as she always did, smiled at her, and nodded her head in response.

“That’s great, um-”

“Sohail, I’ve got a new assignment for you” Jacob said, cutting Sophie off, as he approached the duo. Kate’s smile turned into a grim look, she didn’t want a new assignment, she wanted to stay where she was, she like where she was. “It’s only temporary” he assured her, after he read the look on her face “There is a very important machine at Hamilton Dynamics my wife needs guarding.”

Kate nodded in response, her eyebrows still furrowed.

“It’s in its final stages of completion, so it will only be for a few days, a week tops.”

Kate nodded, and then Jacob led her away to his office. 

“This machine was originally designed to stop the Batman, but as you might have heard, he hasn’t shown his face, or mask , in Gotham for months,” He said after they both sat down, across from each other.

Kate again, nodded, but was still somewhat confused.

“Two months ago Hamilton dynamics halted the weapons construction, because Batman had not come back, but then a handful of Batman imposters started showing up” Jacob paused, pulling open one of the drawers of his desk, and taking out a file, “nothing concerning at first, just some kids in homemade suits, but then he showed up” he pointed to a man in a part black part blue Batman outfit, with no cape, “What’s concerning is that his suit, is not an elaborate arts and crafts project, some of my agents have seen bullets bounce off of it” Jacob pause as brought one of his hands to his face, his index and thumb going to to his cheekbones, and the crease between them, directly under his nose “Their calling him Batwing, all the other imposters, they….they never got their own names, but this guy..people-people are starting to think he’s here to stay. I’m not going to let that happen, not again.”

Chapter Text

It had been nine hours, and nothing, Jacob assigned her to look after the ‘machine’ at 9:00 am all that had transpired since was three fifteen minute breaks, an hour long lunch, and the setting of the sun. She had only one hour left before agent Ross’s shift started and she got to go home, or more likely a bar. For this technology to be so advanced and groundbreaking that it needs 24/7 protection, they sure picked a shitty way to schedule it, with her pulling a ten hour shift then agent Ross doing seven and the next agent doing seven as well. ‘For a group of highly intelligent scientists they couldn’t find a better mathematical approach to this, why not just do eight hour shifts for all three agents?’ Kate thought, she might not have finished the seventh grade but she knew how division worked. 

Nine hours, and nothing, not even the presence of a flie had broken in, this was a complete waste of her time. Maybe when she had fought agent Tareroff in the ring she shouldn’t have held back as much as she did. If these people only knew what she was capable of they wouldn’t have sidelined her like this, they wouldn’t have bench her from where she was needed the most. She was far from being Batman’s number one fan, but at least he wasn’t actively working against the CROWS, and the same goes for this new copycat. Unlike her father she hated the Batman himself, not his symbol, not everyone who wears it, they aren’t the ones who let her mom’s car go over that Gotham city bridge. Suddenly Kate is ripped away from her thoughts and dark memories by the barely audible sound of footsteps behind the locked door she had been guarding. Other than the door she was leaning on the wall next to, there was only one other that accessed the level five security room used by the scientists and engineers. Only authorized personnel that were working on the machine had access to that door, it required both a retinal scan and an ID card swipe, but no one was supposed to be in the room as of twelve minutes ago. 

Without a second thought Kate swiped her CROWS ID card to open the door next to her, and swung the door open, once she did she spotted a familiar figure of a woman holding the gun she was assigned to protect. The woman promptly turned to face her, as their eyes met they had a non verbal discussion about what was going to happen now. The hooded figure pointed the gun upwards and shot a hole through the ceiling, and then proceeded to throw a grappling hook up as well and started climbing out of the lab. Kate followed suit to catch up to her, when she was almost to the rooftop the women detached the hook and let it and the rope fall down. But Kate was faster, she latched onto the edges of the hole and pushed her upper body out of the hole, and then used her foot to push herself onto the solid ground of the rooftop before standing up to face the woman. 

Keep a distance between yourself and the woman, Kate reached behind her back, unclipped her horizontal sheath and slowly pulled out her knife. Before they engaged she cocked her head to the side, subtly gesturing to the secretly camera and then with two fingers from her free hand she gestured for the figure to come closer. The masked woman complied after she drew out a katana from where she hand been carrying it on her back, and placed the stolen gun on the ground. What ensued from that point was an almost perfectly matched battle, with the hooded woman taking the first swing as she confidently sauntered toward the one with the smaller blade. Kate was quick to dodge it as she too brought down her blade and clashed it onto the women’s as she simultaneously lifted her left leg up to kick the women in the side of her hips. She stumbled backward only a little and bent her knees as her eyes narrowed at Kate, she raised herself and approached her yet again only this time angrier and faster. 

She swung her blade again, only this time higher, in a line that would hit both Kate’s left eye and nose if she hadn’t ducked down and dodged the blade. She returned her stance almost immediately but with her brows furrowed, mouth slightly opened, and a look of confusion all over her face. The thief took advantage of her distracted state, and without a moment to spare, she struck her with the fist that was still holding her sword, her aim still set on the CROW's face. Kate stumbled back but still stood tall, after a moment she brought up her hand to feel where the bruise was sure to appear, she moved her hand higher and used it to push back her messy hair, before walking forward to meet her attacker once more. She was the first to swing her blade this time as she aimed it for the woman’s neck but she blocked it with her katana, only about two or three inches away from the target. Kate didn't give up, she was taller than the woman so with her body weight and strength she slowly pushed the woman backwards making her take a few slow steps as Kate made steps toward her before headbutting her and pushing her down to the ground. 

The hooded figure released her grip on her sword and promptly grabbed two of the throwing knives on her bandelier sheath, and threw them. One ripped the left shoulder of Kate’s blazer, but didn’t collide with her skin. The other hit dead center of the rooftop security camera, cracking the glass into a dozen pieces but no shards fell from where they surrendered the knife. After Kate saw the destroyed camera, she leaned over towards the woman and offered an extended hand to help her up. She denied swatting it away from her as she pulled herself up. 

“Somethings never change” Kate signed 

“Like how you’re still a spoiled asshole who needs praise every five god damn seconds, yeah somethings don’t.” Tatiana replied coldly, before removing her mask.

“Well then it would be some people, not somethings” Kate retorted, not at all bothered by Tatiana’s insinuation, as she walked past her toward the gun, and then proceeded to pick it up.

“Whoa, what hell are you doing?!” She asked

“I could ask you the same question”

“It was a direct order from our queen, that I retrieve this weapon” She stated

“Why? Coryana has no grievances with the Batman, or those affiliated with him”

“‘Why?’ is not import to you anymore, you left our order if you don’t recall, you left Coryana and your queen, so what she chooses to do now you have no obligation to.”

“Okay first of all I did leave Coryana on my own accord, but I did not leave Safiyah, okay ….she left me” Kate paused taking a deep breath in, an releasing it out, trying to control her emotions “And secondly I don’t need to know everything, but it is my job to make sure this gun doesn’t get stolen, and your here to steal it, so what is going on?”

“This has nothing to do with Batman”

“I disagree” Kate signed before the man she had come to know as Batwing dropped down from the sky, with his knee bent in classic superhero landing style. Tatiana increased her grip on her katana, and raised her arm up slightly before Kate stopped her by grabbing her arm and lowering it. 

“Give me the gun and no one has to get hurt” The Batwing said in an almost robotic voice.

“Oh I don’t think you understand,” Tatiana paused “I would prefer it if someone got hurt.” She went to raise her blade to strike the man but Kate’s grip was firm.

“I am sure there is a diplomatic way to solve this, where everyone can walk away without any major injuries.” Kate signed with her free hand 

“What did she say?” Asked Batwing 

“She told you you’re not getting it” Tatiana said, and Kate nudged her slightly “She said she’s sure there is a diplomatic way to solve this, and no one has to get hurt.”

“Well I’m not leaving here without it,” Batwing stated

“Well you’ll have to because I am,” Tatiana declared 

“You said that this isn’t about him” Kate signed, after she was finished Batwing started reaching out to grab the gun from her. This was not going to be solved diplomatically. She knew his suit was bulletproof, so in the panic of the situation she punched him as hard as she could square in the face. Apparently not his entire suit was bullet proof, because she knocked him out, the only sounds he made after her fist made contact with his helmet, were the sounds that came from his suit as he hit the floor.  

“Oh your selfish too, I forgot to say that” Tatiana stated, and Kate could only glare at her “What I clearly had dibs.” Kate ignored her and released her grip on her hand as she approached the know unconscious Batwing. She hesitated for a moment before carefully taking off his mask.

“He’s just a kid, probably not even old enough to drink yet” Kate turned back to the boy and slide his mask back over his face. 

“We were all kids at some point” Tatiana responded nonchalantly

“You can’t take that gun with you” Kate stated

“What?”

“He’s just a kid”

“This isn’t about him”

“Then who is it about, why do you need a gun that can stop him if this isn’t about him?”

“We shouldn’t talk about it here, text me when you get off your shift” Tatiana said before jumping off the building onto another.

“Why did you want to meet here?” Tatiana asked as she sat down on a chair across from Kate. When she was texted this address she’d assumed it would be an abandoned building with no other souls in sight. She didn’t expect to be summoned to a loud, crowded, lively gay bar.

“I sort of know the guy who owns it, and I think we both need some alcohol after today” Kate signed 

“I agree with you on that”

“So who is this about?” 

“Someone I know you won’t mind us screwing over” Tatiana repleid, and Kate instantly knew who she was talking about. “It’s not exactly about us wanting the gun, it’s more of us wanting Catherine Hamilton to not have the gun.”

“Understood” Kate signed while grinning and nodding her head “I’m going to go get us some drinks, you want you’re usual?” She asked standing up.

“Yes”

“Some people never change” Kate signed before disappearing into a crowd of people, and Tatiana actually smiled at that, not that she would ever admit that to someone. She couldn’t believe it herself but she could see herself having a good time tonight, as she looked around the bar her eyes landed on a woman who was looking directly at her. When she realized she had been spotted the woman abruptly turned her head back to where she was facing the bar. Tatiana eyed her curiously she could tell why Kate liked this place, it’s hard not to when there are women who look like this.

“What are you looking at?” Kate signed after she had placed the drinks down on the table.

“More like who?” Tatiana responded, not taking her eyes off the woman, Kate followed her eyes with her own.

“Oh that-that’s Sophie” Kate responded, her eyes now glued to her as well “She…She doesn’t normally dress like that” she added referring to the short dress her colleague was currently wearing.

“Well how does she normally dress?” Tatiana asked, turning her head away for the woman so she could read Kate’s signs more clearly.

“Normally dresses the way I’m dressed” Kate replied, her gaze still on Sophie.

“So she’s a CROW?” Tatiana questioned.

“Yeah”

“Well maybe this is the kind of stuff she normally wears, if you’ve only seen her in uniform it’s not a sure thing to go off of.”

“Yeah you’re probably right, or she could have a twin I don’t know about”

“Entirely possible, you have one she doesn’t know about, I wouldn’t mind if there was two of her.” Tatiana said, she watched as Kate continued to stare at the woman “I don’t think this is her twin though, because she was looking over here a second ago.” At that Kate’s face finally turned to face her, a look of shock dorn over it. “I think we have settled things diplomatically, and our business is over, if you wanna join your friend?” Tatiana said before standing up and taking her drink to another part of the bar. Kate returned her gaze to Sophie, considering the suggestion for a few moments before taking out her phone, and selecting Sophie’s contact.

Kate: Hey :) 

Sophie picked up her phone from the bar’s table when she heard the barely audible ping come from it. She only had a few moments to read it before Kate joined her on the stool next to her.

“Hey” Sophie responded with a smile, now facing Kate. “What happened to your friend?”

Kate: SHe’s around here somewhere 

Kate: I can give you her number if you want

“No, uhm, no that’s fine, I’m-I’m good” She responded feeling flustered by the question.

Kate: Really? She told me you were looking at her earlier, I’m sure she’d be more than happy to buy you a drink

“No really, I’m-I’m good….I wasn’t looking at her” She insisted “I uhm..I just saw you and wondered who you were with.” Kate smiled.

Kate: So you were looking at me earlier?

“No, no I..well I was but not..”

Kate: Can I buy you a drink then?

“Uhm ahh..” She paused her voice going from flustered to a whispered and high pitched tone “Are you sure your friend won’t mind?”

Kate: Were not exactly friends, more like acquaintances

“Is there anyone else that would mind?” She questioned 

Kate: No, there used to be but we broke up around a week ago

“Oh” She said before the realization caught up to her, and was now showing on her face “Than yeah, you-you buy me a drink.” She was already three in so this would have to be her last. It wasn’t, Kate and her had around three more drinks before leaving the bar, Kate only had one drink before meeting Sophie so she was visibly more sober. As they stepped outside the bar Sophie started to stumble as she walked, so Kate went nearer to her and wrapped an arm around her waist to hold her steady as they walked toward her car. Sophie parked a block away from the bar, which didn’t bother Kate that much, she understood why, the bar only had street side parking and every possible spot was either taken or had to be paid for. The dou was about half way down the street when a drunk man from the bar across the street started yelling and approaching them.

“Hey why don’t you keep that shit inside your fag bar!” The drunkard yelled from behind them, slurring his words. At that Kate stopped in her tracks and was about to turn around before Sophie stopped her.

“He’s not worth it okay” She whispered, looking directly into Kate’s eyes that she previously watched turn cold when the man yelled at them. Kate held their stare for a few moments longer before taking a deep breath in, sighing, and resumed walking forward on the sidewalk.

“Oh what are you that high above me, dyke?!” He shouted, he was now only about ten feet behind them.

“We’re gonna be okay” Sophie said more to herself than to Kate who didn’t even stop this time. “He’s not worth it” she repeated.

“What, are you just going to listen to your bitch a night, come on I know you want to!” He exclaimed. Kate slowed down a little, and started moving to the right as she walked straight with the intention of placing Sophie down on the steps of a barber shop a few feet in front of them, so she could deal with this man one on one. But the man saw this as an opportunity to come closer and grab Sophie by her arm and pull her closer to himself. And suddenly Kate’s reflexes kicked in, and like with Batwing she punched him square in the face, and also like Batwing he fell to the ground, knocked out. Once he hit the ground Sophie turned back towards her and wrapped her arms around Kate, and began to silently weep onto her jacket.

They reached her car five minutes later without any further trouble, and Kate drove them back to Sophie’s apartment because she had less to drink. Sophie gave her directions as she whipped away her tears in the car, when they arrived Kate escorted her inside the building and went to leave before Sophie called her back to her.

“Can you ah..can you come up with me? I really don’t wanna be alone right now.” She asked through sniffles.

Kate stared at her intently and nodded.

“Thank you.” Sophie said as tears started to stream down her face again, and Kate instinctively pulled her closer to her chest. She held her like that when they got in the elevator as well, and when it stopped on her floor, Kate wrapped her arm around Sophie’s side as they walked into her apartment and closed the door behind them. Sophie went into her room to change and Kate took off her torn jacket and made herself comfortable on the couch.

“Kate, can you come in here, I need your help with something” Sophie called out from her room. And Kate complied, walking into her room and leaving the door ajar it her wake, she saw Sophie standing back toward her with her hair at her side. “Can you help me with this zipper? I-I can’t reach it.” She asked not turning to face her. And yet again, Kate complied, approaching her slowly and putting her left hand on Sophie’s shoulder, as her right pulled the zipper down. Before Sophie said anything else, Kate’s right hand went to her other shoulder and pulled down the dress from her spaghetti straps, and moved her body down with it. When the dress hit the floor, all she could do was stay frozen for around three more seconds that felt like an eternity before calmly stepping out of it and turning to face Kate who still was holding the straps of the dress with her knees bent on the floor. When she saw that Sophie stepped out of the dress she looked up and their eyes met, they held the gaze as Kate lifted herself to Sophie’s eye level. The stood only inches barely a foot apart, enough that when Sophie breathed Kate could feel it against the skin on her face. And suddenly Sophie dropped her eyes from Kate’s to her lips and then back again in an instant, but Kate took notice and took a step closer, out of fear Sophie took a step backwards.

“Can-can I get you anything to drink?” She stumbled out of her mouth. 

Kate shook her head no.

“Is there anything I can get for you?” 

After a moment of hesitation, and a moment of eying Sophie carefully she shook her head once more, no.

Chapter Text

Kate approached her slowly and put her left hand on Sophie’s shoulder, as her right pulled the zipper down slowly until it wouldn’t go any further. Before Sophie said anything else, Kate’s right hand went to her other shoulder and pulled down the dress from her spaghetti straps, and moved her body down with it. When the dress hit the floor, all she could do was stay frozen for what felt like an eternity before calmly stepping out of it and turning to face Kate who still was holding the straps of the dress in her hands, with her knees bent on the floor. When she saw that Sophie stepped out of the dress she looked up and their eyes met, they held the gaze as Kate lifted herself to Sophie’s eye level. They stood only inches barely a foot apart, enough so that when Sophie breathed Kate could feel it against the skin on her face. And suddenly Sophie dropped her eyes from Kate’s to her lips and then back again in an instant, but Kate took notice and took a step closer, in a panic Sophie took a step backwards, and accidentally stumbled as she fell backwards on the bed.

Before she could react, Kate joined her in the bed, crawling on top of her, until their eyes met again, and they were so close they could feel every exhale of the other on their skin. Sophie didn’t have to break her eyes away from Kate’s to know that her knees were planted on the sides of her hips, and that her hands were flat on the mattress about a foot away from Sophie’s shoulders, she could feel it. She only altered her gaze to look at Kate's lips again, only this time it wasn’t to look back in an instant, she held her gaze where it was as her breathing intensified. Just as she looked back up at Kate’s eyes, Kate closed them as she dipped her head down and kissed Sophie, who also closed her eyes. She melted into the kiss, as Kate began to let the backside of her right middle and index finger graze the bare skin of the left side of Sophie’s ribs. 

Sophie sighed into the kiss as she brought one of her hands up to the side of Kate’s neck and started lightly brushing her fingertips back and forth. With each passing second her hand got lower, and lower on Kate’s neck, and at some point she allowed her thumb to graze against the scar. Kate’s reaction was immediate, she took her right hand off of Sophie’s skin, and grabbed her wrist with it, taking it off of her neck and pinning it down on the bed. She broke the kiss after and began kissing Sophie’s neck as she slightly loosened her hold on her wrist. 

“What’s happening?” Sophie asked, through heaving breaths.

“You tell me” Kate said, as she pulled herself up to meet Sophie’s widened eyes “This is your dream.” 

Sophie’s eyes opened to the gleam of sunlight pouring into her room from her windows, it was bright, too bright, so bright it hurt her eyes to look at. As she raised herself into a sitting position on her bed trying to steady her breathing, she was hit with a pounding headache that made her realize why the sun felt like a deadly lazer today. She then lifted the sheets to see that she was wearing her pajamas, and took a quick look around the room, Kate wasn’t there, she sighed.

“It was all a dream.” She said to herself, and no one but herself she thought. She fought through the searing throbbing in her head, and the dizziness, and the muscle aches and stood up as she opened her bedroom door, to see Kate in her kitchen. She stood in the doorway, tired, and confused before walking over to her.

“Hi” Sophie said hesitantly, unsure of how much of last night's events got mixed into her rather steamy dream.

Kate looked up from the frying pan she was using and mouthed “hi” with a smile before returning her attention to her task. Sophie looked at her in bewilderment, only once did Kate ever communicate with her like that. It was when Sophie told her she might need stitches after Kate cut her hand saving her and the Kane sisters from the vampire. And even then it was a confused ‘what’, and she only mouthed it because her pen was ruined.

“What are you doing?” Sophie asked.

Kate responded by placing the now cooked fried egg, on a plate next to two pieces of buttered toast, a few pieces of bacon, and a small bowl of mixed fruits. She placed the dish in front of Sophie and went back in the kitchen to pour her some of the coffee she made, and placed it next to the plate. She took out a bottle of vodka from the cabinet next to her fridge, and pointed at it, then her head and gave a thumbs down, she then pointed at the plate of food, then her head and gave a thumbs up before placing the bottle next to her coffee.

“So hangover cure?” 

Kate smiled and nodded, yes.

“Thank you,.. do you want some?” She asked, trying to be polite.

Kate took one of the pieces of toast and put it in her mouth as she poured herself a cup of coffee, once the mug was full she took the toast out of her mouth and took a bite out of it as she sat down next to Sophie.

“Hi” She repeated.

Kate only smiled at her.

“What exactly happened last night?” She asked, with traces of concern etched in her voice.

Kate just simply tapped the bottle of vodka with her fingernail.

“Well yeah I..I remember that uhm…but what happened after we got back here, that’s when things seem a little hazy.” 

Kate pulled out her phone from her pocket.

“Wait” Sophie said as she got up from her seat and went back into the bedroom to retrieve her phone. Once she had found it she walked back over to the table and gave Kate a thumbs up.

Kate: Well you went into your room to change

“Out of my black dress” Sophie confirmed, looking up from her phone at Kate.

Kate: Yes your black dress

Kate: You asked me to come in with you

“Oh” She replied, tensing up a bit.

Kate: You needed help getting your dress off

“Muhm and then what happened?” 

Kate: Well I helped you take it off

“And what happened after that?” She pried

Kate: You offered me a drink and I declined

“That’s all?” She questioned 

Kate: Yeah

After they were done with breakfast Kate grabbed her jacket and walked back to her hideout. When she arrived nearly forty minutes later there was a strange sense that went through her body as she approached the building that told her to keep quiet. She held onto the door handle as if it was a life line as she pushed it open with no resistance, just enough to fit herself through. She carefully made her first steps, slow, and near the metal pillars to use as blind spots. She unclenched the door handle, and as her knuckles were turning back to their normal color she wrapped her fingers around the handle on the other side of the door, turning her knuckles white once again as she closed the door with the same caution she opened it with, behind her. She took her blade out from its sheath and began walking forward slowly, and only shifted her movements to go around one pillar and use the one in front of it as her new blindspot. When she got to the rusted sink that was on her side of the wall that divided the space into two rooms, she reached her hand into the decommissioned garbage disposal and pulled out a throwing knife that was in a plastic bag. 

She opened the bag and took out the smaller knife, and swapped it with her Wakizashi tanto knife in her dominant hand. As she walked over to the passage that went into the next room she slowed her pace even more trying to be as quiet as possible. As she got to the edge she held up her favorite blade and used its reflection to spot the intruder, swiftly she dropped the larger knife, turned and directed the throwing knife at the man, as she crutched in the door frame. The man moved just as quickly and turned to face Kate as he caught the blade as it was only inches away from his face. 

“Missed ya too sis” The man said, and Kate instantly recognized his voice. 

Kate smiled, and a small laugh escaped her lips as she walked forward to her brother and hugged him.

“Ya know I could never read you, I mean in the sense that I know sign language I could, but hugging me after throwing a knife at my face, not so much.” Ocean said as they pulled away.

“Thought someone broke in” Kate signed

“Well I technically did” Ocean replied 

“You could have told me you arrived.” Kate signed

“I was under the impression that I would do that when I arrived because you would be here, but it seems you spent the night someplace else” He questioned with a quirked eyebrow.

“It’s not like that” Kate tried to clarify.

“Oh I’m not judging, you do your thing, I don’t care, but a heads up could’ve stopped you from trying to kill me.” Ocean said nonchalantly, like they had done this whole dance before. 

“Again it’s not like that, nothing sexual happened last night, but you’re right I should’ve texted and because I didn’t I almost killed you.” Kate signed in defeat.

“Okay okay, I said ‘tried to kill me’ not almost, tried.” Ocean clarifies  “And I’m still kicking, so no harm no foul.” Kate smiles at that.

“So I have the day off, what do you want to do?” Kate asked.

“Well, fixing this place up is definitely on the list.” Ocean replied while looking around the place “But first, there is a box I have hidden that contains some values that I took whenever Safiyah sent me to the mainland on business.” Ocean enunciated the last word.

“Ocean” Kate signed before hitting his arm.

“What she was perfectly fine with it, actually preferred it because it made them look like robberies gone wrong.” Ocean clarified.

“Okay so where is this box?” Kate questioned.

“Abandoned subway station”

“Why are you wearing sunglasses indoors?” Mary asked.

“I don’t wanna talk about it.” Sophie replied.

“Ah one of those nights, if you want, we're going out later and in my personal experience, hair of dog works best.”

“Oh that’s what the vodka was for.” Sophie said in a moment of realization.

“What?” Mary questioned.

“Oh ah Kate…made me a hangover cure in the morning for breakfast.” Sophie replied casually, not noticing the grin that was now plastered over Beth’s face.

“So Kate was drinking with you?” Beth questioned.

“Yeah, less than me though, or she can just hold her liquor really well, I don’t know, in the morning all she needed was toast and coffee.” 

“So Kate stayed over till morning?” Beth pried, her grin getting wider and wider like the grinch.

“Yeah” Sophie affirmed.

“Finally!” Beth shouted, before pointing at her sister “Pay up” she said, holding out her hand.

“Loud” Sophie replied with her hands covering her ears.

“Agreed, and what are you talking about?” Mary asked

“Mary, they fucked” Beth repleid, as if it was the most obvisous thing in the world.

“What?! No, no we didn’t!” Sophie rushed to clarify.

“But you said she spent the night at your place.”

“Yeah she did, she slept on the couch, Beth”

“Oh, well that’s disappointing,” 

“Wait you said ‘pay up’ you two….you two bet on this, on whether or not Kate and I sleep together!” Sophie said angrily in an accusatory tone.

“Well not specifically on whether you two would sleep together, no, it is more about what team you play for.” Beth clarified. 

“Okay so all those times that you loomed over me, convincing me that Kate liked me, that the texts she sent me are flirty, and that I should shoot my shot you were only doing it to win a few bucks, it was a game to you?”

“No, Sophie I want you to be happy, this would just be a bonus,” Beth tried to reassure her.

“Wait I’m confused, do you like Kate?” Mary asked, but no one acknowledged her.

“I can’t believe you, whatever happened to make you this cruel, to make you think that this is okay to do to someone?” Sophie asked coldly, Beth fought all her natural instincts to talk, she knew this wasn’t the time or place for that talk. All she could do in this moment was stare blankly at Sophie as she disappeared to talk to the other agent subbing in for Kate that day.

After retrieving the box Kate and Ocean made a detour before heading back to Gotham they made their way to the nearest body of water, Gotham harbor was closets. It was one of the things Ocean wanted to cross off of his bucket list for the day. The beach was only a ten minute walk away from where they dug the box up from, once they got to where the water met the sand they started taking off their clothes. Stripped down to only their underwear, they placed the box with their clothes next to two large rocks that were further up the beach. 

“What are the stakes?” Ocean asked.

“I thought this was just for fun?” Kate questioned 

“It’s more fun beating you when I win something.” Ocean replied 

Kate flipped him off, with an annoyed grin on her face. Ocean feigns a gasp.

“Oh look I have two” He replied, flipping her off with both of his middle fingers. 

Kate smiled, and chuckled slightly “So what do you want?” She asked.

“To cross another thing off of my list that I have a feeling you might not be so fond of.” 

“And what’s that?” Kate signed

“Alcohol, not just any alcohol though, expensive alcohol, quite extraordinary amounts of it, preferably one bought and a club, or a bar, with people other than you in it” Ocean explain

“Ah so you want my help in getting you laid.” Kate surmised.

Oh trust me I’ll do just fine on my own, what I need help with is location…and part of your paycheck.”

“Isn’t that what the box is for?” Kate asked

“Well yes, but everything in the box I need to exchange for cash at a pawn shop and if I do it all at once it would be oddly suspicious.” Ocean concluded

Kate nodded in agreement “What do I get if I win?” Kate signed

“Well that’s for you to decide.” Ocean said.

“If I win, you need to help me finish making my sister’s birthday gift.” Kate signed.

“What’s the gift?” Ocean asked

“Bracelet made up of wood carvings.”

“Deal, so dock in back?” He questioned

Kate nodded and held up her hand and began tucking each of her fingers in as seconds pass, when the last finger fell into her palm the duo rushed into the water. Ocean was bigger and faster, but Kate could hold her breath for longer, she was the first to make it to the dock and Ocean was close behind her. In a matter of seconds Ocean passed her, when they were just a few feet before the could barely stand on the ocean floor, and he kept going not giving Kate the chance to catch up. After swimming a bit more he stood up and calmly walked out of the water, shaking it off as he shook his head side to side vigorously and did the same with his hands. 

“Better luck next time” Ocean said, in the most cocky-sibling way possible. 

“You suck” Kate signed as she emerged from the water.

“And swallow, what bar are we going to?”

Sophie and Beth’s car ride was full of silence, the only words spoken were to direct Sophie on where, and when to make a turn, Beth never told her where they were going though. It was Saturday so she didn’t have class, but Sophie was not in the mood to ask questions, questions like where were they going, why were they going there, what was the thing wrapped in newspaper that Beth was clutching like her life depended on it. 

“You can pull over here” Beth said, which pulled Sophie from her thoughts.

“Why are we here?” Was the first thing she asked.

“You’ll see.” Beth replied as she exited the car, and Sophie followed her. She crossed the street and made her way over to a picnic bench and took a seat, while Sophie took the one next to her. “There used to be a waffle stand right over there.” Beth pointed to a run down shed in the distance.

“Beth, why are we here?” Sophie asked yet again.

“This is my favorite place to go to when I’m feeling sad, or angry, or lost….it makes me feel better to just sit here and close my eyes and focus on good memories.” Beth explained

“Okay” was all she could find to say.

“This is one of my favorite memories” Beth said as she unwrapped the paper, to reveal a mug. “I made this for my sister a long time ago.” Beth said in a soft tone.

“Why do you wanna tell me about a mug you made for Mary?” Sophie questioned getting a little impatient.

“Not Mary, my other sister, Kate,” Beth said as she gripped the mug with both of her hands.

“The one who died when you were kids.” Sophie concluded

“Yes, that sister” Beth confirmed through a shaky voice, and Sophie placed a hand over her’s reassuringly.

“You don’t talk about her all that much.”

“It’s not exactly an easy thing to talk about.” Beth reasoned “This was her favorite place too, we used to come here after school, get waffles from the stand, and go on the swings over there.” She pointed to an empty swing set in the distance.

“Okay, and then what would you do?”

“Kate would usually stand up when she was swinging, and we would play a game were we would jump off the swings and whoever went furthest without falling would win.” Beth said as she let her thumb graze over the words on the mug.

“Why’d you bring the mug?” Sophie asked.

“When we were young, she had a huge crush on Jenny Goldberg, Kate only liked her because she skateboarded, but she was so excited because Jenny liked her back, but she wasn’t out yet. Kate wanted to tell me she was gay but she kept chickening out, she knew I had to be the first to know, but I was also the hardest, because I matter the most, to her. Me Beth, her twin who spent nine months in the whomp with her and she was scared of pushing me away, so I made her that stupid mug to say I already knew, and I loved her.” When Beth finished she was in tears, clutching the mug against her temple. 

“Hey, hey, it’s okay, you’re okay.” Sophie said as she wrapped her arms around Beth as she continued to sob. 

“Thank you” Beth said as she pulled away from Sophie, “Kate planned on asking her out, after our bat mitzvah, but that didn’t happen,” her voice broke, “she died before she ever got the chance.” Beth covered her mouth with her hand.

“Why are you telling me this?” Sophie questioned through a shaky voice.

“It is more than a stupid bet, you have something that Kate never was granted, an opportunity to live as you truly are.” Beth said before exhaling heavily, trying to regain her composure “she was more than just my sister, she was my best friend, she was the other half of me, like a soul mate.” 

“Beth,” Was all she could get out

“You know, the reason I told people, like my dad, and therapist, for thinking she could still be out there, was that I remember opening my eyes as water rushed through every seam of the car, up to my knees and then to my neck. I didn't know whether to hold my breath or to scream. But as I tilted my head, sucking in the increasingly shrinking bubble of air, I saw her, Kate, kicking at one of the car windows, and saw the lines on the glass form before one more kick sent them shattering, and just before I closed my eyes, I saw, I felt her grab onto my wrist. It doesn't make sense that I would live and she would die, that’s the story I always tell people, and everything I said happened, happened, but it’s not why I think she didn’t die. It’s because when I heard the news, that her bone fragments had been found and tested, I felt nothing, that half of me did not diminish, if she was really gone wouldn’t I have felt something? Felt her go, leave this world, leave me?” She said through sniffles, and then in a whispered tone “But I didn’t, and now the thought that she might be still alive consumes me, it strangles me in my sleep, and posses me to do things I wouldn’t otherwise do, like have you follow someone home.” 

“You’re getting a call” Ocean yelled from across the hideout

“Anyone who knows me knows not to call me” Kate signed

“Fair” Ocean replied, as the ringing stopped, and just as quickly as it did, it started again “Same number, I could just answer it if you wanted?”

“Sure” Kate signed

“Kate Sohail’s phone, why are you calling and not texting?” Ocean asked in his most docile and calm voice.

“This is the office of Hamilton Dynamics, we were looking to speak to Miss Sohail and have her come in regarding what occurred on her shift last night.” Said a female receptionist.  

“Well she’s mute so talking won’t get you very far” Ocean responded 

“Who are you talking to?” Kate signed, Ocean covered the phone with his other hand.

“Hamilton Dynamics, they want to talk to you later.” Ocean replied before removing his hand “I’m sorry can you repeat that?”

“Sure thing sir, are you her translator?” The receptionist asked 

“Something like that” 

“Okay can you and her come in around 5:00pm to talk with Ms. Hamilton?” 

“Uhm” He covered the phone once again, “Hey are we doing anything at 5?” he asked Kate.

“No, why?” She asked

“The nine headed hydra wants to speak with us.” He responded 

“Why the both of us?” SHe signed 

“I don’t know, I’ll ask” Ocean said as he removed his hand “Why does she wanna speak to the both of us?” He asked the receptionist 

“Well we’ll need someone to translate for Miss Sohail.” Ocean covered the phone.

“They need someone to translate for you.”

“I could just bring my notebook and pen.” Kate signed

“Could she just bring her notebook and pen?” He asked the receptionist.

“If that’s easier.” She replied 

“Yep, that works, bye” He said as he hung up the phone.

Kate arrived at Hamilton Dynamics at 4:47pm, exactly thirteen minutes before her meeting with Medusa. When she got to the reception desk, she knocked on the desk and held up her notebook that read “I am here to see Catherine Hamilton”. 

“Ah you must be Miss Sohail, Ms. Hamilton will be ready for you at 5, until then the waiting area is over there” The receptionist pointed to an area with lounge chairs and a television. 

Kate nodded at her and went to take a seat, shortly after she saw she witch herself come out of a nearby office and beckon her to come in. Kate did as told and got up from her seat and walked into the office, as Catherine closed the door behind her. 

“So great I could get the chance to speak with you today.” Catherine said as Kate entered “Please sit” She motioned for her to sit the chair opposite to hers at her desk.

Kate nodded and quickly sat down.

“It has come to my attention that you were the agent working last night when the gun my team was working on was stollen.” Catherine said as she sat down. 

Kate had a look which told the story that she knew where this was going better than any words could.

“I have reviewed the camera footage gathered from last night's events, and it showed you fighting with this woman,” Catherine turned the computer around to face Kate, it was an image of Tatiana with her face covered and her katana drawn. 

Kate simply nodded at her.

“At some point this woman’s knife collided with our camera, do you mind telling me what happened after that?” Catherine asked as she intertwined her fingers together.

“She knocked me out at some point and when I woke up she was gone with the gun” Kate wrote in her notebook and then showed Catherine. 

“Ah, that’s out of character now isn’t it, they're called the ‘Many Arms of Death’ for a reason.” Catherine said sinisterly, which caused Kate to shuffle in her seat slightly.

“What?” Was all Kate wrote in her book.

“Well I can assume you know that since you’re friends” Catherine then turned on a video, clearly from a different angle then the one Tatiana destroyed. It showed them fighting, Tatiana throwing her knives, one nearly missing Kate’s flesh, the other going into the other security camera, Kate helping her up, Batwing arriving, and her knocking him out at that poit she paused the video. “You know, when I saw this my immediate thought was, I should call my husband to deal with this, you. But I didn’t, do you know why I didn’t?” 

Kate only glared at her with a grimace expression on her face, like she was desperately trying to fight every single natural instinct to stand up and chock her out with years of pent up pure rage.

“It’s because you saved my daughter’s life.” Catherine said as she leaned back in her chair.

“And your step daughter” Kate wrote in her notebook 

“Yes her too,” Catherine’s grimace now matched her adversary’s, “So in spirit of that, I am allowing you one chance, to return my weapon, and tell me Batwing’s identity.” 

Kate grew a smile and immediately dropped it as she mouthed “no”.

“Are you sure you want to throw away you’re get out of jail free card this early in the game?” Catherine asked impatiently “because there are less nice ways of asking.” Kate took her keyboard, and brought it to her side of the desk.

“Saving Mary is not my get out of jail free card, my get out of jail free card is knowing that you paid the DNA analysis team on your other step daughter’s investigation to rig the report. My get out of jail free card is knowing that they weren’t even human bones, the skull fragments found were from a deer.” Kate finished typing before twisting the screen fully into Catherine’s view. 

“What does Safiyah want with my family?” Catherine questioned, the anger and desperation seeping through her voice.

“Nothing, that I know of.” Kate’s face now reflected no emotion.

“Why is she doing this?”

“I’m doing this”

“What do you want?”

“For you to stay out of my way, and me in yours, believe it or not I don’t want to destroy the Kane family, I know what they will find if they start looking again, and it won’t be an ideal situation for either of us.” Kate finished typing before she got up and exited the building.

When Kate returned to her and Ocean’s home at 6:36pm she immediately noticed the changes he made to the place, there were plants hung in baskets on the brackets that connected the metal pillars, and curtains hung on the mostly glass walls, and there was furniture. Kate jumped over the back of the couch, and landed ceremoniously on it with an “uof” type of noise. There was also a coffee table and an armchair with a reclining lever, all placed on top of a large rug. Ocean soon came out of the other room with a cup of tea and a book, when he noticed Kate.

“Sold one of the watches in the box” He explained

“One watch bought you all of this?” Kate signed

“Oh right you grew up rich before coming to the island, so there are these things called thrift shops-” He was cut off by Kate throwing a pillow at him.

“I know what a thrift shop is”

“Okay okay, evil stepmother got you this mad is something else?” He asked genuinely concerned about his sister.

“Yes” Was all she reasoned with.

“Well if it makes you feel better, I won’t make you pay when we go out tonight” Ocean said with a smile as he took a seat next to Kate.

“You know at first, I will admit I was against it but, I could use some extraordinary amounts of expensive alcohol myself, on your dime of course though.” Kate signed

“Oh of course.” Ocean said and they both laughed.

“Mary, are you sure you don’t want to come with us, you know Evan won’t card you.” Beth insisted.

“Yeah, I’m fine, I have so much studying to do, and I think it’s best for everyone, especially me if it is done sober. Plus the last time I went drinking at Evan’s bar I ended up in the emergency room” Mary countered.

“Okay fine but that’s not the bar’s fault, and why do you have to do it at what’s her name’s place?” Beth asked, the upset clear in her voice.

“Because she is my friend, and while I love you, and am very interested in what will happen when you force Sophie into that gay bar for the second time, I can’t handle anymore distractions.” Mary concluded

“Nothing’s gonna happen” Sophie insisted  

“What if Kate’s there?” Beth asked

“She’s not gonna be there” Sophie said

“How do you know that?”

“She has to work tomorrow.”

“You had to work today, but that didn’t stop you from getting shit faced last night.” Beth argued

“Shut up”

“Okay, you're driving though,” Beth said as she walked out of the elevator. 

“Bye love you,” Mary yelled from the side of her car as she got it.

“Love you too Mary” Beth yelled as she got into the front passenger seat of Sophie’s car. Sophie was still in her Crows uniform, with her hair in a messy ponytail, but Beth had changed for the night out. She was wearing a dark gray sweater and dark blue jeans, but now she was wearing a black, sleeveless crop top and light seas green satin pants. As the minutes went by in the car, she kept herself distracted by pacing her fingers over the fabric everytime she thought to ask an invasive question.

“What would you do if you saw Kate tonight?” But at some point she couldn’t fight it anymore.

“What do you think I would do?” She countered, secretly hoping for some advice. 

“Well what I think what you would do is irrelevant,” Beth responded in a deadpan tone, “But if you’re asking me what you should do, then that’s an interesting hypothetical, I am eager and open to discuss.” She quirked an eyebrow.

“Fine, what should I do?” She said in surrender.

“Well definitely not what you did last night that’s for sure.” Beth said with a blank expression on her face.

“That is uniquely unhelpful.” Sophie said frustratedly.

“Just ask her out, offer to buy her a drink.” Beth responded as if it was the easiest thing to do in the universe of possibilities and decisions.

“Gee, I never thought about doing that yesterday” Sophie said sarcastically 

“She’ll say yes” She responded, confused.

“How can you be so sure?”

“Because she thinks you’re hot.” Beth announced 

“Did-did she really say that?” Sophie said trying and failing to hide her excitement.

“No but everybody thinks you're hot, and Kate never really says anything.” She claimed

“Okay-” Beth cut her off

“Everyone thinks hot people are hot.” She finished

“Okay we're here so,” Sophie said as she got out of the car after parking it, and Beth followed her. She rushed into the club and held the door open for Beth to do the same, and nodded at her as she entered and now followed behind her. Seconds later Ocean grabbed onto the handle of the door as it was shutting in front of him. Kate was following behind him and before she entered the club she stopped and tapped him on the shoulder as she smiled. He smiled back at her and as she entered he walked eagerly behind her and let the door fall more with each of his paces forward. 

“Alcohol oh alcohol, my old friend” Ocean said as he approached the bar, “Have you had anything you’d like to recommend?” He asked his sister. 

“Brown ale, porter, stout” Kate signed

“I was looking for specifically anything other than beer,” Ocean responded. “Not that I don’t like beer, I do, but we’ve never had anything else, and I’d like to expand my palate while we're here.” 

“Fare” Kate signed “Scotch?”

“I could try scotch,” Ocean said before turning to face the bartender “My friend we’ll have two….Famous Grouse scotches, please and thank you.”

“Actually sir the Famous Grouse is a blended scotch whiskey” The bartender responded

“Even better” He responded, and the bartender poured and served them. “Cheers” him and Kate both raised their glasses “To a new beginning” he  concluded his toast and they both took a sip of their drinks.

“Looks like it might not be all hypothetical after all” Beth said to Sophie as she pointed at Kate.

“She’s here” Sophie said in realization 

“She’s here” Beth confirmed, “So what are you going to do?” she asked impatiently

“What do you mean?” She asked confused

“What do you mean what do I mean, you had a sex dream about her last night and she’s right over there, go talk to her!” Beth insisted

“Keep your voice down” Sophie said in a hushed tone.

“I will once you pull your head out of your ass and go talk to her.” Beth asserted, “Oh shit”

“What, what ‘oh shit’?” Sophie asked

“She’s gone” She said as the sight of her could-be sister disappeared, suddenly she was pulled into a new thought, a new view. She saw a man playing a piano off in the distance, he was playing, Piano Sonata No. 8 In C Minor Op. 13 - Pathétique - II. Adagio cantabile, she knew the specifics of it because it was Kate’s favorite to play. While their dad put her in cello lessons at the age of seven, Kate was put in piano lessons on the same day. Beth had watched their recitals, through tapes, for years, she could tune in to the melody through the sounds of bombs being dropped by now. She excused herself from Sophie and made her way through the crowd of drunk club goers to the man. “Hi” She said when she finally reached him.

“Hi” He said back to her with a smile, he was very handsome.

“Do you mind if I sit next to you, I really like this song?” She asked coyly 

“Don’t mind at all” He replied before he went back to playing, but stopped a few notes in “I’ve only met one other person who knows this song, and that was only because she was the one who taught it to me, taught me the instrument itself also.” He said with his fingers halted but still on the keys.

“My sister used to play, she was very good at it too.” Beth said 

“You think I’m very good?” He asked with a smirk

“I do, from the limited amount that I have heard anyway, I’m Beth by the way,”  

“I’m Ocean” He said as he slowly started to move his fingers again on the keys.

“Is that like a stage name, or your drag name?” Beth asked more confidently 

“No” Ocean said before he chuckled softly “no I don’t do drag” he started to play at a normal pace.

“So that’s your actual name?” Beth asked, and he stopped playing and turned to face her.

“Yes, don’t ask me why, I never met the people who gave me it.” He said before he turned his attention back to the piano.

“I’m sorry, I haven’t seen you here before.” 

“I just moved to Gotham this morning.” He replied, lifting one hand to retrieve his drink that he sent on the piano, and taking a sip.

“What are you drinking?” She asked curiously 

“It’s a scotch blended whiskey, or something like that, it’s my first time drinking alcohol that isn’t beer.” Ocean said as he took another sip as one of his hands continued playing.

“And you chose to get a scotch?” Beth laughed ever so lightly “You’re a gay man in a gay bar, get a blue lagoon, or a vodka redbull, or a bellini, or a sex on the beach.”

“Firstly I’m not actually gay, I’m pansexual, and I didn’t think this was that kind of establishment.” Ocean said in a flirtatious tone, with a smile that matched.

“You didn’t think this was a gay bar?” Beth asked, confused and thrown off guard.

“No I-uhm, I knew it was a gay bar, I meant in reference to the last thing you said.”

“What was the last thing I….Oh” Beth said as her cheeks were flushed with a shade of red. Ocean could only laugh softly at the expression he caused her. “If you don’t mind me asking, what is pansexuality? I’m not very familiar with the term.” She asked embarrassed.

“It means romantically or sexually attracted to people regardless of their gender or sex. But sometimes I just like to say it makes me really fun during threesomes.” Beth burst out laughing at that, “If you don’t mind me asking, where do you fit into the acronym?” Now it was his turn to ask coyly.

“In the allied region.” She replied with a smirk. “Why, you trying to buy me a drink?” Beth asked, not so subtly.

“Well according to someone I’m not the best at making decisions when it comes to alcohol.” 

“How about I pick something out for us then?” Beth asked

“Can I buy you dinner tonight then?”

“No, but you can buy me breakfast tomorrow morning.” Beth said as she got up to get them drinks.

“That’s forward” Ocean said with a smile 

“Really, I disagree, if I was a few drinks in I would just say you’re attractive and I wanna have sex with you.” She stated, as Ocean choked on the scotch he was drinking.

“Yep, that is definitely more forward.” He smiled at her, “I like it.” 

Chapter Text

Kate reached into her pocket when she heard the familiar bing and felt the buzzing of her phone, only to see a message from an unknown number.

Meet me in the alley outside

Kate pulled Ocean to the side by his sleeve, “I have to go” she signed.

“Okay, see you at home” He responded 

“Text me if we’re expecting company” Kate signed.

“Oh if it turns into that I am not bringing them back to your place, no offense.” Ocean replied.

“Hey it’s our place now, and just text me so I know you're okay.” 

“Hey, I’m your older brother, I’m the one who is supposed to protect you”

“Too bad….just text me okay?”

“Okay” Ocean agreed, and Kate started walking away. She set down her drink at the bar and continued moving toward the door. She felt the cold air hit her as she stepped out of the bar taking her pen out as the door closed behind her. Kate made her way into the alley as she surveyed the place, paying close attention to the shadows. As she moved to the side of a dumpster she let the knuckles of her clenched fist graze across the cold, dirty metal as she advanced forward. She suddenly heard rustling in the metal box and jumped away from it as she took the head off of her new pen, revealing a blade the size of a letter opener. Kate proceeded to walk slowly back to the trash basket, and grabbed the top of the opening before jumping up and held herself there. Her eyes landed on two small creatures huddled together as they rustled and rolled in the garbage. Kate couldn’t make out what kind of animals they were, but figured they’re probably raccoons, she decided to lower herself quietly off of the lid rather than jumping, to not scare the little critters. A few minutes after she distanced herself from the dumpster Kate heard a noise she could only compare to a swarm of bees. When she looked up at the night sky she saw not bees, but a small flying metal contraption. She didn’t know what it was, but all the same put the head back on her pen and picked up a discarded beer bottle on the ground, ready to throw, and destroy the machine. 

“Woah, hey no, stop that!” A voice from behind her shouted. Kate turned around to see the man she met yesterday, the one who was probably too young to be at this bar, the one who dressed like a flying rodent during the night. Kate looked at him, confused and waved back at him. “That’s a two thousand dollar surveillance drone,” he paused for a moment “Please don’t break it.” 

Kate nodded and set the bottle back on the ground. 

“Thank you,” he said, “Kate.” Now the girl in question looked more shocked than anything. 

“You’re welcome, Batwing.” Kate signed, and the vigilante took out his phone from his pocket.

“You can call me Luke, wouldn’t want to accidentally revealing my secret identity now, would we?” He asked

“You can understand me?” Kate questioned.

“I can,” he confirmed 

“How? You didn’t yesterday, and normally people need more than a day to learn sign language.”

“Well, let’s face it, nothing about this situation is normal,” he paused “And my drone up there is recording our interaction and sending the translation to my phone.” He concluded as he showed her the messages on his device.

“That’s pretty cool, but I am guessing you didn’t go out of your way to find me to just point to your phone and show me your fancy tech, so..” 

“Mhm smart too, that’s good, I’ll get straight to the point then, train me” 

Kate began to laugh, but when she saw the look on his face she stopped “no” she signed.

“I’ll pay you”

“No”

“More than the Crows”

“I’m good man”

“But you could be great, if you don’t want money than what do you want, whatever it is I can find some way to give it to you.” He assured 

“I am getting what I want through the Crows.” 

“And what is that, I know you aren’t like them, you don’t think like them, if you did you would’ve turned me in without a second thought. Instead I woke up with my helmet on in an underground clinic, that the Crows certainly would’ve shut down if you told them about it, but you didn’t.” He reasoned.

“I joined them to protect my family.”

“Really, and what family is that, Kate Sohail? Because according to what I found, you didn’t exist until a few weeks ago.” he said, and Kate had a mix of shock and worry on her face.

“Okay I get it, you know shit about me, I know shit about you, let’s just walk away and leave it at that, okay?” 

“Just think about it alright, I can help you if you help me, and if you decide to, you can still be a Crow, I’ll give you ninety-six hours to consider my offer.” He said before leaving.

Beth felt a familiar beam of warmth on her bare shoulder blades that caused her to furrow her brows and let out an annoyed sigh before opening her eyes to see the body beneath her. She remembered him from last night, at the bar, they didn’t have much to drink before heading back to her apartment, he was fun, she just didn’t think they would wake up this close together. She knew they had sex, of course, she just wasn’t the type to cuddle afterwards, spooning crossed her one-night stand emotional attachment limit so waking up to him sweetheart cradling her, with his arm wrapped over her back was a mile past her comfort zone. Carefully she took his hand off of the thin bed sheet that separated them and swiftly rolled off of him to the other side of the bed and let his hand fall on his chest. As she watched him shuffle and stir she let out a dissembled yawn, as she stretched her arms and forcefully closed her eyes and reopened them to see her newest flame had shifted onto his side and was looking directly at her.

“Good morning” Ocean said drowsily, clutching the pillow his head is resting on with his arm underneath it.

“Is that a greeting or a statement?” Beth asked impassively even though she was slightly irked at the state she found herself in the morning.

“Maybe it was a question?” He retorted with the same wit

“Well I just woke up so it’s probably too early to tell.” 

“How long do you normally wait before putting your eggs in a basket?” 

“It depends on the day, it’s the weekend so a good hour after my coffee and I’m set, if it was Monday then after my first class.” Beth responded still placid.

“So you’re a numbers kind of girl?” Ocean asked

“I guess you could say that.” 

“Really? What number am I?” Ocean asked playfully as he watched Beth’s cheeks turn red and her laugh uncomfortably.

“I don’t think my body count is any of your business.” She replied clearly pissed off at the question.

“No I uhm, I didn’t mean,... that’s not the question I was trying to..” Beth cut him off

“Then what were you trying to ask?” She questioned fuming 

“Was this….fun?” He asked insecurely, and all Beth could do was stare at him in bewilderment, as if he just asked what two plus two equals.

“What?” She exclaimed  

“I mean it was…a lot of fun for me” he smiled, recalling the events of the night before “but if it wasn’t the same for you I figured that I could make up for it now, if you want me to.” He propositioned 

“Wait so, if I’m getting this right, when you asked what number you are, you were asking if I had a good time and not about…other stuff?” Beth surmised and Ocean nodded “And if I didn’t you were going to ‘make up for it now’?” She questioned 

“Well you did say yesterday that I was very good at playing the piano.”

“I remember.” Beth confirmed, confused about what the two had to do with each other.

“Would it surprise you that I am very good with my hands in other areas?” He asked, enticingly.

“Tempting but to answer your question, yes, I had a very fun time.”

“Good enough that you wanna go for a round two?” He asked, moving closer to her

“Mhm we already started round two remember, and finished spectacularly.” Beth shifted her head so their eye contact wouldn’t break as he moved.

They were only a few inches apart. “Round three?” 

“Etched into my mind forever.” 

“Four?” At this point he was lying on top of her.

“My favorite” Beth replied as she placed her hands on the side of his face.

“Five?” Ocean asked before leaning in to kiss her.

“Bingo” she replied after breaking the kiss, only to resume once the words left her mouth. Just like last night the kiss was fierce but the rest of his body moved gently against hers. His hands wrapped around her biceps only to ground himself, felt as light on her skin as low tide waves crashing onto her submerged body. The palms of his hands and the skin on his fingers felt as light as being buried in sand until he moved one of them, and now she was only light on one side of her body. He used his free hand to take one of Beth’s off of his face and placed it on the center of his chest before letting go. He then moved it down and placed it on her lower thigh, they didn’t have time to get any bases further as Beth’s bedroom door suddenly swung open and in the state of shock Ocean rolled off of the bed and onto the floor with a thud.

“Ahh, sssuh that hurt.” He exclaimed

“What the hell is going on?” Sophie asked clearly in a state of shock.

Beth covered her mouth “oh my god, are you okay?” she asked as she rolled over to look at him, ignoring Sophie’s presence all together.

“Yeah, I think I’ll be fine,” Ocean replied as he grabbed onto the bed frame with one hand to lift himself up as the other held onto the bed sheet that was wrapped around his waist.

“Who are you? And what are you doing here?” Sophie asked, her Crow persona officially in full effect.

“Well I think the answer to your second question is pretty clear, from the context clues.” He replied, gesturing to himself and then Beth, “Who are you?” He asked

“I asked you first.”

“I asked you second, and we’re not in the third grade.” 

“It doesn’t concern you who I am, it concerns me who you are.” Sophie insisted 

“That doesn’t make sense.”

“Yes it does, who are you?”

“Ladies, gentleman, there is no reason to fight, no one is in trouble, we’re all adults here.” Beth said, trying to keep the peace.

“Beth, who is this guy?” Sophie asked

“Sophie this is Ocean, Ocean this is Sophie….we good?” She asked

“What do you mean ‘we good?’’ Sophie questioned

“You gonna play nice?” 

“What happened last night after you left the bar?” At this point she was getting pissed.

“You’re an adult, you can figure it out.” Ocean replied

“I don’t have time for this today.” She said as she walked out of the bedroom and shut the door behind her.

“I’m sorry about that.”

“It’s okay, who was she anyway?” Ocean asked

“Ah it’s not important” Beth replied trying to avoid the question

“First her, now you, why does no one want to answer that question?”

“Well can’t I just not want to talk about her right now?” Beth asked as she tugged at the sheet Ocean was wrapped in.

“Mhm, you’re deflecting.”

“Why is this so important to you?”

“Because the questions that people don’t want to reply to always have the best answers.”

“Well I’m not what you would call an open book, sooo” She replied, pulling the sheet closer to her as she kissed his abs and got up.

“Beth” Ocean said as he held up a hand to stop her “Who is she?” He asked in a serious tone.

“Didn’t you hear, she’s Sophie.” 

“Beth, I'm serious.” he said resolute 

“Why though, nothing about this is serious? Why do you care?” Beth asked apathetically

“Why do you care so much to hide it?” Ocean said, his tone of voice a refined echo of Beth’s sugar coated coldness 

“I don’t hide anything, I can’t” 

“What do you mean you ‘can’t’?” Ocean pushed

“Like I said none of this is serious” she said gesturing to both of them

“So I take it, we won’t be getting breakfast this morning?” Ocean surmised 

“Yeah because you would’ve said no if you knew I was lying” she said sarcastically “Because you’re a good guy, right?” 

“No, I just wouldn’t have gotten my hopes up.” He replied before briefly searching the floor and picking up his discarded jeans.   

Kate entered the penthouse in her new uniform five minutes later than she was supposed to, for once however she didn’t care, she didn’t go over to Sophie and apologize, she didn’t show any signs of regret, she just didn’t care. After the night she had, the night where she was supposed to be relaxing, all she wanted to do now was punch something, not apologize. As she made her way into the apartment she spotted Sophie next to Beth’s door, and as she smiled at her, Kate nodded and gave a fake smile as she entered the dining room. She approached the decorative glass bowl filled with fruit at the center of the table and took out an apple from the assortment.

“Uhm I don’t think that we’re..” Sophie started but stopped after she saw Kate take a bite out of the apple, “okay.” She replied instead. Kate didn’t even look at her and just kept eating the fruit. It was a strange feeling, being ignored, Kate always looked at her, she never realized how much she liked it until she realized how much she hated this. She stared at her like she was a super human and was trying to focus enough to read her mind, trying to will Kate to look back at her. But they were both just ordinary humans, and only had ordinary options at their disposal. “I saw you last night, at Evan Blake’s bar, I was there with Beth.” 

Kate, still chewing her apple, looked up at Sophie and nodded, expressionless.

“Well I didn’t see you technically, Beth did and-and she told me, and before I could find you, poof you were gone.” 

Kate nodded again, seeming to be more interested in the food than in what Sophie was talking about.

“Where did you go after you left the bar?” Sophie asked curiously, and Kate ignored the question as she threw away the apple core and moved past Sophie to open the door. “I wouldn’t go in there if I were you,” she advised, and with her hand still gripping the doorknob, Kate narrowed her eyes at her. “It’s just that when I went in earlier, Beth had ah…company, and she’s in the bathroom but he hasn’t left yet.” Kate turned a deaf ear to her advice and swiftly opened the door to see Ocean in nothing but his boxers, pulling up his jeans from his ankles. 

“Oh, I’m in trouble aren’t I.” He declared calmly, with her anger at its boiling point rivaling her self control, Kate stepped into the bedroom and closed the door behind her before walking towards her brother and promptly threw a right hook to his face, knocking him to the ground. “Ah, I just fell on this floor,” Ocean exclaimed, rising to his feet once more, after which he proceeded to pull up his pants, unaware that as he did so a small plastic bag full of a green substance fell from one of his pockets. Kate noticed though, and as he zipped up the fly of the jeans, and started to ring the old leather of his belt through the loops on the waist band, Kate moved to the other side of him, and covered the bag with her foot. “Before you say anything, you need to understand, that I didn’t know, who she was. And that I never would have gone home with her before talking to you first.” 

“You ‘never would have gone home with her before talking to me first ’?! How about you just don’t go home with her at all!” Kate signed, fuming.

“Well, she bought me drinks so I had to pay her back somehow.” He smiled, trying to make light of the situation, but let his expression fall when he saw Kate’s scowl. “I get that you’re mad, but you slept with Safiyah years before….for years before I slept with your sister .” He purposely said the last word quieter than the others.

Kate did a hush signal by placing one of her fingers to her lips. “That’s different, this is different.” She signed, unrelenting.

“Yeah because I didn’t save her life just to have sex with her, and then groom her for two years.” Ocean replied to which Kate slapped him across his face before the door suddenly opened, and the siblings stopped in their tracks. 

“Why are you in my room?” Beth asked Kate, and she responded by pointing at Ocean

“God you too, I thought you were the cool one.” She exclaimed

“Hey” Sophie replied in an offended tone. 

“Please, you know I’m right.” Beth countered, turning to face Sophie as she did so.

“Well you have fun with that.” Ocean said to Kate before patting her on the shoulder and walking out of the bedroom, past Beth and Sophie, making his way to the exit but halted as someone else came through the door.

“Who are you?” The newest mystery woman asked, in the nicest tone he has heard so far anyone speak to him that morning.

“The question we’re all asking it seems.” Sophie said as she turned towards him with Beth.

“Right now it seems I affiliate with more than I intended.” He responded, turning to face her as he did so.

“What does that even mean?” Sophie questioned, Ocean turned to look at Beth.

“It’s not important,” he said before walking out the door.

“Okay but who was that guy?” Mary asked the group after the door shut. Kate slowly walked out of the bedroom and stood side by side with Beth.

“My brother” she signed, and suddenly all eyes were on her.

“Okay you know none of us know what that means.” Mary spoke up for the group. Kate made her way towards her as she simultaneously took out her notebook and pen.

“My brother” she wrote before tearing the page off, folding it, and handing it to Mary before making her way back to the other two women.

“Oh” she blurted out after reading the note, “and he was here because?” 

“We ah…we spent the night together.” Beth answered hesitantly, crossing her arms and averting her gaze as she did so.

“Oh well that’s a let down,” Mary responded before turning her attention to Kate “you have any other brothers?” She asked hopefully, shocked both Beth and Sophie turned to face Kate who let out an annoyed ‘here we go’ sigh.

“What?” Beth asked before she could think of anything better.

“ He is your brother?” Sophie’s question didn’t make much more sense.

“You knew she had a brother?” Beth asked Sophie in an accusatory tone. Kate didn’t make a point to look at either of them when the questions started rolling out, instead she kept her gaze on Mary and shrugged at her predicament. “Wait, you two aren’t blood related, right?”

Kate shook her head, no, and Beth let out a sigh of relief.

“Oh thank god,” she said as she placed a hand over her heart.

“Why are you guys acting so weird?” Mary asked, and Kate shrugged her shoulders again while everyone else ignored her.

“You were adopted?” Sophie asked rhetorically, surprised that Kate hadn’t told her this before.

“Or are you guys step siblings?” Mary joined in on the prying, “if so, do you have any other step brothers?” She still had her own agenda in mind.

“I have to go, I'll be right back,” Beth announced, and as she went to leave both Kate and Sophie took a step forward, “stay here.” She told them, and both froze in their tracks as she went out of the apartment. She started to speed walk in the direction of the building’s elevators, hoping for once that they were acting slow. As she rounded the corner, she paused seeing that at least a little luck was on her side today. He was still here, staring at the closed metal boxes, with his jacket tucked between his waist and arm. Beth took a moment to observe him, collect herself, and think of what she should say before walking up to him.

“I’m sorry,” she blurted out.

Oceans head shot towards the unexpected sound, “what?” 

“Don’t make me say it again.” Beth pleaded

“I don’t understand.”

“I’m not good at this part,” she said as she gestured to everywhere “the whole questions, and getting to know one another, it’s overwhelming and I don’t like it.” She declared

“Okay?” Ocean said, confused on where this was going.

“But, for the most part I liked this, and I think I might like you” 

“You think?” He questioned, as his eyes continued to bore into her’s.

“Okay fine I do” she declared

“How romantic, I think I’ve read that line before from one of the poems of Emily Dickinson.” He replied sarcastically.

“I said I’m bad at this, okay” she paused. “I don’t like people getting close to me, knowing certain things about me, so when they start asking questions, even simple ones, I shut it down.” She averted her gaze to the floor “hurting people sometimes feels easier than getting hurt.”

“I don’t like to talk about my life all too much either.” Ocean offered.

“Well could I maybe get your number, so I can call you, and we can not talk about our lives sometime?” Beth asked, getting closer to him.

“Mhm smooth” he commented “are you really going to call me though, or just leave me to wait for a call that won’t come like a virgin on prom night?” He questioned, and a small laugh escaped Beth’s lips.

“If last night’s any indication, you are definitely not a virgin.” She said through a wide smile.

“Thank you,”

You’re welcome, and yes I’ll call you.” Beth said before going forward and planting a quick kiss on his lips. “So are you going to give me your number or what?”

Kate was letting out all the anger that didn’t go into the hits she threw at Ocean, on the punching bag in front of her. Since it was the weekend she didn’t have to babysit her sisters as they went to University, and unlike yesterday they both decided to stay home. Under normal circumstances Kate would still choose to spend the day with Beth, but right now she couldn’t. She couldn’t look at her and not feel angry, while neither of them did it consciously, her siblings betrayed her. She had been so cold today, to everyone, the only difference now was that she was cold, with a mentality of a soldier, and the punching bag in Crows HQ can attest. As her panting increased, Kate backed away from the bag, and whipped her forehead with the back of her hand. She closed her eyes and leaned her head back as she forced on clearing her mind of all emotion, and returning her head back to its original position and reopened her eyes. She then performed a series of kicks and punches on the bag with such precision and speed that it caused a tear in it. Kate let out a defeated sigh as she grabbed the bag to stop it from swinging any more, lifted it up and unhooked it before placing it on the floor.

“You might need something better built,” a voice said from behind her, Kate turned around to see Sophie standing in the raised fighting ring. “The only time you’ve seen me fight I wasn’t entirely sober, let me redeem myself.”

Kate took a moment to look at her, study her, before letting out a sigh and nodding. She stepped up to the ring, and looked Sophie up and down before mouthing, “You sure?”

Sophie nodded and raised her arms as she clenched her fists and took a fighting stance as Kate did the same. It wasn’t long after they started circling each other that Sophie threw the first punch, to which Kate dodged. Sophie threw several more punches and kicks that Kate expertly dodged each time before calling a truce. 

“You’re holding back,” Sophie declared

Kate shook her head, no.

“Yes you are, I saw you do it earlier…..with Taveroff, up until the last round,” 

“‘One of the beauties of Jungle Law is that punishment settles all scores. There is no nagging afterward.’” Kate signed, quoting her favorite book.

“That was like twenty words, and I don’t know any of them.” Sophie replied, “you know I am ex military, right, you don’t have to worry about hurting me, I can take care of myself.” She said confidently.

Kate gave her a smirk, followed by a small chuckle as she motioned with both her hands for Sophie to come at her. And so she did, taking a boxing stance she aimed a punch towards Kate’s face, to which she deflected with her own blow to the side of Sophie’s wrist using the edge of her straight hand, and kneeing her in the side. As Sophie bent over and put a hand on her side, she and Kate locked eyes as Kate began to circle her. When she knew Kate was behind her, Sophie swiftly turned around and sweep kicked her. Kate recovered by turning her fall into a somersault and jumping back to her feet before turning to face the now standing Sophie with a smile on her face. Without warning Sophie charged at her, and placed her arms around her waist, pinning her arms to the side as she kept pushing her back. Kate took her weight on one foot, and raised the other to scrape Sophie’s skin bone downwards from about half-way from the knee, and finished up with a smashing blow to her foot causing her to let go. Kate then seized her arms slightly above the height of her elbows. And pulled down with her right hand and lifted up with her left hand, pulling Sophie off-balance, simultaneously shooting her left leg as far as possible behind her, Kate’s left leg rigid and close up to Sophie’s thigh. She continued the downward pull of her right hand and the upward lift of her left hand, at the same time bending forward and downwards from her waist towards her right foot, throwing Sophie onto the mat. Instinctively she grabbed onto the collar of Kate’s shirt, effectively taking her down with her. 

Kate’s reflexes were the only thing that stopped her body from crashing into Sophie’s, halting inches above collision with her hands placed flat on the mat. Their match had come to a standstill as both stayed frozen, staring at each other, catching their breaths. That was until Sophie broke their statue game and made a move to wrap her hands around Kate’s neck to roll her onto her back. But as soon as skin was touching scared skin, Kate’s hands grabbed Sophie’s wrists and pinned them down, in response Sophie abruptly shut her eyes as her breathing got more labored and erratic. Kate stayed above her, watching, waiting, a part of her concerned she went too far, another more dangerous part of her didn’t want them to stop. After a few more moments of contemplation she rose herself off of the mat, and Sophie followed after she reopened her eyes. The pair made their way to the women's locker room in the training sector to wash up, Kate made sure to wash from nose-tip to tail-tip. When they were finished showering it was just them in the room, alone, silence had become a dismal recurrence for Kate over the years, it was a demoralizing empty space she couldn’t fill that’s why she hated it when other people could fill that space but just wouldn’t, it was so quiet, until it wasn’t.

“Oh my god,” Sophie whispered behind her, at this point Kate had changed into a sports bra and pants, she lowered her head ‘there is only so much ink can do,’ she thought. Sophie’s eyes raked over the large, diagonal scars that were almost made invisible by her dragon and snake tattoo that covered all the damaged skin on her back. She took a few steps closer “what happened to you?” she asked, still using somewhat of a hushed tone, and began tracing her fingers from where one of the lines started to where it ended with her hand hovering over the skin. Kate sighed, thinking back to her first escape plan, when she persuaded Johnny to mimic her voice and call her dad, but after he did he went back on their plan, their deal, and his father made sure she would always remember her failure. Without turning her head, she took Sophie’s hand from behind her, one hand on the back of hers and the other on her wrist, she slowly brought the hand to her, and placed it on the center of her back. And they just stayed there, not moving, not talking, and it was so quiet, but that empty space was filled, was overflowing with words said by actions. Suddenly a knock on the door caused Sophie’s hand to pull away from Kate’s skin, and went to open the door. As she did it revealed a blonde male Crow on the other side that had his hand covering his eyes.

“I’m not looking” was the first thing he said.

“I can see that,” Sophie responded

“Hi Sophie, can I talk to you outside for a moment?” He asked

“Uhm,” she looked back at Kate “sure” she said before walking out of the washroom.

“I had a really nice time working with you yesterday.”

“I had a nice time too,” she replied out of politeness.

“It’s nice to hear that it’s mutual, and I was wondering if I could get your number?” He asked.

“Oh ah okay, yeah” she answered

As Kate entered her hideout, she took off her work blazer and threw it on the couch before pulling up the corner of her rug and removing a plank of wood from the floor that had an L marking on it. She took out a white velvet double breasted victorian women’s long coat, that had red cranes on the back, and was a little too small for her and put it on. She then searched around for a few more minutes trying to find her brother's bag, when she finally did she unzipped the front smaller compartment and took out a small wooden pipe and a lighter and made her way to the roof. When she arrived at the roof she sat down at one of the lawn chairs Ocean had set up, and took the small bag of grinded up weed she stole from him earlier and proceeded to smoke it through the pipe. A few minutes after she started smoking, and a few minutes before the high would kick in, Ocean found her on the roof.

“Hi” he greeted, and Kate turned to look at him and waved. “I’m sorry, I know I said it before, but Kate I am really sorry.” 

“I know you’re sorry, I know if I stuck around and told you to stop you would have, regardless it just hurts, but I accept your apology.” Kate signed as she continued to smoke.

“Thank you, and I forgive you for stealing my drugs, even though you didn’t apologize for it.” Kate nodded.

“How’s your stupid face?” She asked, in regards to the punch.

“It’s fine, why’s yours all sad?” he asked

“My idiot brother pissed me off earleir” she replied

“I didn’t say angry, I said sad, you don’t have that face and wear that jacket when you’re angry, you put them on when you’re sad.” 

“Girl troubles” Kate answered

“Ah, I’m sorry sis” he hesitated before speaking again “speaking of which, Beth asked for my number.” 

“Did you give it to her?” She asked angrily 

“I did, but I’m not going to do anything else you don’t green light from now on, I don’t think my face could take it.” Ocean said which made Kate chuckle, “and I won’t bring up Safiyah unless you wanna talk about what happened.” Kate waited as she contemplated what to say next.

“If you break her heart, I’ll slit your throat in your sleep.” 

“So?” He asked hopefully

“So, just don’t hurt her, or I’ll come for you.”

“Thank you”

“Shut up”

Chapter Text

Beth was looking at a painting called The Bellelli Family by Edgar Degas in the eighteenth century France exhibit of the Gotham Museum. It was of a family of four, a mom, a dad, and two sisters. They both had long dirty blonde hair and hazel eyes. Beth’s head turned from the painting to her phone, when she looked back at the sisters, one of them now had brunette hair and blue eyes. She stepped backward and before she hit the wall behind her, Beth felt someone tapping her on the shoulder and turned around when she did she saw Ocean was who was behind her. 

“Hey, you okay?” He asked her.

“Yeah I’m totally fine, I’ve just been loitering here waiting for you.” Beth answered him.

“Sorry about that, had trouble finding the place, so…paintings.” 

“Hmh.”

“Never been to a museum on a first date, or any date.” Ocean said.

“Me either but there’s something I want to show you.” She said, taking his hand and starting to drag him to the stairs, as she looked back towards the painting she realized it had gone back to normal. 

The duo went up the stairs all the way to the third floor and turned left, they made their way through several exhibits before they reached their destination. They walked up to a closed off exhibit with a security guard in front of it holding a list. Beth gave him her name and he let them both in.

“The hell is this?” Ocean asked as he looked around.

“This is the new astrophysics exhibit.” Beth replied 

“And we’re here because..”

“Because it’s a private event and there is free alcohol, and because I made something that’s gonna be displayed here.”

“What did you make?” He asked.

“This” Beth responded as she walked towards a mostly empty space that was labeled ‘Seen Universe’ that had a pair of virtual reality goggles in the space.   

“Oh….what is it?”

“These are VR goggles, they let you see the seen universe from the perspective of each planet through what we can see from Earth and through photos taken by rovers from those planets.”

“Okay, can I try them on?”

“I mean that’s why they're there.” Beth said and Ocean put the goggles on, he began to look around and walk a bit as he tapped the goggles repeatedly. “You know you’re a really good date to take to something you know nothing about.”

“Thank you.” Ocean replied facing the wall.

“I’m on your right.”

“Beth? Is that you, god I haven’t seen you out in forever.” A girl said as she approached the two.

“Shit” Beth said under her breath “Lauren hi, how are you?” Beth asked faking a smile.

“Well I’m about three drinks in so not so bad how about you?”

“Pretty good.” She answered after looking back at Ocean.

“I can see that now.” Lauren said, looking past Beth at Ocean who was taking off the goggles. “Hi I’m Lauren.” She introduced herself and extended her hand to shake his.

“Hi I’m Ocean.” He said as he shook her hand.

“Ocean wow that’s…unique, how’d you two meet?” She asked

“My sister actually…” Ocean managed to get out before Beth interrupted.

“We met in a gay bar.” 

“Oh why were..”

“I’m pansexual.” Ocean answered before the question was done being said.

“Oh sorry I thought you two were together.”

“No not together.” Beth responded and Ocean turned to look at her.

“Okay”

“Just having sex.”

“What?”

“Well we’re not boyfriend and girlfriend, just having fun.”

“Ah Beth, I thought you stopped having sex with gay guys in highschool.”

“Again Pan.” Ocean chimed in.

“Same thing.” Lauren justified.

“It’s really not.” Ocean and Beth both uttered.

“Okay just.. well you know me I only date you know masculine men.”

“None of the guys you have ever dated could win in a fight.” Beth announced.

“Alright well, it was nice catching up with you Beth.” She said out of politeness before leaving the duo and walking back to where she was before. 

“Well that sucked.” Ocean said to Beth.

“Yes it did.” Beth confirmed. 

“How do you know her?”

“We run in the same social circles, I didn’t know anyone I knew not from my classes would be here.”

“Hmh.”

“Do you wanna leave?”

“Uhm okay.” He replied. 

“Great let's go.” Beth said before taking his hand and walking to the exit. The cold air of Gotham hit the pair as they left the museum.

“So what now?” Ocean asked.

“Where do you wanna go?” Beth returned. 

“You know this city better than I do, the only places I know off the top of my head are your place, my place, and the Rainbow Hollow bar.”

“Mhm”

“So I think it's best if you pick.”

“Mhm how about we just walk for a bit.”

“Okay” Ocean agreed and the pair began to walk with Beth guiding them and Ocean staying close behind. They started to talk again, after leaving the parking lot.

“So..” Beth started

“So?”

“How old were you and Kate when she was adopted?” She asked, and Ocean gave her a puzzled look before responding.

“Well Kate was never formally adopted, we became foster siblings when we were both sixteen, and then two years flew by and we were both adults. How old were you and Mary when she was adopted?” He returned the question.

“We’ve got a bit of a similar story, never legally adopted, my dad married her mom when I was fourteen and she was nine. I ah wasn’t the best to her in those early years.” Beth said her voice, laced with regret.

“You missed being an only child?” He asked.

“No, I …I missed what my family used to be.”

“I don’t think that even if she was asked, Kate would have wanted to be adopted, she always talked about finding her birth family and going back to them. I never held it against her, wanting what she used to have, the family she used to have.”

“Do you know if she’s still looking for them?” 

“I don’t know if she has it in her right now to take the next step.”

“What do you know about them?” Beth asked and Ocean inhaled sharply, taking a minute to think before speaking.

“Not much.” He dodged before turning his head to look at her. What he received was a mirror of unwavering skepticism and inquisitiveness, so he went on. “I know that they used to be close. I know that they have more money than us. And I know that Kate thinks about them a lot, probably more than they think about her.”

“So you don’t like them all that much.” Beth surmised, turning back to look at him.

“Hard to like people that abandoned your best friend.” He slowed in his tracks as he faced her. “Don’t tell her I called her that, she’ll never let me live it down.” Ocean said with a smile, and Beth smiled back at him, before she could say anything in response Beth’s phone started to ring.

“Sorry it’s Sophie gotta answer this or she’ll have this place swarming with Crows in minutes.” Beth informed him.

“Damn rich people problems are crazy.” He responded before walking a bit of a distance away to give her some privacy.

“Hey Soph what’s up?”

“What did I say about calling me that?”

“I don’t know, I only listen to about a quarter of the things you say.”

“That explains so much, how’s the date going?” She asked.

“Pretty good, I am managing to fill in some gaps.” She responded vaguely.

“Well I guess that is the hand you’re dealt when you do dating in a reverse order.” 

“Don’t slut shame me.”

“I’m not.” She said defensively.

“Be better Sophie.”

“Oh my god.” 

“Anyway the highlights are Kate was never adopted, their foster siblings, Kate never wanted to be adopted and misses her birth family and Ocean doesn’t like them.” 

“Did you ask him out just to learn more about Kate?” Sophie asked, getting concerned.

“What..pst no what do you think I am a psycho?” She said before nervously laughing “Well he is coming back now gotta go bye.” She finished before hanging up. “Hey” She said to Ocean as he walked back towards her carrying something.

“Hey an ice cream truck came by, I didn’t know what to get you so I went with the one with the most amount of chocolate and no nuts.” He said before handing her the cone.

“That’s always a safe bet.” She said before trying it “Mhm this was a good decision.”

“So, is robo cop gonna come down to third-wheel us some more?” Ocean asked. 

“No, not for this date at least.” Beth said with a smile.

“Mhm, to be honest won’t have minded her being back at the museum when your ‘not really friend’ showed up.” He divulged.

“Yeah Lauren can sometimes be a lot that's coming from me.”

“Yeah I got that through her comments about….well you know.”

“I do know.”

“Ya know you haven't really mentioned how you feel about it.” He pried.

“I don’t really feel any particular way about it ... .though someone at some point in time told me it is good when you start going out with someone to have similar interests.” Beth responded, making both of them laugh a little.

“So, ‘going out with’ that mean there are gonna be more of these?”

“Depends, do you want there to be more of these?” She reversed the question to him.

“Definitely.”

“Anything you have in mind?”

“Well there is gonna be a drag show at the Rainbow Hollow bar, but we would have to get tickets fast or we’d end up sitting with a bunch of random straight people that got tickets the day of, no offense.”

“None taken that sounds horrible.”

“Great I’ll get them tonight, I get a discount anyway.” He confessed

“Really why, you’ve only been there once.”

“I work there now.”

“Okay I guess I’ll call you tomorrow.” Beth said

“Yeah I’ll-we’ll talk tomorrow.” He said before leaning in to kiss her goodbye, when they pulled away Beth gained more of the confidence she had the first night they met.

“Yeah no.” She said before pushing him back into the wall of a building and kissing him again this time much more passionately. “I have condoms in my car.” Beth said when the two briefly came out of the lust fogged haze for air.

Kate and Sophie stood waiting in the penthouse as both Mary and Beth got ready for school, as per their assigned Kane, Kate stood next to Mary’s door waiting for her and Sophie next to Beth’s. Kate’s eyes were focused on the fridge, examining from a far the many photos plastered onto it, the magnets from trips taken all over the world, and a smaller rainbow heart ‘ally’ magnet put off to the side. When she peeled her eyes off from the fridge, she took out her phone and opened it to check the time. After she determined that they were off schedule a but she knocked on Mary’s bedroom door.

“Just a second.” Kate heard her say through the door. Somewhat true to her word, she came out of the room moments later, and Beth did the same soon after.

“Hey, would it be okay with people if we switched today?” Beth asked the group. 

“What do you mean?” Sophie asked her.

“I thought maybe I could go with Kate today and you could go with Mary.” She explained.

“I’d be cool with it.” Mary responded, and Kate gave a thumbs up.

“Fine.” Sophie said, and the group departed the penthouse and made their way to Gotham university. As they got to campus the group split off with Beth and Kate going to the Science and Mathematics building and Sophie and Mary going to the library. 

Kate watched her twin intently as they were in class, the notes she was taking, the way she stared at the board only looking down at what she was writing every once in a while, the way the other students looked at her. This is the reason why she found it so out of place when Beth started drawing over the notes she had taken when the teacher slowed down in the lesson. Kate moved closer and peered over her shoulder to look more closely at the drawing, it was an incomplete face with only the eyes, eyebrows, and nose done. She never got to see who it was because Beth stopped at those features and turned her head to face Kate. She backed off after that and returned to the place she was standing before. 

During Beth’s second class of the day she refrained from drawing on her notes and all almost seemed normal. Around half way through the class Beth shot up from her seat and stared intently through the window on the door to the hallway, Kate’s eyes followed hers to the same location but saw nothing on the other side. The next thing she knew, Beth was walking out of the very same door into the hallway, and she was following closely behind. She briefly paused in front of an unoccupied water bubbler and stared at the space intently as she began to breathe heavier. After a few moments her eyes moved, from the bubbler they slowly shifted to the door of the women's bathroom. 

“I have to go to the bathroom, wait here.” She told her before entering. Kate felt uncomfortable with leaving her alone, but did as she was instructed. She waited and waited for her to come out, but with every passing minute the feeling that something bad is going on never went away. It wasn’t a foreboding sense of terribleness, it was animosity for the situation, it was the feeling that something bad was happening right at that moment on the other side of that door. At some point it became too much for her and she opened the door, when she did she saw Beth sitting on the floor on the other end of the bathroom leaning against the wall. Her eyes were red from crying and she was holding her needs close to her chest. After taking in the scene Kate closed the door behind her and locked it before going over to Beth. “I thought I told you to stay outside?” She said, as Kate came over she took off her blazer and put it on Beth’s shoulders as she sat next to her. With time she rested her head on Kate’s shoulder and in return Kate wrapped her arm around Beth’s waist, comforting her. 

After the pair had come down from the soul-stirring events in the bathroom, and Kate had retrieved Beth’s belongings from her class, they made their way to the nearest cafeteria for some food. Kate sat down next to Beth and pushed the fries and chicken fingers she had got for her towards her. Beth took a few fries out and consumed them before pushing the food back to Kate, and she looked at her with concern in her eyes.

“I don’t wanna talk about it.” Beth said after seeing Kate looking at her.

“‘To each his own fear.’” Kate wrote in her notebook before sliding it over to Beth. “Wanna play hooky?”

The pair walked around the Gotham Aquarium with their arms linked, less than a block away from the college. Kate had brought the unfinished food she had gotten for Beth to the aquarium despite it going against the rules, and was eating it as they walked. 

“I like this place, it is surprisingly peaceful, tranquil.” Beth said. 

Kate nodded in agreement.

“It also helps that we haven’t seen anyone else here, I don’t really like people that much. Except obviously Mary, Sophie, Ocean, and..you.” She concluded and Kate’s head turned towards her. Before she could respond, the ringing of a gunshot went through her ears, and her body went into autopilot, docking and pulling her and Beth behind a trash can for cover. Kate proceeded to take out her own gun and shot it the direction the bullets were coming from. Soon the gunfire on the other side stopped, and Kate took Beth by her hand as they ran in the opposite direction. They made it to the exit doors, only for Kate to try them and have them be locked.

“Kate.” Beth said in a trembling voice, and Kate looked over to see a dead man in an employee's uniform sitting on a bench, in front of a tank, with his throat slashed. Kate went over to him and took his employee ID badge that was clipped to his shirt, she then grabbed Beth’s hand again and the two rushed into the ‘employee only’ room. Soon Kate found an elevator that the badge activated and took them higher, as the doors closed they could hear someone banging on the door. The floor they were on was clearly not meant for the public, below them were tanks containing all sorts of sea animals, and to walk to the other side there was only a catwalk. The duo only made it halfway when the elevator doors opened again and the shooter came out. Before he had the chance to aim, Kate threw her small throwing knife at him, and it grazed his cheek before landing in the wall behind him. 

“Ah first I make you bleed, then I make me bleed!” He said before taking his own knife out and running towards Kate, after she got her tanto knife out she did the same. 

The man goes in using a jab, which Kate ducks from, then he moves to do a lower thrust but Kate cuts up and moves his hand away all while digging into him with her own knife. He stumbled backward and came back throwing a right low kick at Kate’s leg. She raised her leg off the floor, turned it towards the incoming kick and blocked it with her shin. Keeping her leg in the air, she turned it towards him and teeped his leg, straight away throwing a fast jab to his head with her fist, causing him to drop the knife. Kate throws another jab towards his head, but he takes a small step out to his right with his lead foot as he inside blocks with his right arm. As he blocks and step with his right leg, pivot to take his back foot completely off the centerline. He straight away fires a fist to Kate’s head over the top of her punch. Retracting his hand, he extends his left arm out towards the back to her arm, he takes a further step out and to his right with his leg. Immediately pivoting his right foot clockwise, rotating his right shoulder back and throwing a hard, left roundhouse kick to her midsection, making contact with the ball of his foot. Kate goes in for a right side kick just above his lead leg, recovers her stance by landing her leg forward and to the outside of his front foot. She followed it with a left uppercut to his chin by pivoting her back foot, rotating her body and turning her hip over. Immediately pivoting her lead foot anti-clockwise and rotating her body to her left as she throws a right hook. Kate takes a further step out to her right, pivoting her right foot clockwise, she fires a hard left leg roundhouse kick to his midsection. 

The attacker stumbles backward into the wall and takes out the throwing knife Kate had thrown into the wall at the beginning of their fight. He throws the knife past Kate, aiming at Beth who hurriedly moves out of the way, tripping and falling into a tank. Beth sank deeper into the tank and saw a creature turn and start moving towards her, soon she realized it was a shark and screamed while trying to swim. Kate rushed to get to her, putting her knife back into the sheath as she ran, and dove into the tank. Right before the shark attacked, Kate got between the shark and Beth and punched the shark in the nose and it quickly swam away. Kate swam towards Beth, took her hand  and wrapped Beth’s arm around her shoulder. She swam up and pulled them back onto the catwalk. The attacker walked towards the pair and took out his gun once again, pointed it directly at Kate’s head, before he pulled the trigger a shot was heard from behind him, and his gun dropped from his hand as did some blood. 

“You guys okay?” Sophie asked, as the man stumbled to the other end of the catwalk, out of site. 

Kate nodded, yes, and pointed at Sophie and then to Beth, Sophie understood and ran over as Kate got back on her feet to follow the man. She chased him down a set of stairs, and through a door that took them behind the checkout desk of the aquarium’s gift shop.

He turned around to face her after grabbing a snowglobe off of a shelf and throwing it at her. Kate caught it and before she could do anything else the attacker switched his feet and rotated his right shoulder back and threw a hard left straight to her head. She countered with a right cross after dropping the snowglobe, he immediately stepped his leg forward, ducking and bringing his left hand back to his head and extended his right arm to the side of Kate’s head. Using this to throw a hard right low kick to Kate’s leg. She stumbles back but quickly recovers, facing him again she throws a lead jab at his head. He fires one back but Kate anticipates this and switches her feet. At the same time she uses her right hand to parry his jab across her body and down. She fires a hard left body kick to his midsection, while doing this she extends her left arm, and recovers her stance. Immediately she takes a fast, small step forward extending her right arm and throws a hard right low kick to his leg. He threw a lead jag to her head, followed it with a right straight punch. Immediately stepping forward with his right leg, got just the outside of Kate’s foot. Straight away switching from the single to a double by replacing his left arm with his right onto the back of her leg. Moving his left to the outside of her body, raising her leg off the floor, turning the corner with his right foot and raised his head high. Driving his head to his left through Kate’s body as he started to run her towards the left corner. At the same time he drops his left arm down to the outside of her leg and lifts her leg high off the floor. He takes her completely off of her feet, throwing her onto the ground, he takes a knife out of the sheath attached to his ankle and tries to thrust it into her chest. Kate grabs his wrist with her hand keeping the blade inches away from her chest. 

While Kate is distracted, he takes her tactical pen from her pocket, pushes a button that makes a blade come out, and roughly shoves it into her thigh. Kate grits her teeth and closes her eyes due to the sudden pain before using both her hands to turn the knife pointed at her to the attacker and plunge it into his shoulder. After he falls back, Kate crawls on top of him and manages to handcuff him to a hand sanitizer dispenser.

Kate sat in the ambulance with a blanket draped over shoulders, communicating with the EMTs with a new pen notepad that they offered her. As the EMTs walked away after treating her, she got out of the vehicle and saw Sophie approaching her. Kate started putting her pants back on, that were taken off to treat her wound, as Sophie got closer and closer.

“Hey” She said once she reached her, “You gonna be okay?” She asked, concerned.

Kate nodded her head yes, and jotted down something on the new notebook before showing Sophie, “Thanks for the assist, I owe you one.”

“Consider us even, you saved me first.” She said.

“I considered us even when you helped get me this job, so I think I do owe you one.” Kate wrote and before the conversation could go any further the duo was interrupted by the Commander.

“I came as soon as I heard.” He said walking past Kate and going straight to Sophie. “Is Beth okay?” He asked, very distressed.

“She fine, no injuries, just got a little wet.” Sophie explained to him, “You should really talk to agent Sohail, she’s the one who was protecting Beth today.” 

“Is that true?” He asked Kate after turning to her.

Kate nodded yes, and wrote on her notebook “But if it wasn’t for agent Moore’s back up, things could've gone way worse, she came at the perfect time.”

“Really?” He asked her, turning back to Sophie, “Nice job you two.” He said before leaving.

Luke walked into his office at Wayne and saw a familiar face as the office chair swivel around to face him.

“That’s not your chair.” He said, and Kate got up from the seat and walked around to the front of the desk.

“You didn’t exactly give me instructions on how to find you.” She signed

“Does that mean you’ve made your decision?” He asked.

Kate nodded yes and extended her hand for him to shake.

“So what is it you need from me?” He questions, knowing there has to be something.

“I need you to find someone for me.”

“What are you gonna do to them once I find them?”

“Nothing he doesn’t deserve.” Kate responds and Luke looks at her apprehensively, “I am not even sure he is still kicking around, if he is, we’ll put him away for his crimes.” She clarifies, and Luke nods.

“Alright let’s get started.” He says as he moves to the bookcase and moves the pearl necklace case to open the secret entrance. Kate’s eyes widen before they step into the elevator and go down into the batcave. She looks around and first sees the suit in the middle of the floor on full display, walking past it she sees something more interesting. She sees photos, of her, of Beth, of their mom, sees newspaper clippings and maps just like in Beth’s book. 

“It’s the one case he could never solve, world’s greatest detective.” Luke says and Kate’s eyes narrow as she looks confused. “Bruce, Bruce Wayne, the guy who’s building we’re in, these were his cousin and aunt.” He said pointing at a picture of Kate and Gabi. “They died about ten years ago, they found Gabi but never found Kate, he could never figure out why.” 

Kate looked back at the white board and started moving the yarn on the map and all the pictures of her to that one place.

“Hey what are you doing?” Luke asked in an angry tone, when he saw she was messing with the board. “Your job is to train me not try and solve impossible cold cases, what do think we’re gonna do here, drive down and investigate this house?” He asked

Kate shook her head no, before signing “we can’t”.

“Why?” He asked, intrigued now.

“Fire.” Kate put simply.

“How do you know that?” Luke questioned.

“I lit it.”