"I hate you," Lisa declared as we left Grant's Gym.
I rolled my eyes. "You'll thank us later, Lisa."
"Still hate you."
"Come on," I said. "It's not that bad. Mister Grant really knows what he's doing. Sure, he's pushing you a bit, but that's just to help you improve."
She glared at me. "Do you have any idea what it's like to spar with someone and know
without a doubt how many different ways he could beat you up and how much he could make it
hurt if he wanted to?"
"I have some idea," I answered dryly. "Where're you headed now? Back to the manor?"
And the Batcave? I didn't have to ask.
"No," she replied. "
We are going to the Boardwalk."
I blinked. "We are?"
"Yes," she declared. "We are."
"Lisa," I argued, "I need to pick up Aisha this evening, remember?"
"That's not for a couple of hours," she said, waving it off. "Besides, you owe me-"
"I do not!"
"-
and you need to relax. There's more to life than school, your sister, and... our night job. Besides, you need to get a suit tailored for that fundraiser this weekend, and Mrs. Wayne delegated me to ensure that that gets done."
I opened my mouth to protest, but before I could say anything, she added, "And no, 'off the rack' is
not acceptable. Mrs. Wayne was very clear on that."
My jaw clicked shut.
I suppose she had a point. The fundraiser being held this weekend at the Brockton Bay Country Club was one Doc's projects to help improve the city, something about restarting the old ferry to make it easier for people living in the north end to commute to the new jobs that were being created closer to downtown in the south, as well as granting access to some of the outlying islands. I wouldn't have much to do there, but people would notice if his personal assistant/totally-not-illegitimate-son didn't show.
I sighed. "Fine," I said finally, throwing my hands up in surrender.
* * *
I stepped out, modeling yet another outfit Lisa had picked out for me. Seriously, silk?
"Why, exactly, are we picking out clothes for
me?" I asked. "I figured I was gonna spend most of this trip as your shopping mule."
"
Because you need to update your wardrobe in general, Mister Big Shot," she retorted, "not just for special occasions. A good wardrobe makes all the difference if you're going to catch someone's eye."
I winced. I had no interest in that right now.
"Ah ah ah!" Lisa scolded, waving a finger at me. "If you're going to relax, you're going to need to find someone to relax
with, and
I certainly don't have the time for it."
"Brian?"
My heart froze. That voice...
I turned.
"Delia," I said as she walked up to me. "It's... been a while."
"Yeah," she said, stopping at arm's length.
"So... how've you been holding up?" I asked.
"I've been getting by," she answered. "You?"
"Doing okay."
I shook my head and gestured to Lisa. "Oh, Dee, this is my friend, Lisa Pennyworth. Lisa, Delia Dennis."
Dee turned to look at Lisa. "Oh.
Oh. I see."
"Whoa!" Lisa said, holding her hands up. "No. Nope. No no no. It's not like that, really. He's-" she hesitated, stumbling over her next words, "he's like a brother to me, I guess."
"Right," Dee said, looking back and forth between us. "Well, I'm pleased to meet you," she said, shaking Lisa's hand, then looked at me and added, "and... I'm glad to see you're doing all right, Brian, but I really need to go."
I caught her hand. "Take care, Dee."
She flinched and tried to pull away for a moment, then smiled faintly back at me. "You too, Brian." With that, she shook herself free and left.
I took off after her, only to find an arm barring my path. Said arm belonged to a stern-faced Enforcer, and I belatedly remembered I was still wearing the silk shirt Lisa had me trying on a moment ago, a shirt I hadn't paid for.
By the time that was taken care of, Dee was nowhere in sight.
"Sorry, Brian," Lisa murmured. "I... I didn't know."
"Before we met," I said with a shrug. Her power wasn't perfect, after all.
"There's something off about her, though," she added. "Not sure what, but... it's almost like she feels guilty. Probably for leaving, I'm guessing?"
I simply shrugged, then changed the subject. "Listen, I've got to go to Mom's to pick up Aisha. Will you be okay getting back to the manor from here?"
"I'll be fine."
* * *
"Mom?" I called as I knocked on the door. No response. I tried the door. It wasn't locked -- as usual -- so I gingerly pushed it open and stepped into the apartment. "Mom?"
"'N heeere..." I heard from the back, followed by a slightly hysterical giggle.
I shook my head and followed her voice. "Mom," I said, "I'm here to pick up Aisha. Where is she?"
"Uhm..." she squinted at me. "Aisha? She was here just... a... a couple... days ago? I think?"
"'A couple
days ago'?!" I sputtered. "
Mom!"
"Aww, she'll be fiiine. Every kid runs off every now an' then."
Ladies and gentlemen, Celia Winters.
My hand clenched into fists, and I turned and left before I said or did something I'd regret. Once I was outside and had calmed down a little, I pulled out the cell phone Doc Wayne had gotten me. Aisha had a cheap, prepaid phone for emergencies; I only hoped she hadn't lost it.
It rang three times before I got an answer. "Yo."
"Aisha!" I blurted out, relieved. "Where are you? Where have you
been? You know you can't keep running off like this."
"Cool your jets, bro." She blew me off. Again. What was I going to do with her? "I'm good. Serious. Come pick me up? Made a friend I want you to meet."
I sighed. "Address?"
* * *
The address was in one of the city's older districts. Back when the city had been more prosperous, it had been prime real estate, and many of the buildings dated back hundred of years. The costs of renovation, the convenient location, and the historic nature of the buildings meant this was a high-priced area to live, even though most people who had enough money to live here chose otherwise. Still, it remained one of the nicer parts of town and was fairly prestigious, so I dressed accordingly.
I slowed as I rounded the corner and approached the brownstone's entrance. Aisha was sitting on the front steps with someone, a white girl: blonde, blue-eyed, with her hair done up in ringlets. Cute.
When Aisha said she'd made a friend, I wasn't sure what I was expecting, but this girl... certainly wasn't it.
"-I think you'll like him," Aisha was saying, waving her hands animatedly. I quickened my pace again and waved.
"Aisha!" I called.
She turned and waved back. "'Sup, bro?"
