"OH NO, I AM NOT wearing this."

I rolled my eyes as I applied a rosy lipstick on myself. "Stop being such a wuss, Blondie. You'd look good and you know it."

"This is so inappropriate! Where are we even going dressed up like this?"

"I told you already, we're going clubbing. I haven't been in a long time since, you know, you guys have been trying to kill me for like the last two months."

"We aren't even old enough to go clubbing!"

"No, we aren't legally old enough to go clubbing. Doesn't mean we can't still go! We just have to pass for twenty one."

I paused for a second, before deciding to do something bold. I reached up and pulled off my mask, starting to do my eye makeup,

The blonde girl stared at me in shock. I looked up, raising an eyebrow. "What?"

"You just like, totally exposed your secret identity!"

"Do you know my name? Where I come from? Where I live? What blood type I am? No. So you don't know my secret identity, you can just see my eyes."

She put a hand on her hip. "Um, do you even know all of that about yourself?"

I froze.

Oh my god. I don't even know my own secret identity.

"Whatever," I said, shaking my head. "Point is, I have to do my mascara somehow. And this mask is so not club worthy."

Silence overtook the room once again as Artemis sat on my bed. The short green dress laid next to her, a little wrinkled but otherwise still brand new.

"This is a stupid idea," she spoke.

I applied some mascara after finishing up my eyeshadow. "You're a stupid idea."

The door to my room then slid open and Greenie flew in, excitement written all over her face. "Okay, what do you guys think?"

We turned to see the Martian twirling around in a sparkly purple dress.

I cringed. "Now that's a stupid idea"

"I think it's cute M'gann," Artemis said. "Compliments your skin."

"Oh shut up, you don't know anything," I scoffed at the archer. "Besides, Greenie, can't you literally just make yourself older? That's one of your abilities or whatever, right?"

A look of realization dawned on the girl. "Oh... I guess you're right."

I took out my phone, pulling up an image of a dark blue, off the shoulder dress. "Here. Try something like this."

M'gann flew closer, inspecting the picture, before morphing the exact dress onto her. A twenty-something hear old Martian stared back at us— her hair was longer, and she had more defined features with a slightly curvier body.

I grinned, clapping my hands together. "Now that's what I'm talking about!"

The red head looked at herself in the mirror in the corner of the room, tugging at the end of her dress. "Is it supposed to be this short?"

"I personally think it should be shorter," I said.

"No!" Artemis cried. "That's short enough, M'gann."

I rolled my eyes. "You're no fun, Blondie. Live a little."

"Not when you're turning M'gann into a prostitute!"

"Hey! Not true! I'm turning her into a prostitute with taste."

"Blackout!" The archer threw her hands up, scowling at me.

I rolled my eyes. "Just put the dress on and try to not look like you're always angry at everyone."

She crossed her arms. "I am not putting that on! Unlike you I have self-respect."

"Okay, fine," I waved my hand, holding back up the small silver mirror and inspecting the craftsmanship of my smokey eye. "I guess you'll just miss out on the chance to make Kid totally drool over you."

Silence.

She huffed, grabbing the dress. "Fine! Turn around. And I am not doing this because I want to impress Kid Idiot! I just clearly can't stop you, and I can't leave M'gann alone with you or you're gonna sell her into human trafficking or something."

"M'gann is not even human."

"Ugh. Whatever. There, are you happy now?"

I turned around, grinning at the girl. The dress fit her well—it was strapless, dark green, short and simple.

"Kid is gonna be very happy, if you know what I mean."

Her face scrunched up in disgust. "Gross! I'm not trying to hook up with guys or anything. Especially not that red-haired food processor. I'm just trying to keep M'gann safe."

Said Martian clapped excitedly as we continued to get ready. I put on my outfit: a simple, short black dress with a small slit on either leg. Pair it with a stolen diamond necklace and it was just my type—I take after Selina that way.

I walked over and slipped on my favorite black heeled boots, tossing Artemis her usual pair of green ones.

"Alright!" I clapped my hands together. "Let's go get into some trouble!"

As we walked out of my room, I made sure that the coast was clear. I didn't need Bats or someone seeing us—not that that would stop me—I'd just rather not deal with it.

"I can't believe I agreed to do this," Artemis whispered from behind me. "Green Arrow will kill me if he finds out."

"I wouldn't be shocked if we saw him there," I said.

We turned the corner into the kitchen and saw Wally and Dick sitting on the couch playing some sort of video game.

"We're going out," I announced. "We'll be back later, don't wait up for us."

They glanced back at us and mouths dropped. Kid was immediately at my side, a smirk on his face and his arm around my shoulders. His breath smelled like bubblegum as I flicked his arm away.

"Wow, Blackout. You clean up pretty nice, and I'm liking the no mask thing. Care to exchange secret identities with m—whoa."

"I don't know how you always have your hair down!" Artemis stomped in, apparently having gone back to put her hair in a loose braid at her side. "It was so irritating."

When she finally noticed Wally's staring, she put a hand on her hip. "What, no compliment?"

"You look, uh," Kid stumbled over his words, before clearing his throat. "Fine. Whatever. You look alright."

I smirked as my mind flickered back to Dick, who still hadn't said a word. I looked towards the couch and found him standing up, tapping his foot, and staring at me impatiently.

I rose an eyebrow. "You got a problem, Birdie?"

"Uh, yeah, I kinda do. Where exactly do you think you're going?"

"Where do you think I'm going?"

"I think you're going somewhere you shouldn't be, and Batman is gonna be mega-pissed if I let you leave, heavy on the 'mega.'"

I narrowed my eyes at him, snapping my fingers. "Megan, go get your UFO ready."

"Oh, um, it's M'gann," she said as she floated up from behind me. "But don't worry, it's an honest mist--"

I turned around to face her. "Now."

She nodded quickly before exiting the room towards the hangar of the base. I looked back at the raven-haired boy.

"And you're not letting us do anything. We're going. End of story. You're also not gonna let Bats in on this, 'kay?"

He crossed his arms. "And why would I do that?"

"Oh, I don't know," I shrugged, and the slim strap of my dress fell off my right shoulder. I slid it back into place, flashing him a smile. "I just have a feeling you won't."

His eyes darted back up from my bare shoulder to meet my gaze and his cheeks flushed.

I clapped my hands together, turning around. "Alright, Kid Moron, get your mouth off of the floor and stop looking at her like she's a piece of meat."

"Hey!" Kid yelled, his face and neck now blazing red in embarrassment.

"Blondie, let's roll." I pointed a finger to the door.

Artemis scowled. "You don't own me."

"So... you'd rather stay here with him?"

She huffed before marching past me. "I still don't like you."

* * *

"I cannot believe you talked me into this."

"If it makes you feel any better, neither can I."

We walked along the sidewalk, getting into the upper district of Gotham, with all the high end stores and big businesses. To my left was Artemis, who had her arms crossed around her body, eyes darting to every person we crossed. To my right was M'gann, who excitedly waved at passing cars and gasped at bright billboards.

"I've always dreamed of being in a city, I never realized Gotham was this pretty!" The now older-looking red head sighed.

At that same moment, some guy threw a soda can out of his car window, screaming profanities at the three of us.

"Yeah, so pretty," Artemis said.

I turned my head up and was greeted by the big bright symbol of the Wayne Enterprises building. I had an internal moment of panic-- I don't think he'd care about me, but I have a feeling that Bats would not be a fan of me taking "straight-A student" Artemis and "Martian Manhunter's precious niece" M'gann out in tight dresses to go underaged clubbing at midnight in Gotham, a city notorious for girls getting kidnapped.

"Uh, let's walk a little faster," I said.

"Why?" Artemis asked, before following my gaze. "What? Scared of Bruce Wayne?"

I rolled my eyes. "Something like that."

I felt her scrutinizing gaze on me. "Oh, you have a crush on him or something, don't you?"

"What?" My neck snapped to face her. "Ew! No! Wayne's a scumbag."

"Who's Bruce Wayne?" M'gann added in, only to be ignored.

"Hey, I don't like him," Artemis said, putting her free hand up in defense. "I think he's a cocky, stuck up, woman-using, money hog who takes for himself and doesn't really give a damn about the city. But I couldn't say I disagree with you-- because he's a hot, cocky, stuck up, woman-using, money hog."

My face crinkled up in disgust, but it's not like I could say much. How the hell was I supposed to explain to her that this "hot, cocky, stuck up, woman-using money hog" was actually her boss?

"That's gross, Blondie. He's the farthest thing from attractive."

"Uh, Earth to Blackjack?" Artemis snapped her fingers in my face. "He's like, the hottest man on the planet."

"Who's Bruce Wayne?" M'gann interjected again.

"Just be lucky you don't know, Greenie."

A few minutes later we finally arrived at our destination— The Bank, one of the upper-end night clubs in Gotham. There was a big line of women in tight dresses and men in sharp suits out front and down the block, all waiting to get inside.

"Follow me," I waved the two of them behind me as I cut past the whole line, eliciting complaints. I shoved whoever was at the front out of the way, and grinned at the dark-skinned bouncer.

"Freddie!"

The man looked down at me with an irritated face, a toothpick leaning out of the side of his chapped lips. "You know you've gotta wait'chur turn, little lady."

I took my hand and covered my eyes as my mask usually would. "How about now?"

He squinted his eyes before his face lit up in recognition. "Blackout?"

"Shh!" I put a finger to my lips, looking around to make sure no one heard. "Be any louder, why don't you?"

The man gave me a small smile as he went to unlatch the red leather rope to let us in. "I saw you all over the news— working with the Big Bad Bat now, huh?"

I rolled my eyes. "It wasn't very much of a choice."

"Really?" He sounded amused as he held up the rope for us. "Since when does anyone force you to do anything you don't wanna do?"

The easy smile fell off of my face. Chatter from the line of people and muffled loud music from the club faded into the background for a moment. Who does force me to do anything?

Shaking my head, I pulled out a hundred dollar bill from the strap of my dress and handed it to him.

"Have a nice night, Freddie."

"Yeah, yeah. And be careful out there, hm? A lot of people who come through here ain't too happy with you these days."

"Yeah no kidding," I muttered under my breath as we walked into the polished hallway.

The entire place was decked out in black and golds and silvers, with big diamond chandeliers and glass tables. A bar was off to the corner, with hundreds of different types of alcohol and drinks behind it, and a dance floor was in the middle of the room. I turned back to M'gann and Artemis, who looked scared and severely out of place.

I groaned. "Well come on!"

I dragged both of them by their arms to the middle of the dance floor, where we passed faces of celebrities and Gotham's most wealthy. This was usually where Selina conned them out of their money and assets, but I think I'm going to skip that part tonight.

As time passed they began to loosen up: M'gann was bright and bubbly, which attracted a lot of guys to her on the dance floor. Artemis, on the other hand, was equally as alluring, judging by the number of men that tried to dance with her, except she literally threw one over her shoulder and slammed him into the floor for trying to touch her.

And, hey, it's not like I'm judging. It was funny!

Eventually, we left the dance floor and went to the bar. I got a glass of champagne, M'gann had a Shirley Temple, and Artemis told us that she trusted nothing, even water. After small talk with a few random guys, I excused myself to the bathroom.

I walked into the ladies' room, which was decorated in matching golds and silvers, much like the club itself. A few women walked out as I ran my fingers through my hair, trying my best to detangle it. I hummed to the muffled bass of whatever song was playing at the moment.

I turned on the tap in hopes that a little water would help tame my hair, and I looked back up in the mirror to an image that was not my own. I gasped, my heartbeat racing as I regained my composure.

Blinking repeatedly, I rubbed my eyes. Maybe it was just a trick of the light?

It was the same woman I saw in my dream a while ago, the one with pale skin and dark eyes.

"Did I really drink that much?" I muttered.

"No, I'm just here to tell you to stop using your gift once again, Brielle."

I reached my hand out quickly in an attempt to maybe catch her off guard, but my hand only came in contact with the glass of the mirror.

"Oh, shut up. I don't know who you are, if you're real or not, what 'my gift' supposedly is, or why I'm supposed to stop using it. So unless you're gonna give me some information that isn't cryptic and convoluted, I'm leaving."

Her eyes glowed faintly gold, which made my head hurt. "I'm warning you, Brielle. I did the same. Don't make the mistake."

"Listen, I don't know what's going on, but frankly I don't care. I make a lot of mistakes, and they all usually turn out just fine. I think I'm just hallucinating. See you around, creep."

I stumbled out of the bathroom, clutching my head as I tried to regain my composure. I headed to the bar in search of water for my headache, shoving drunk people out of the way as I did.

Maybe I should've just listened to Artemis and not trusted any of the drinks tonight, because whatever the bartender was serving tonight was a whole lot of crazy.

On my way back, my ears perked up as I heard a male voice a few feet away from me. "You guys know the deal: find Blackout and get out."

I paused.

"Yeah," another low voice agreed. "Bitch deserves what's coming to her, betraying the city like that and working for that bastard."

By now I was fully awake, but didn't let my cool facade slip as I sauntered by them. Once I was safe in the crowd, I darted towards the bar, which is the last place I saw Artemis.

I finally made it across the room and noticed a group of guys off in front of a dartboard. As I got closer, I noticed a smirking Artemis in the center of the crowd, one hand on her hip and a black dart in another. She threw it at the board, adding to the collection of darts in the center ring. The crowd of guys whistled and clapped, throwing cash and other papers on a nearby table.

I scoffed, pushing to the center of the group and grabbing her wrist. "So now who's the prostitute?"

"I'm selling my skillset, not my body." She scowled before ripping her arm out of my hand.

I rolled my eyes. "We need to get out of here. Now."

Her features contorted into confusion as she scooped the money off of the table and followed me away from the men, who seemed too drunk to realize she left. "What do you mean?"

"Finally, I found you guys!" I followed the cheery voice to find M'gann, who was beaming from ear to ear.

"Greenie, we've gotta—"

"So I met this guy," she gushed. "He's super funny and nice and sooo cute! Not cuter than Conner, of course, but still. And, I told him I was here with some friends and he said he would love to meet you guys!"

I waved her off with a hand. "That's great and all, Megan, but we really have to get g—"

"Ohmygosh, there he is!" she squealed, and basically flew to the man approaching us.

I threw my hands up in irritation. "Are you two stupid? We have to—!"

I made eye contact with the tall man and my blood ran cold.

"Holy shit," Artemis excitedly whispered from next to me, nudging my shoulder.

"It's Bruce Wayne!"

"Holy shit, it's Bruce Wayne," I muttered as I watched M'gann bring him to us.

I inwardly grimaced. Why does the universe always do this to me?

"These are my friends!" M'gann extended her hand to us. "Artemis and— uh..."

"Nice to meet you," I spat.

"Yeah, it's really nice to meet you!" Artemis nearly shoved me out of the way and held out her hand. "I'm Artemis."

I rolled my eyes. So much for her "not liking Bruce Wayne." Like, okay, sure I'll admit it— he's not horrendously ugly. But he's not that hot, is he?

"Bruce," he greeted with a low voice. His warm smile reached up into his eyes and his tux was perfectly tailored to his body and it burned to know that this was all an act which easily would've fooled me if I didn't know otherwise.

Okay, fine. He's hot. Sue me.

Artemis, on the other hand, practically melted into the floor but tried (and epically failed) to keep her cool. "Oh, I know who you are."

"Don't we all." I crossed my arms.

He made eye contact with me again and although his face was still kind, his eyes now screamed, "you're so dead."

I roughly grabbed the two girls' wrists. "Well, it was super cool to meet you, but we were actually just leaving."

I tried to pull both of them but neither budged.

"Aw, but can't we stay a while longer?" M'gann pleaded, not taking her eyes off of Bruce.

"I agree with her," Artemis said definitively. "I mean, it's not like we have anything to do."

"We actually have a lot to do, which doesn't involve him," I explained irritatedly. "So say goodbye to Gotham's Sweetheart and let's—"

"Hey, Bruce!" Another masculine voice interjected. "You totally left me back there with the— Artemis?"

The blonde, 6'1 frame of none other than Oliver Queen gave a confused look to the young archer. Artemis went white, eyes widening as she stuttered.

"Uh, Oliver! What— uh, h-how crazy seeing you here!"

I sighed, looking up at the ceiling. Again, really, universe? Why? Just why?

"Yeah, how crazy." Oliver crossed his arms, his face replicating a look similar to Bruce's. "You two—"

"Three," I interrupted.

He gave me a puzzled look and I jabbed my thumb in M'gann's direction.

His eyes widened at the mature Martian girl as he looked her up and down. "M'gann?"

"Shh! When I'm out in public it's Megan," she corrected with a smile, before pausing. "Wait, who are you again?"

"For crying out loud!" I exclaimed. "Doesn't anyone care that we have to go? People here are trying to kill me!"

There was silence among the group. I glanced at Bruce, who's gaze was locked on something behind me. I started to turn around when I found the cocking of a gun next to my ear.

"Oh, we care," a gravelly, rough voice said. "And thank you for making our jobs just that much easier, Blackout."

I turned around and found about eleven men, the ones I overheard earlier, standing in front of me.

Was I panicked for a second? Maybe. But then I realized that out of all the times these guys could've decided to jump me, they chose when literal Batman was standing right behind me. And did I hate how that made me slightly less panicked? Unfortunately.

I put a hand on my hip. "You picked the wrong day to try and mess with me, boys."

The leader suddenly noticed the group of people around me and grinned. "Wow, Blackout and Bruce Wayne? This day just keeps getting better and better. Not only do we have the city's most wanted ex-criminal, but we also have the city's most wanted billionaire!"

The group started to approach us, more weapons raised, and I sighed. I really can't just have one fun night out, can I?

"Uh, hello?" Oliver asked from behind me. "Oliver Queen here? Also a billionaire playboy? Am I not special enough to kidnap?"

I took one hand and shoved him back as I put my other hand on my thigh, where I had my gun in its holster. "Listen, we can do this the easy way, or the hard way. The easy way: you guys walk out here and leave. Or the hard way: a lot of people are gonna get hurt."

"Ha!" The leader called. "The Big Bad Bastard really has corrupted you. Since when the hell do you care about how many people get hurt?"

I paused.

"You know what?" I grinned. "You make such a good point! I don't give a shit how many people get hurt. But for now, let's start with you."

In seconds, my gun was in my hand and I was firing shots at the group. The music faltered in the club and everyone began screaming and running for the exits. M'gann, Artemis, and everyone else behind me immediately dispersed.

Artemis nailed one of the guys in the shoulder with a dart, and then roundhouse kicked him in the chest. One down, ten to go.

I jumped over the bar as I fired another shot at the group of men, but missed.

"Damn," I cursed as I found Bruce crouching down next to me. Gunshots and screaming filled my ears as he gave me a deadly look.

"You shouldn't be here," he started, but I cut him off as I stood up and fired another shot over the counter. I ducked when someone shot back, shattering the glass bottles of alcohol behind the bar. I put my hand over my face to protect myself from the falling liquor.

"Especially not with Artemis and M'gann."

"Yeah, yeah, well you do a lot of things that you shouldn't do, but here you are anyway," I said. "Has anyone notified Gordon yet?"

He held up the watch on his wrist. "GCPD ETA is seven minutes."

I looked up over the bar again, only to be met with more shots. I huffed, blowing hair out of my face as I crouched back down. "Well, we need to get that down to about five, because word that I'm here will probably spread quick. And don't you have somewhere to be? People will be looking for Bruce Wayne outside."

"Alfred's going to drive my car away as a distraction."

I looked up from the bar again to see where everyone was. Artemis was behind a table, throwing darts at another guy. M'gann was taking on two of them, slamming one to the floor with her telekinesis and dodging bullets from the other.

My eyebrows furrowed in confusion. "Where's Queen?"

Suddenly Oliver— in full Green Arrow suit— slammed into the wall of liquor and fell to the floor in front of us.

"Never mind."

He groaned as he looked up, his face and arm bleeding. "Thanks for the help you two, I really appreciate it."

I gave him a weird look. "What, do you wear that under your tux or something?"

I jumped up again and fired a shot, nailing a guy in the chest. I fist-pumped as I got back down.

"You never know when you might need it," Oliver shrugged.

I shook my head as I looked back to Bruce. "Did Dick tell you guys we were here?"

"No," Oliver answered with another groan as he pulled himself up. "Why?"

"I think I might've made it seem like I was gonna hook up with him if he didn't."

Anger flashed across Bruce's face and I held up my hands in mock defense. "He probably wasn't going to take me up on the offer! I was just curious."

Oliver let out a laugh. "You know what? I'm starting to like you, Blackout."

"Well, you'd be the first," I said as I noticed that a man appeared at the other end of the bar and started running towards us.

I was on my feet again as I ducked under his fist and knee'd him in the chest. Once he was doubled over, I reached up to the wall of alcohol and grabbed one of the bottles, smashing it over his head. Bullets started whizzing by my face once again and I got back behind the bar.

Seeing as no one else had literally any semblance of a plan, I guess it was up to me to take charge.

"Arrow, you're with me," I called. "Rich Kid, I can give you about fifteen seconds of cover, do whatever the hell you want with that."

"Since when did you start calling the shots?" Oliver asked as he stood up and fired three arrows over the counter. The sound of two men falling to the floor followed after.

"Since our 'oh-so fearless leader' is here hiding behind a bar because your dumb-blonde protege doesn't know who he really is."

I grabbed a discarded magazine from the now unconscious thug and reloaded my gun. I peered around the corner of the bar, holding my hand up to indicate Oliver to wait.

"And... now!"

I darted out, gun raised and the archer hot on my heels. We dodged bullets as we made our way across the room, using tables as momentary shields from the oncoming barrage. Oliver worked towards the center of the room, starting to throw fists with three of the guys. I saw Bruce run out from behind the bar and out the back door, but unfortunately, two of the thugs noticed as well and followed him.

Suddenly I was yanked from the back of my dress behind one of the many support beams, and I instinctively raised my gun, only to find Artemis on the other end.

"Those guys just followed Bruce! We have to help him!" She said, panicked, before trying to follow them.

"He'll be fine," I said as I pulled her back by her arm. "I'm sure Gordon and the GCPD are there already."

She yanked away, looking at me with wild eyes. "Are you crazy? How do you even know that? And these are trained fighters with guns and knives, he can't protect himself against that!"

I rolled my eyes at the irony of the situation. Like, hello? He's Batman?

"Do you want to be the one responsible for the death of Bruce Wayne?" she asked, putting her hands on her hips.

"I— ugh," I huffed, not believing the lengths I was going to protect this asshole's secret identity. He doesn't even like me!

"Fine," I said. "Go help Arrow and Megan finish off the others, I'll go after Pretty Boy."

She nodded, counting to three before running out from behind the beam. That took the heat off of me long enough to make it to the back door and slip out unnoticed.

When I got outside, I took in the scene in front of me. We were in an alley, and my eyes widened as I noticed two more guys had shown up. I glanced to my left and saw a van parked haphazardly by the street. They were probably the drivers.

Two of the guys held Bruce back on each arm, with a third thug— the leader— repeatedly punching him. Bruce bled from his mouth and cuts on his face, coughing up more blood each time he was punched in the chest.

Why the hell was he letting himself take such a beating?

I looked over to the fourth guy and I figured out why. He held his phone in his hand, recording them as he laughed with the other men.

A sudden wave of anger blazed over my body. I held up my gun again.

"Put Pretty Boy down and all of you walk away with most of your blood volume," I demanded. "Don't put him down, and none of you will be able to walk at all."

The beating stopped temporarily as they all turned to me. The leader laughed again, giving me a grin that looked horrendously like something out of a horror movie in the dim alleyway light. He held his hands out at his side in an attempt to be... welcoming?

"C'mon, Blackout," he almost cooed. "Even though we aren't on the same side anymore, you know this asshole deserves it. Sitting up on his hill in his mansion all high and mighty, flaunting his money in front of the starving and homeless men in the streets. Saying he donates but the city never seeing a cent— he deserves it."

I lowered my gun slowly with a shaky breath, creating a small cloud in the cold. My heart was thundering in my chest as I stepped forward, holding my hand out to the man with the phone.

"You make a good point," I agreed, making eye contact with Bruce. "He's worthless. You don't need to be on either side of the law to see that."

"Allow me," I said as the man with the camera looked cautious.

The leader nodded at the other man, indicating it was okay for him to give me the phone. He handed it to me and I stepped back a few feet, holding it out in front of me to record them. The two men laughed again, rolling up their sleeves.

"This is what scum like you get, Wayne," the leader seethed.

"Yeah," I said, turning the phone around and waiting until they looked at the screen. Then I pressed the button to end the recording.

"Blackout—" the leader started warningly.

"Well, I'd hate to be you guys right now," I smirked. "Because that scum is about to beat your ass."

I barely had a chance to even put the phone down before men were already screaming and falling to the floor. Not that I'd ever admit it, but I secretly kind of enjoyed watching Bruce do his thing, as long as I wasn't on the receiving end. Every move was calculated and exact, and delivered so fast even I wasn't sure what was happening until it was over.

It was only seconds later until the other three men were on the ground. Bruce then spun around and landed a punch to the leader's jaw that was so hard, I heard it crack even before his head slammed against the brick wall, his body slumping into the murky puddles at our feet.

"Ooh," I cringed. "That's never gonna heal quite the same."

It fell silent as Bruce stood there facing the wall, his chest heaving and his face bloody. The jacket of his tux was tossed to the corner of the alley, now soaked in water.

"You know," I began, and it felt like my words were cutting through the air with a knife. "I can't help but feel like this is kinda my fault."

He turned his head over to face me with a glare so lethal that it made me almost want to run back inside.

I gave him a nervous grin. "Oops?"

Finally, the sirens of the GCPD wailed down the block, and I've never been happier to see Jim Gordon in my life. Partially because we could finally leave, and partially because I'm pretty sure if he didn't show up— judging by the look on Bruce's face— I'd soon be following the thugs on the floor.

"Well, there's Gordon and friends, with their astoundingly horrible sense of timing, as per usual," I commented.

He didn't respond, instead going and picking up his jacket. I noticed a particularly nasty gash on the side of his arm, which ripped the sleeve of his white collared shirt open. I reached down to my gun holster on my thigh where I had a small pouch that held cash and other little things.

I pulled out all of the items inside and sifted through them, finding what I was looking for— a bandaid. The only problem was that this bandaid was blue and also had Cookie Monster print all over it.

I shrugged. Better that than nothing at all.

I walked forward and pulled the bandaid apart, sticking it over the gash in his left arm. I patted it twice to make sure it stuck, before stepping back and inspecting my work.

"There," I said. "Consider that the closest thing you're gonna get to an apology."

The look on his face now was more exasperated than anything, at least by his standards.

Suddenly the door to the club burst open with M'gann's beaming face, now back to her usual age and Miss Martian suit.

"Ohmygosh, Blackout! You saved him!" she squealed, flying forward and pulling me off the ground.

I shoved her away and brushed my dress down. "Yeah, well, you know me— just saving billionaire playboys on the daily, no big."

"You should've seen," I continued as Artemis and Oliver walked out into the alley. "He was getting beat up— obviously couldn't save himself. Then I swooped in, totally kicked ass, and completely saved the day."

Artemis walked up to the unconscious body of the leader, crouching down to inspect his face.

"Oh my God," she let out a shocked laugh. "You broke his jaw!"

I smirked, ignoring the searing look from Bruce. "What can I say? I'm a woman of many talents."

We were now illuminated in flashing blue and red lights from the cop cars that were pulling up on the street. I turned to M'gann, who seemed to know what I was going to ask.

"Already on it," she said as two ropes from the bioship, which was camouflaged over the club, now dangled in front of us.

Artemis and I each grabbed one and wrapped them around our wrists.

"Well, that's our cue to get the hell out of here," I said, looking to Bruce and Oliver. "Have fun explaining yourselves out of this one."

I received another glare from Bruce.

"Three-two, Rich Kid," I said with a wink, referring to our ongoing score of saves. Before I knew it, we were being whisked up into the sky and back onto the bioship.

As we took our seats, Artemis turned to me. "You know we're so dead right? Like, words can't even begin to describe how dead we are tomorrow."

I sighed, looking out onto the dark Gotham skyline as M'gann started heading back to Happy Harbor.

"Oh, Blondie. You have no idea."

* * *

Hi everyone!! I hope your quarantine's are going as well as quarantine can possibly go lol. Sorry for the long chapter, I was too lazy to split this up into two parts. Do you guys like longer chapters, or should I stick to keeping them shorter? Also, comment your favorite part of the story so far! Thanks for almost 150k!

xo Alexa