ultraviolet
bruce wayne 𝘹 fem!oc
© WANDARYEN ──── 2024

"What is this place?"

I spun around slowly to get an ideal look of where I was brought to. The room or lair — was almost the size of the Avengers compound. It was part of an old subway tunnel connected to what seems to be a mansion.

Bats fluttered around above my head and I followed their movements while craning my neck. For a man to be called Batman – he sure was dedicated to the look.

"It's safe. I'm leaving you here for an hour — I'll return when I finish what I'm doing." He was typing something into a nearby computer. "I have someone here to watch over you so don't bother doing anything stupid." He clicked the 'enter' button, moved away from the technology set up, and started walking in the direction in which we came from.

"What if I try to steal something?" I raised my eyebrow while folding my arms tightly across my chest.

He stopped abruptly and barely tilted his gaze over his shoulder. "Then don't steal anything."

That was the last thing he said before disappearing back into the night.

The bats created a song-like sound due to his departure and I was starting to wonder if they had an emotional connection with him.

I exhaled slowly and pulled my hood back before peeling off my mask. The fresh air hitting my skin once more caused me to sigh in relief but the odor to this city — that I would need to get used to.

He was going to be gone for an hour and I was forced to stand around and wait for him to make a possible return. I was almost compelled to start tidying up around his 'so could work space' because the mess was the most I've seen since my college dorm days. Women were unbelievably disgusting — especially in the bathroom, it was like living with men.

I walked closer towards the computer set up, my fingers grazing carefully across the table while my eyes floated towards the wall mount of tvs. Each displayed with a different news station talking about the latest crimes in Gotham City.

I tried to process the entire room. He gave me an hour to work with and possibly that was enough to look through his things and —

I pressed the palm of my hand against my forehead in frustration.

Invasion of privacy.

Something caught my attention out of the corner of my eye and I was forced to spin around and meet whoever was coming down the elevator. He did say somebody else was here to watch over me — I'm clueless on what to expect.

An older man with salt and pepper hair exited the elevator, one hand holding a walking stick while the other professionally carried a tray with refreshments.

Clearly my expectations were low but suddenly I was feeling better to see someone without a mask.

"Hello, I'm Alfred Pennyworth." He placed the tray down on a small table closest to me and offered a glass of water. "You are — ?"

I gratefully accepted the glass of water. "I'm — " I bit down on my lower lip, flickering my eyes around the room to quickly remember my predicament before finally confessing my identity. "My name is Gwen Stacy."

Alfred gestured towards a chair behind me and I took up his second offer by making myself comfortable.

I held the glass of water on my lap and watched as he pulled over his own chair to recline in. He tilted his walking stick against the table and poured himself his own glass of water — adding a single lemon slice.

I arched my eyebrow curiously at the man. "I'm sorry but — who are you?"

"How much did he tell you?"

"The man hardly speaks." I deadpanned.

Alfred silently sipped his water then nodded. "Touche." He placed the water down onto the tray and clasped his hands together across his lap. "I've known him since he was a young boy. I've been part of the family for a very long time."

"Oh," I responded. "And who is he exactly?"

"He informed me of your situation. I understand how this is all confusing for you – but to be frank, I would feel more inclined to give you information about us if you told me a little bit about yourself."

I exhaled slowly. Running my palm down the side of my face, I'm realizing I don't have much of an option on whether or not I decide to hide my identity further. If I want to make it back home, I would have to intrust somebody.

"I believe I traveled through time and ended up in your universe — or world, whatever you'd like to call it."

Alfred tilted his chin up slowly. "Interesting. Why do you say such things?"

"In my world — a portal was opening that was going to release a lot of problems from different worlds. We call it the Multiverse." I twirled the tip of my finger around the rim of the glass, watching the water softly ripple by my touch. "In order to save everyone we decided to risk a friend's identity to close it — but I think the magic that was being used latched itself onto me rather than him. Sending me somewhere else in time."

The older man suddenly leaned forward and waved his hand with confusion etching across his face. "Did you say magic? How's that possible?"

I raised my thumb and gestured towards the subway tunnel. "You have a family member running around the neighborhood wearing a bat suit, I don't find it that hard to grasp."

He briefly closed his eyes with a shake of his head. "You wouldn't be the first to harbor powers. There are certain people out there that can do the same." Suddenly he stood and turned to one of the computers, typing furiously away before turning the screen in my direction. "We know of a few inhumans that carry enhanced strength, speed, energy manipulation — you name it."

I stood up abruptly and placed the water down on the counter to get a better look at the list displayed on the computer. "You're saying — your world is similar to mine?"

"The question is," he cleared his throat and stood straighter. "How did you get here?"

I tiredly brushed my fingers through my hair with a small groan. "I don't know. I don't even know what state I'm in right now."

"New Jersey."

My eyes widened with a sudden spark of joy as I turned to Alfred. "New Jersey? We're right next to New York!" I quickly picked up my mask from the chair and started making my way towards the exit. "If I go to New York, there's still a chance I can get back home! Maybe I didn't even switch universes in the first place!"

I jumped down onto the train tracks and just as I was about to slip my mask back on, Alfred was chasing after me with a limp. "Wait just a second!"

I pressed my lips firmly together and turned slowly to face the older man. "I appreciate your hospitality but I really need to do this. I need to get home."

"Normally in these kinds of circumstances I would agree but I believe it would be best to wait until he returns."

"Why? Why should I wait for him to come back?"

Alfred tilted his head towards the side while using his free hand that wasn't holding the walking stick to encourage me back onto the platform. "Please, I'll get you some proper clothes to wear. It's nearly dawn and it's never smart to make any proactive decisions on no sleep and an empty stomach."

I turned my gaze towards the dark subway. My chance of making it back home was right at my finger tips but I was feeling inclined to stay a little while longer. My next decision could very well kill me — I didn't know these people.

I chewed anxiously on my lower lip, my fingers tightening around my mask before climbing back onto the platform. "Alright, Alfred. I'm willing to trust you."

He seemed rather relieved by my decision. With his arm extended out in my direction, I followed him back towards the center of the room where the computers remained on and the tvs continuously displayed late night news.

"I'll return in just a moment." He grabbed the tray of refreshments and made his way back to the elevator. Without another word he was gone and I was all alone again.

I decided to move closer towards the tvs and focus my attention on what was being mentioned.

There was a woman discussing the brutal murder of Gotham City's mayor Don Mitchell Jr. The scene changed to a camera viewing of police's cars stationed outside the mayor's home with an ambulance and fire department on standby.

I narrowed my eyes carefully at the screen where one of the camera men pointed their equipment up the building. It captured movements of police officers wandering around inside a lit room from the windows. I nearly gasped in surprise when I recognized one of the people in the room to be Batman.

I couldn't make out if he was speaking but I watched him pace around the room while the police and detectives gathered clues and information.

The sound of a motorcycle engine echoed through the subway tunnel. My skin prickled nervously underneath my suit as I carefully watched the man make his return as promised — except this time without a suit on.

He parked his bike on the subway platform and turned off the engine before climbing off. I couldn't see his expression under the helmet but he was quick to turn his back towards me.

He peeled off his backpack followed by the motorcycle helmet, placing the material onto the seat of the bike.

When he turned to face me and finally revealed himself to me the way I did to him — I quickly turned my gaze away slightly flustered.

I would be a fool if I didn't admit he was attractive. Even with the smeared black ink that was nearly washed away over his eyes. He had long dark hair, slightly unkempt due to the bike helmet he wore on the way home.

He carefully made his way towards me and I nervously backed myself into the table full of computers. He fished into his backpack and retrieved some ointment before tossing it to me. "Here, for your scars."

I furrowed my eyebrows after catching the medicine and watched him sit down in the chair I occupied several minutes ago.

I reached up to feel my face and almost forgot about the burning red scars I had from my previous fight with Peter and the others. I had no doubt I looked absolutely crazier than I thought.

Insecurity washed over me like a tidal wave and I quickly began applying the product to my face where I knew I was scratched.

"Did you meet Alfred?"

I cleared my throat and crossed my arms firmly across my chest. "Yes, we're on a first and last name basis unlike you and I."

I swore I saw the corner of his lips briefly quirk upwards before it disappeared. He was too busy messing with his equipment, back to typing away furiously along the keyboard; until I pressed my palms across the table while sending him a stern glare.

"Hey." I greeted him coldly. "I'm going to need some answers but you won't even tell me your name. How am I supposed to trust you — "

"It's Bruce Wayne."

I straightened my back almost immediately. "Oh — well, I'm Gwen. Gwen Stacy." I was suddenly wishing Alfred would come make his return because the atmosphere around us was increasingly growing awkward — either just for me or between the both of us.

I decided to sit down in the chair Alfraid claimed and placed my palms directly over my knees. "I spoke with your — friend? And I know what my next move is so I'm asking permission to leave and find my way back home."

"And what exactly is your next move?"

"I go back to New York and try to find my family." I angle my head towards the side to peer at his face.

He tilted his head back and raised his finger towards his eye. I couldn't control the disgust stretching across my face as I watched him peel a contact lens from his eye and place it onto something shaped like a small dome.

Whatever was on the contact lens was now transmitting information onto the computer screen. I was in shock to see myself displayed right before us — as if it were a camera playing back previous feed from an hour ago.

The random group of men we fought followed by the crime scene he was briefly at.

I quickly turned my head away with a sigh. "This feels incredibly illegal."

"You've never dove into restricted files to get the answers you seek?"

"Only when it was necessary." I responded coldly.

He tilted his gaze in my direction, his facial expression not once changing. "Then it's the same for me."

When he turned back to the computer, I felt obligated to move my chair closer towards his and focus my attention on the scene displayed in front of us. "Alright then, so you're the city's hero and you're trying to unmask a murder. I'm quite familiar with these — what are we looking for?"

"I thought you said this was illegal?"

I rolled my eyes in his direction, catching his sharp gaze that nearly sent an arctic chill down my spine. "Well, clearly you're doing this for a reason. We share something in common."

We held each other's gazes for a solid heartbeat until the elevator made its return downstairs and Alfred appeared at our side.

"I see you children are finally getting acquainted?" Alfred offered a drink specifically for Bruce before handing a pair of clothes that were hanging over his arm. "For you — something suitable and comfortable for the evening."

I smiled up at the older man and retrieved the clothes gratefully. "Thank you."

Alfred's attention was brought towards the computers where the mayor's body appeared. "Oh. I see..." His voice trailed off and the crime scene was hardly enjoyable to look at but I couldn't tear my gaze away.

Bruce froze the next image which was of a birthday card with — terrible handwriting. He clicked a button and the image was immediately printed out.

What does a liar do when he's dead?

"The killer left this for Batman?" Alfred questioned.

"Apparently."

"You're becoming quite a celebrity." I looked up at Alfred — his facial expression darkened with sadness. "Why is he writing to you?"

My gaze shifted towards Bruce as he locked eyes with Alfred, no sense of emotion behind his eyes while he shrugged. "I don't know yet."

Alfred settled the drink down on the table and gave him a curt nod. "Have a shower. The accounting boys from Wayne Enterprises are coming for breakfast and you still have another problem to deal with." He pointed his finger in my direction and I quickly shifted my gaze towards Bruce.

"So much for hospitality," I mumbled, obviously embarrassed that I've become a household problem overnight.

Bruce recoils in distaste. "Here — why?"

"Because I couldn't get you to go there!" Alfred responded sterning.

"I don't have time for this," Bruce muttered while turning back towards the computers.

Alfred shook his head and started making his way back towards the elevator. "It's getting serious, Bruce. If this continues, it won't be long before you've nothing left — "

"I don't care about that. Any of that."

"You don't care about your family's legacy?" Alfred's voice sounded shocked but not entirely surprised. Something in my gut was telling me I walked in on a bad time to unleash my own problems onto these people.

I carefully watched as Bruce sat up straighter and slowly turned his angered gaze towards Alfred. "What I'm doing is my family's legacy —  and if I can't change things here, if I can't have an effect, then I don't care what happens to me — "

"That's what I'm afraid of — "

Bruce scoffed under his breath. "Stop. You're not my father, Alfred."

I bit down anxiously on my lower lip, not feeling brave enough to catch Alfred's gaze — which I'm sure was tender and broken. His voice softened, "I'm well aware."

Bruce tapped along his keyboard before breaking away from the screen. "Come with me," he ordered before getting out of his chair.

I followed his figure and moved straight past Alfred without another word. All I managed to do was flash the older man a smile out of pity before following Bruce towards the elevator.

I held the folded clothes against my chest, my gaze faltering towards my mask that was laying on top of the outfit — the large black eyes reflecting back at me. I frowned heavily for myself because not only did things grow more complicated, but I was already beginning to recognize I would get thrown into a new mix of chaos.

"Let me get through the meeting in the morning and I'll take you wherever you need to go afterwards." He must've heard my thoughts or read my discomfort body language.

All I could manage to say was; "Thank you."