Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Hi.

I’m sure you’ve seen a few of these before.

My name is Amara Elizabeth Parker and when I was 16, I was bitten by a radioactive spider. A few days later my brother, Ben, died. And then I became the one and only Spider.

And now, 11 years later exactly, I was leaving it all behind.

“If we get out of this, I’m paying for your college tuition.”

“Tony,” I exclaimed, waving my hands frantically. “I’m not going back to-”

He looked over his shoulder at me and mimed a zipper over his lips. “Promise me you’ll go back.”

I rolled the tassels that came with the cap, through my fingers over and over again. The neon lights that came with New York city shined on my face from up high in one of the Stark Industries buildings. I leaned back in the loveseat and ignored the tight feeling in my chest that was in cahoots with the stinging in my eyes.

Friend behind you.

The sense feels like a warbly feeling behind my skull. Sometimes it's like an irresistible urge to move or jump, sometimes it's an ache to tell me someone is dangerous, or an itch to tell me to be wary. But it's almost like a voice or a consciousness.

“Hey, kiddo,” Pepper said, walking over to me and carefully sitting beside me. “How’s it going?”

I manually pulled a smile onto my lips and shrugged. “Oh you know, I graduated, I guess?” I chuckled and halfheartedly showed her the cap.

She mimicked my forced laugh and brushed a piece of hair off of my face. “He’d be so proud of you.”

“I hope so,” I whispered with a smaller smile. “He’s paying for it.”

“Sure,” She gently took both my hands and squeezed them. “But you earned it.”

I inhaled deeply and smiled thinly. “Where’s Morgan?”

“Down with Happy, still crying after the goodbye” She told me, watching me stand and carefully shuck off my gown. “Where to?”

“Not sure,” I shrugged and looked over the night sky. “One more patrol, I suppose.”

She nodded and shakily inhaled, hugging herself slightly. “He loved you– We love you so much, Amara.”

I took two steps and hugged her tight, which she eagerly returned. “I know, Pep. I just…need this for myself.”

“Okay,” She held me at arm's length and stared deep into my eyes. “--Okay, please be safe.”

 

Some 10 minutes later, I looked over New York with my mask in my hands. I sank my head as far back into my shoulders as I could and curled up in the “O” of some random office building.

And then I screamed into the howling winds until my throat ran raw.

 

“I seriously can’t believe you’re going down to Jersey in that bike,” Bucky shook his head at me, letting his disapproval be known for the millionth time, Sam harshly elbowed him and scowled. I rolled my eyes and knelt on the side of my bike, checking every bolt and pipe.

“Unlike our grumpy fossil,” Sam started, ignoring the glare from Bucky, I snorted and stood to look at them both with my arms crossed. “I am proud that you are following your dreams.”

Bucky held up a finger to Sam’s face and gaped a few times. “I am very proud of her!”

I rocked on my heels and lifted my backpack to my back. “Sure you are, Buck.”

“No! No, I am very proud of you, Amara, for pursuing your dream of being a teacher,” He paused and whispered to Sam, Sam whispered back. “-for middle schoolers.”

I nodded with squinted eyes and tightly pressed together lips. “It’s okay if you’re worried.”

“He’s not worried,” Sam shook his head. “He’d have to have a heart for that.”

We both giggled like school children as Bucky groaned.

“Amara, I’m not worried, I just think Steve would kill the both of us if he knew what you were doing.”

I sputtered and laughed. “Are you threatening to tell Steve that I’m moving?”

He ignored me. “I think you would give the old man a heart attack if he knew-”

Sam barked out a laugh and looked at me incredulously. “You hearing this?”

My jaw had dropped and I scoffed. “Dude!”

“I’m kidding, Steve would smack me and say you’re following your heart or something,” He shrugged and I lightly punched him in the shoulder.

“Dick.”

We all grinned at each other before realizing that this was delaying the inevitable.

I stepped back and cleared my throat. “Hug for the road?”

They both took turns pulling me into bear hugs and then finally stepped back.

“Call us every hour,” Sam said seriously. “And if any of those kids give you shit-”

“Give ‘em shit right back,” Bucky finished, grabbing Sam’s arm and walking back to the sidewalk.

I smiled crookedly and saluted as my bike roared to life, they watched me with varying degrees of pride and fondness.

“Every hour!” Bucky shouted, making Sam howl with laughter.

I laughed as well and whipped out of the parking lot and into the road.

 

I ended up calling and texting the group chat every other hour, which was hesitantly acceptable with the two of them. And I called my uncle once after leaving New York.

“Hey what’s up, kiddo?” He shouted into the phone. “Pulling up now?”

I laughed and held the gas nozzle to my bike. “Nah, still got some 3 hours left, but I’m running a little late and wanted to double check that I’m showing up to the restaurant and not your house.”

“Yup,” he confirmed. “We’ll have dinner waiting for ya.”

“Thanks, Raff,” I hung up and continued with a sigh.

 

I pulled up on the street and frowned.

I’ve been in a few different cities in a few different countries, but never have I seen a place so…gross. I looked down at my feet and toed a beer can with my boot.

I looked at my phone, 9pm, I sighed and pocketed my keys.

‘Raff’s Home’ the massive sign overhead read.

I snorted and opened up the door, a bell chimed and a teenage girl not looking up as I approached.

“Hey, welcome to Raff’s,” She mused, flicking a post-it note on the register.

“Hey, uh,” I rocked on my heels and grinned wryly. “Maggie, at least look up at me.”

My cousin glanced up once then snapped her head up to look at me. “Amara!” She sprinted around the counter and threw her arms around my midsection. I squeezed her and rocked us back and forth as she laughed.

The door to the kitchen flew open and Raff smiled at us, I heard him snort and looked up at him. “Get over here, Tio.”

Maggie stepped back and Raff looked me up and down. “Look at you, Amara. Christ, I blink and you’re almost taller than me.”

He grips my shoulder firmly and tugs me into a hug.

Tasha comes out soon after with a plate and drops it over to a table before hugging me quickly. “Nice to see you again.”

“You too,” I beamed, giving her a smile and watching her visibly relax.

Raff grabs my shoulder and brings me behind the counter. “Come eat! We’ve got everything you could want.”

As he continues to ramble on, Tasha nudges me and rolled her eyes before walking back into the kitchen to answer a phone. Maggie watches us and pitches into the conversation when she feels like it. Once my uncle was finally done, I settled beside Maggie and we talked in between customers.

“I don’t understand,” She shakes her head. “I mean I knew the relationship was going downhill but I thought he’d have the balls to break up with me before cheating.”

I lick the hot sauce off of my pointer finger and snort. “Girl, guys like that don’t have balls at all, they’re allllll dick and douchebag.”

“Thanks for coming!” She shouted to a couple leaving the restaurant.

Tasha and Raff walk out and hang up their aprons. “Alright, let's rap up and we’ll take Amara to the house.”

“Here let me-”

“Sit your ass down, Amara Parker,” Raff shouted, walking into the kitchen with a towel over his shoulder.

I snorted and settled by the counter until the three of them were done.

“Be careful with that shiny bike you got out there,” he called to me, as they walked over to a car. “People don’t mess with the taco guy’s car cuz we’re the cheapest food that delivers, but I can’t vouch for you.”

I flipped my keys a few times and nodded. “I’ll figure something out,” I said with a mischievous grin.

He cocked a brow but got into his car and led me to their house.

 

“Booze?” Raff asked quietly as we sat down on the couch, Tasha quietly said something to Maggie that I didn’t bother to listen in on and they walked into the hall.

I shrugged. “Sure,” not like I can get drunk anyway, faster metabolism and all.

He poured two glasses of whiskey and handed one off to me. “So the drive was good?”

“Fantastic,” I nodded, sipping on the alcohol. “Clear skies the whole way.”

“Good, good,” he tapped on the side of the glass and cleared his throat.

I wished he’d just say it already.

“May and I didn’t get along towards the end of our relationship, I won’t lie,” He said quietly. “But I’m so, so sorry she’s gone.”

I took another sip. “Yeah, me too.”

Raff inhaled deeply. “Retirement treating you well?”

I snorted. “I haven’t had to talk to a cop in a month, I feel so liberated.”

“Did the news ever get to find out their beloved hero was gone?”

“Nope,” I popped my lips. “No, some of the others are going to give it a while before saying anything publically.”

He watched me. “That’s it?”

“That’s it.”

The silence wasn’t uncomfortable but I didn’t like it either.

“You and your brother are very similar,” He tilted his head and carded a hand down his beard. “In that, neither of you know when you’re really done.”

I hummed and started bouncing my knee. “Ben owned the bank thousands of dollars and died high as a kite. I saved New York more times than I can count. Him and I were very different.”

He held his hands up and stood. “Okay.”

After a moment, I called over my shoulder. “Raff,” I winced, he looked over his shoulder and raised a brow. “Do you think I’m doing the right thing?”

“I think,” he said slowly, finding the right words. “I think that you will do whatever is necessary for what you think is right; whether or not I like my niece putting her life at risk for people who don’t give a damn. But…what you think is right is pretty damn noble for a girl from downtown Queens.”

 

The next day, I woke up early and pulled out my one change of clothes from my backpack; a long sleeve black shirt and beige cargo pants, Maggie stared at me when I walked out of the bathroom until I cocked a brow.

“Didn’t you host, like, tons of high end parties with Tony freakin’ Stark?”

My eyebrows furrowed and I straightened. “Long time ago. Why?”

She tilted her nose up. “You look like you bought that in a thrift store.”

“What does that have to do with a party?” I holler, looking after her as she walks out.

“You’re supposed to have a better sense of fashion!”

Touche.

Raff packed me lunch and gave me directions to the airport, to which I thanked him and left to pick up my stuff.

 

“Rhodes!” I yell, walking into the landing bay, and grinning up at my friend.

He walked down the ladder of the plane and shook his head at me. “Finally, kid I thought I was going to toss your stupid cat out the window.”

We hug and he firmly pats me on the back. “Where’s my daughter?” I demand, looking over his shoulder and trying to see into the back.

He steers me by the shoulder and brings me around back to where all of my furniture and luggage was being unloaded. On the couch was a gray pet carrier with a yowling cat in it.

When I picked it up every single other person working there exhaled in relief, I lifted up the carrier and Mouse instantly stopped and stared at me. I chuckled and reached my finger in to scratch her chin, she purred softly and I put her back down.

“Thank you so much for doing this,” I said to Rhodes, crossing my arms and smiling at my stuff. “I have no idea how I would have made it down here with all this stuff.”

He squinted at me. “Didn’t you inherit 25 percent of Tony’s estate and fortune?”

I flushed red. “I don’t want to touch that money until there’s a gun to my head.”

“That’s…fair,” he tilted his head and watched me. “How’s Gotham been for you?”

I shrugged. “It’s been a week, can’t say much.”

He nodded and we walked around the loading bay and over to the truck where everything was being loaded up. “Have you been…seeing the town?” He tried and failed to seem nonchalant.

“Nope, I start working at Gotham Academy tomorrow, no more Spider stuff,” I huffed, rocking back on my heels.

“Gotham was the wrong place to go if you wanted a quiet retirement,” He told me, shaking his head with a knowing voice. “I give it a week.”

With a scowl, I shouted at his back. “A hundred bucks says I'll never use the suit again!”

“You’re on!” He laughed.

 

I thanked the drivers and sent them off with a wave. They had offered to stay and help but I insisted that I could handle this myself. Messaging Rhodes a last thank you, I got to work.

First I walked around the house once more, taking note of all I wanted to change. The brick house is a two story brownstone sort of set up but without the extra neighbors. There was an older lady that Edith found online and reported that she was a retired chef. I hadn’t seen her in person but I hoped to bring her some cookies. The first floor was made up of a hallway with two doors and a staircase at the end, one door had a bathroom and the other led to the living room and kitchen. The second floor had two rooms, a master bedroom that was quite spacious and a guest room that was half as big as the master. I walked around the boxes until I reached the cleaning supplies then got to work.

For the next four hours I spent sweeping all the into a pile and having calls on and off with the electrician. After I deemed the house clean enough for the cat, I let her out and she began roaming. Eventually coming back to me and meowing in accusation.

“Yeah I know, I know,” I rolled my eyes and reached for the next box. “Look to make up for it, we can get a replacement tower for you.”

The next task on my scribbled down list was to set up the furniture, so I rolled my shoulders and turned to the couch. Mouse blinked up at me from the brown leather armchair and I rolled my eyes.

“Your choice, cat,” I whispered, lifting the chair up with one arm, she growled lowly but stayed curled up as I set it down in the corner.

After all of the biggest pieces had been organized into the rooms I wanted them in, I took a few pictures for Sam and Bucky and started doing the tedious things. Like silverware and pots, or clothes.

Finally I looked at the silver case.

This is the one thing I had brought on my own, I trusted Rhodey to bring it to the airport but I took it the rest of the way on my bike.

“Hello old friend,” I murmured as if I hadn’t seen it a month ago.

I walked over to the kitchen table and set it down, the gleaming “Stark Industries” made me flinch. I lifted it up and set my thumb on the scanner, it hummed and the case opened with a click.

The black and white watch stared at me from its firm position in the velvet pillow, I frowned and traced the edge of the black shining rim. I took it off the pillow and carefully held it in my hand, then I tapped the face of the clock three times and the suit uncurled into my hand. Nanotech, a science I don’t even try to understand.

The spider sat in the center of the chest, long white spindly limbs spread out over a black base and around the torso, down the legs and up the arms. Webs start forming densely towards the ankles and taper off where my waist and lower stomach meet. The wide white eyes stare up at me.

I rub the smooth fabric slowly and then triple tap the center spider to make it shrink into a watch.

My phone goes off and briefly I think about letting it go.

And yet-

“Hello, is this Ms. Parker?”

“Yes, hi, I’m Parker,” I silently winced but she moved on without a beat.

“Hi! This is Amanda White, head mistress for Gotham Academy, calling to make sure you’re all set to start tomorrow?”

The memory snaps into place and I remember her from the virtual interview that we had.

“Yes!” I beam at my cat and pump my fist silently. “I’m all set.”

“Fantastic, we’re all ready for you and the students can’t wait to meet their new teacher!”

I smile and walk over to the counter to lean against it. “Can’t wait.”

She hung up and my cat watched as I did a dance around my new kitchen. “Hell yes!”

Chapter Text

The next morning, I snap straight up from the bed like a mouse trap, leaping up from my bed. Literally, jumping from the edge of my bed to my closet and bouncing up and down on my toes.

I had separated the master closet into work clothes and literally anything else. I opened a drawer with my foot and took out a black pair of slacks to go with my green turtleneck. Both used to be May’s.

On my way out my eyes were drawn up to the top shelf of the closet, where there laid the watch. And beside it was a glasses case, I picked it up and brought it over to the kitchen where I dropped it on the counter.

After changing, I walked down to the living room and settled on the couch to go through my emails and such.

 

Bucket: Good luck today. I couldn’t be more proud of you, kid.

Sam I am: HAVE A GOOD FIRST DAY OF WORKKKK

 

Peppa Potts: Hi kiddo, saw it was your first day on your calendar! Have fun and good luck with the 6th graders haha. Morgan misses you and wants you to know that she wants cookies next time you’re in the area.

 

I smile at their individual messages and thank each of them with varying levels of enthusiasm based on the person.

Giddy excitement fills me from top to bottom, I double and triple check that I have everything I could possibly need in my bag before deciding that I am ready.

“Wish me luck,” I whisper to Mouse as I squat beside her food bowl and fix her breakfast. Snatching my keys from the counter, I lock the door and walk out to my bike. I throw my leg over and settle into the seat before taking off with a roar.

 

I recognised Ms. White from the blinding bright blonde hair she wore in an updo, paired well with a shining white smile. Carefully I brought my bike around and walked up to the entrance where she was beaming at me.

“Hello Ms. Parker!” She shook my hand quickly then opened one of the massive doors to Gotham academy. “You’re here at the perfect time as well, I can show you to your class and most of the school!”

“Thank you so much,” I smiled and exhaled in relief.

She threw another smile over her shoulder and laughed. “Don’t stress, most of the kids are angels!”

“Most?” I asked, mostly joking.

“Oh there’s always a few trouble makers here and there but this batch is filled with helpers,” She stopped at a closed door and fished a key out of her pocket then handed it to me. I took it slowly and opened the room slowly.

I handed the door off to her and did an appreciative turn around the room as I took it in (boring to be frank, but it was mine). “And I can do anything except paint the wall right?”

She grinned. “If you get permission from Dave, our maintenance guy, you can do any color you want.”

“Wow,” I walked over to my empty desk and set down my bag.

“I’ll go ahead and go get your class list while you get all settled in,” She turned to the door and then snapped her fingers. “Almost forgot! Students will be here in an hour, no rush for everything to be perfect but just wanted to let you know.”

I gave her a thumbs up and a smile then she left. I walked through the desks and dragged my hand over the tops of them. “Okay,” I looked around and mentally cataloged what I would need. There wasn’t much decor in the bag, other than fairy lights and some fake vines that I had taken from pinterest (sue me).

When Ms. White comes back in, she looks around and whistles. “You work fast,” she walks over to me and hands me a list, quickly explaining that they still need to set up a school account for me.

“Can I ask what happened to the teacher before me?” I asked her from where we were stapling pink and yellow borders around the cork boards. “If not its-”

She made a sad smile and shrugged. “Oh Gotham is Gotham, Ms. Rome got herself involved with the wrong people…”

“Oh,” I said quietly, frowning and holding up more paper for her to staple. “I’m so sorry.”

“It’s alright, hun,” She smiled her dazzling smile again. “Not the first time we’ve had an unfortunate loss.”

“Gotham was the wrong place to go if you wanted a quiet retirement.”

Oh shut up Rhodes.

Then an electronic bell was going off three times, Ms. White jumped to her feet and left with a. “Call the office if you need anything!”

From my understanding, the kids were on a 9 period schedule with 3 minutes in between classes and 10 minutes between the bell that just went off and the bell that meant they were late. The only periods that I don’t have students are 3rd, 6th, and 9th. 6th being my lunch and the other two being planning periods.

I walked up to the smart board that I had long known how to use because of college, and wrote “Ms. Parker”. The first two students trickle in, both girls that talk very quietly to one another, then notice me.

“Hello,” I wave just slightly. “I’m Ms. Parker.”

They both give me a polite greeting with the same sort of timid tone.

“Sit wherever you want,” I gesture to the desks and step back so they can get to the back as well.

Another three people, not as quiet, were more willing to smile and introduce themselves.

And then as the time cuts closer to the bell, the clicks walk in, overjoyed that there was no exact seating chart. For the most part, the boys and girls split themselves up, which was fine with me.

The bell.

Everyone stands for the pledge and sits back down to look up at me.

“Hi, I’m so sorry we have to meet on a Monday but I’m Ms. Parker,” I sit up on my desk and gesture vaguely over my shoulder to the board where it's written. “And as I’m sure you’ve found out, I’m the new science teacher. I’m sure you’ve already gone over most of what we’ll be learning this year…?” I ask looking out, one of the shy kids from before nods in confirmation. “Good, good, well,” I look over my desk and pick up the stack of blank papers. “I didn’t want to start off with an actual assignment right off the bat, that feels a bit evil. So we’re going to help each other,” I walk around with the thick pieces of paper. “I brought markers, I want you to put your name on the paper, fold it so it stands up and if it's on your desk everyday for the next week, I’ll give you a free 100 for a quiz grade.”

The moment that particular fact falls from my lips, every single 6th grader is chatting and drawing. I settle back into the chair behind my desk and open my laptop, answering emails and Bucky every time he asks how my day is going.

I gave the same assignment for the rest of my classes and suddenly it was lunch time for me. I pulled out my salad, sandwich, and microwave spaghetti (half as much as Bucky eats and we both have a fast metabolism). The salad is gone in seconds and then I’m on my way to the teachers lounge with my cold pasta.

“-off Wayne, you get out of everything because of dear old daddy,” I speed up my pace and walk quickly to turn the corner into the next hall.

“Whatcha doing?” I ask, directed toward the three boys talking to the smaller one.

They all jump and turn to me, I may be new but they instantly clocked the teacher tone.

“Oh just talking, Miss,” One of them smiled at me and scooped up his backpack. The smaller boy’s heart rate sped up by just a bit.

 

Not his.

 

“Put the backpack down,” I said sternly, walking closer now. “Where are you three supposed to be right now?”

They all exchanged glances and looked back at me. “History.”

I cocked a brow. “8th graders out of their class room talking down to the lower classmen,” With a slow shake of my head I jutted my chin down the hall. “Get to class, I hear you’re out again I’ll call home.”

They damn near sprint out of sight and I turn to the younger kid, I meet his eyes and my senses go haywire.

Caution. Friend for now.

“And where are you supposed to be?” I asked, trying to ignore the sixth sense, trying to cross my arms with a bowl in my hand.

The boy eyes me warily. “Lunch.”

“6th grader, then,” I chuckled. “What’s your next period?”

“Science.”

A smile lit up my face and I turned back to my classroom. “Perfect, you have me next then.”

I begin to turn the corner when I hear a “Hmph” and he runs after me. I get to my class and open the door. “I’m Ms. Parker by the way.”

He carefully moves further in the room and sets the backpack down in a random seat. “Damian. Damian Wayne.”

“Nice to meet you, Damian,” I settle myself back at my desk and pull my legs up on the chair. “Those 8th graders out there,” I start, he flicks her eyes up to meet mine and the beginning of a scowl pulls on his lip. “Can I ask what they were doing?”

For a beat, he remained silent. “They wanted to see if I had any…money in my bag.”

“Okay,” I nod slowly. “They didn’t take anything did they?” He shook his head. “Good, so here are our options,” He sat up straighter in surprise. “I can write them up, regardless of whether or not they’re in the right class. Or, I let it go, you can say ‘Wow Ms. Parker you’re incredibly annoying, I don’t care about the bullies’ and we live on with an average day. It’s up to you,” I put my palms up to the sky and shrugged.

He looks around the room with a pensive expression. “I think you should let them go, for now. They hadn’t yet made a mistake to be punished for, and they have already been warned.”

I smiled and nodded. “I like that choice too,” Suddenly my head snapped up. “Shi- shoot, did you eat lunch?”

“I do not waste time eating the slop this school calls food,” He crossed his arms. “Chicken tenders are the one exception.”

I snorted and nodded. “As long as that’s okay with your parents. Oh bell rings in 45 seconds,” I told him. “No seating chart, you get first dibs.”

Damian scans every desk in the room before deciding on the one closest to me, I grinned and started walking around and setting papers down on desks. Then the classroom quickly begins to fill up, clicks forming by gender or clothing preference. But I noticed that no one wanted to sit near Damian. But it’s not like they don’t want to be near me, I had tons of girls sitting in the same spot just so they could try and help me.

“Alright,” I announce, walking to the front of the room. “My name is Ms. Parker…”

Then suddenly it was 9th period, all of my classes stayed the same with the exception of Damian who stayed quiet and drew the whole time.

 

“Wayne, Wayne, Wayne,” I felt creepy repeating this kids name but I could swear I had heard that name before. But it kept bringing me back to Tony, which felt odd because he never introduced me to a Bruce Wayne. And then it hit me.

 

Tony tried very hard to make the Charity Galas fun for me, little games to keep my mind busy, or a rubik's cube, or even some yarn. But Tony was not currently at this Gala, no, Pepper and Happy were on protege duty. Or glorified babysitting for a genius. Unfortunately for them, I was a little shit as a teenager.

I slinked off and into the back corner, thanked a server and took two mini sliders. I grabbed onto the curtain and slid behind it, jumping up on the window sill and nibbling on my food.

Then a hand pulled the curtain back and I was staring at a man, he cocked an eyebrow and said. “Hiding?”

I blinked then offered the second sandwich. “Maybe.”

He shrugged, took the offering and then pulled himself up to sit beside me. We sat quietly for a moment as I took deep breaths and leaned back on the glass. Eventually I dug my hand in my phone and answered a message from my Aunt May.

“I’m Amara by the way,” I said, offering my hand.

He shook it firmly. “Bruce Wayne.”

I knew who he was, Pepper had taken it upon herself to give me a run down on Tony’s circle of socialites from out of state. But I still nodded and thanked him.

“So you’re the Stark Industries golden child, huh?” He said in a joking sort of lilt.

I snorted, very unladylike. “I guess so, really just an intern though.”

“Stark talks highly of you, I have no doubt you’ll be invaluable someday,” He nudged me with his elbow and stood. “I should run along before my son swings on a chandelier.”

Pepper found me eventually, the next day Bruce Wayne made NY’s headline for the donation of 1 million dollars and for his son who ended up swinging from the chandelier.

 

“No way,” I gasped out, dragging my laptop closer to me and dropping my leg off of the chair. I typed in a “B” and an “R” and his name popped up beside a photo of him.

Millions upon millions of search results, articles, social media, photos (some of which I didn’t need to see). Articles like “Bruce Wayne Spotted with Model?!” “Gotham Royalty Adopts Another Son?!” “Latest Choice for the Martha Wayne Scholarship”. I found myself searching into the wild life of this 40 year old man that I had met once 10 years ago.

Raff and Maggie arrive at my house with bright grins and arms full of food.

“Holy shit,” I laugh, stumbling back as they walk through that house with whistles and cheers.

“You have a cat!” Maggie cries out, dropping a crockpot on the counter and falling to her knees. “Oh my god, Amara!” Mouse watched her distastefully and jumped back onto the couch to watch us.

I smiled and walked into the kitchen to watch Raff search for plates. “Top cabinet.”

“Ah,” He rolled his eyes and threw out four paper plates for us.

“Where’s Tasha?” I peek out the window and frown when I see no car.

Maggie looked up at me and shrugged. “We took a taxi and she should have the car.”

“Oh,” I looked at Raff, who seemed to be intensely focused on plating rice. “Okay.”

A tingling sense of unease filtered through me and I pushed it to the back of my mind. Mouse purred and pulled herself onto my lap as I settled into the couch.

Maggie cleared her throat and plopped beside me then started talking to her dad about school. If I wasn’t distracted by the pit welling in my head then maybe I would have realized that they were trying to distract one another.

Suddenly, I lifted my cat up and put her on Maggie’s lap then stood up.

Maggie and Raff stop talking to watch me walk over to the counter and pick up my glasses case. “Where are you going?” Maggie asked, shifting her legs and lifting her head to follow me with her eyes.

“Amara,” Raff said flatly, also tracking me with his eyes, as I shifted the case in my hands and snatched my keys up.

“I’ll be right back,” I swing open my door and turn back just to look at Raff who had his lips pursed and his forearms on the counter. “Okay?”

He exhaled and shook his head. “Yeah, whatever.”

I was grateful he wasn’t trying to talk me out of it, if he knew what I was doing at all, I probably would have stayed. But the pull in the back of my head hurt, it was screeching at me and telling me what I had already guessed.

I didn’t bother with my bike, I walked down the street and tossed the glasses case from hand to hand. When I get to the first corner on the street, I open it.

The lenses stayed dark for a moment before I whispered.

“Edith.”