#wildmoore

Since you’d taken over as Batwoman, the villains in Gotham had been making your life difficult since you put the damn mask on. But they didn’t make the job hard, no they came with the work. The stress of the job came from a Crow by the name of Ambessa Medarda. She often stood in the way of justice for the victims being perpetrated on. Her, murder of an organization brought bureaucracy into vigilante work. 

For every thing she did to piss you off, things were more confusing when she was the opposite. Soft and vulnerable when you least expected it.

Things only got more perplexing after she found out your real identity. It’d be easier if she hadn’t been in your life. But seeing as Gotham was small and you’d grown up with her daughter. The relationship was inevitable.

Like tonight for example, you’d gotten a tip from the police scanner that there were a series of burglaries targeting jewelers. 

Ekko came in through the speaker of your Batsuit. 

“Command to Batwoman, Murder on the way.” 

“Damn it.” You hissed. “From what side?”

“Eastbound. There’s an exit from the West side of the building. You can intercept them.”

“Copy that.” 

Steady fingers shoot your grapple gun to the roof of the building. Your body soars to the top of the jewelry store. You tip-toe making your presence moot. Below you, the sound of the crows arriving didn’t ease your anxiety. From the sound of boots crushing gravel, you hear her voice, commanding her team. 

Inching towards death only for a glimpse of Ambessa Medarda at work. 

You are forced to pull yourself back when more of her crew go huddling in.

The noise of gunshots echo from inside the building. You can imagine the destruction happening below your feet. Creeping towards the direction of the emergency exit on the West side of the building, you stand watch. 

A trio of robbers burst through the door with duffle bags. They hobble to a nearby van, escaping inside. Before they can slide the door closed, you toss a smoke bomb inside. Leaving the robbers to gas themselves inside the van. The perfect gift for a Crow's that otherwise, could’ve ruined the mission. 

…

The rest of your evening is spent completing the bar’s closing shift. You’re staring off into space drying beer glasses when a rude cough disrupts your stupor. 

You flinch. Pasting your best customer service smile. 

“Good evening, Commander. Good to see you out on a Friday like a decent person.” 

Ambessa observes you for a minute then sits down in front of you.

“I’m not a fool.” she remarks. 

You continue with the glasses, moving on to the next in your drink carrier. 

“Never said you were.” 

She gestured for her usual. 

Grabbing the whisky glass, you turn and reach for the dark liquor, she prefers. 

Steady eyes watch you pour and place the drink in front of her. 

Her fingers pick up the glass swirling the golden liquid. 

“This partnership doesn’t work if we don’t trust one another.”   

Returning to your glasses you continued drying them with the towel. 

You lean over the bar separating the two of you. 

“I trust you, as much as I can trust a crow. Cut me some slack. This isn’t my ideal collab. The Kowalski’s get their jewels and you get your numbers. I suggest you stop whining and accept the win.” 

Ambessa rolls her eyes and takes the last swig of her drink. 

“We’ll agree to disagree. Have a good night.” 

Nodding while you put her glass away. 

“Leaving so soon? Date night?” you goad. 

Ambessa shrugs her blazer on. 

“My daughter is back in town.” 

You lean on the counter, raising your brows. 

“Mel's in town? She’s engaged right?” 

Ambessa gives you a solemn nod. 

“I have the honor of meeting the slum, she’s rehabilitating this month.” 

You giggle. 

Mel had a habit for taking in strays. Bless her heart, she sought the good in others.

“Mind if I crash? I’d kill to see the lucky bastard.” 

“No. I’ve seen enough of you this week. I can’t have you jeopardizing my weekend.” 

You tossed a mini straw at Ambessa. 

“Keep that same attitude the next time your squad is disarmed.” you rebuke. 

Ambessa doesn’t reply, just glares at you as she exits. 

–

That night, you lie in bed, reading. The windows in your studio cracked open, the noise from the Gotham streets leak into your tiny apartment. 

As someone that avoided clubs you still liked the camaraderie of the club scene. 

A gentle knock catches your attention. Sitting up, your ears focus on the tapping. 

Slowly you grab the bat you keep at your bedside and tip toe to the door. Your fingers carefully open the door keeping the chain still up. 

Peering through the crack, you see no one. 

Then Ambessa comes into frame, a chrotle escapes her lips.

“What? Expecting someone else?” she quips. 

You close the door, removing the chain, opening the door for her. 

“No, just surprised. I thought you had dinner with Mel? How’d that go?” 

Leaving the door open for her, you return the bat to your bedside.  

“As well as one can expect. Another loser wet behind the ears but this one has a startup. I suppose that’s more ambition than the last one.”

Ambessa tosses her blazer on your couch. Turning around to you. 

Sitting on the bed you watch her step out of her boots. 

“Call me selfish, I don’t care. She and Sevika would be perfect for each other.” you respond.

Ambessa approaches you with intention. 

She shrugs.

“I’ve heard you say that often enough, Why don’t you be with Sevika?”

Your fingers gesture for Ambessa to come closer to you.

She approaches you. Her intense gaze on your fingers making quick work removing the rest of her layers. 

“Been there, done that. Her and Mel seem more compatible.” 

That earns a smirk from Ambessa. 

Her gaze remains, you get on your knees to unbuckle her belt. Her favorite view. 

That night ends the same as many before, Ambessa keeping your bed warm noncommittally.

The next morning you’re entangled in the sheets and each other. Ambessa’s large limbs overtake yours on the full mattress. 

A knock disrupts your sleep. Gazing over at your phone, the clock reads 9:30. 

You struggle to get out of bed, annoyed one of your neighbors chooses this moment to ask for something. 

Making a quick headway, you grab the big-tshirt you had on at some point last night before answering the door. 

To your surprise, Mel is opposite your door, looking as fresh and put together as ever. 

She beams seeing you with eye-crust and messy hair. 

“Morning! I wanted to grab brunch while I’m still in Gotham, are you free?” 

You quickly close the door behind you, preventing her from seeing a naked Ambessa draped over your bed. 

She notices another body behind you. 

“Cheeky as ever, last nights conquest is still over?” 

No judgement in her tone. Mel crosses her arms, inspecting you.  

Hands cover your face in shame. 

“Ok, maybe. In my defense, who is up this early? I closed last night, by the way.” 

Mel rolls her eyes. 

“We’re young, you’ll live. Go wash up, and come on. My reservation is at 10.” 

She smiled at you, holding on to her purse, waiting for you to get a move on. 

You groaned.

“Fine, but at least give me 20. And go wait downstairs while I get my guest to leave.” 

Mel remained. 

“I can’t meet them?”

You turn her around. 

“Absolutly not, this is casual. Don’t even do that.” 

Mel gave you a sad face but nodded. 

“Fine, hurry up. I’m parked in front of your building.”

You nod and shoo her away.

Quickly heading back inside, you lock your door. Preventing Mel from even coming in accidentally.

Striding from your door to your bed in two steps. You gaze at Ambessa slumbering peacefully. 

You poke her muscles gently. Trying to rush but also preventing yourself from waking the crow on the wrong side of the bed. 

You crouch by her face. 

“Bess. Bessypoo. Time to get up.” 

You poke her face. 

Slowly her long lashes blink you into view. She rubs her eyes, sitting up the sheet exposing her torso. 

The clock ticking reminds you that you have 16 minutes left on the clock to meet Mel downstairs. Stripping yourself you rush to the shower, tying your hair up before hopping in the tub. 

Ambessa watches you rush comically. Standing, she follows you to the bathroom. 

“Want company?” 

You poke your head from the curtain. The water running behind you.

“No. Mel is downstairs.” 

The mention of her daughter snaps her out of the haze. 

“Why?” 

You return to your shower. 

“She wants to have brunch while she’s in town.” 

“Did she see me?”

“No. But wait until I leave before you do. Use my key under the mat to lock up.”

The water stops running. 

Ambessa returns to the bed, and searches for her clothes. 

She hears you mutter to yourself behind her. 

“6 minutes.”

“I see there wont be a worry about discretion, during brunch?”

The shuffling behind her grows closer.

“No, I’m not stupid. I’m not yapping to Mel about fucking her mom. I am decent.”

Ambessa turns to face you. 

“Good. Not as dim as you appear.” 

Ignoring the jab, you toss on your shorts and t-shirt. 

You didn’t have time to bicker with her, you had 3 minutes left to get ready. 

The knock on the door startled the both of you, exchanging a glance at the door and then to Bess.

“Hide in the bathroom.” you whisper. 

Grabbing her shoes and jacket you stuff them in her hands before closing the door behind her. 

You scamper for the door, and open to find Mel. 

“Ready yet?”

You shake your head, opening the door wider to let her in. 

“Nope, let me do my skincare and we can go.” 

She nods entering, her gaze studying your small space for any detail of another being. 

That's when you remember your skincare was in the bathroom with Ambessa.

You walk to the door, and project your voice. 

“Go ahead, Mel. Just sit wherever. I need to do my skincare in the bathroom, then we can head out.”

Mel is taken aback at your volume but nods. 

“Okay, no need to shout. I’m right here.” 

You wait a couple seconds before opening the door slowly. 

No sign of life but you see the curtain shuffle. 

Finding the products on the counter, Mel interrupts you. 

“Don’t you want the light on?”

You nod. Remembering Mel could see you from your living room/bedroom.  

“Oh, yeah. Duh. Somebody keeps rushing me. I can’t think straight.” You huff. 

A chuckle from the shower draws your attention. 

“So, did you arrive this morning?” You ask. 

“No, we drove in yesterday. We had dinner with my mother last night.” 

Finishing your skin care with sunscreen. You continue listening. 

“Oh, yeah? She wasn’t too hard on your new boo?” 

Mel chuckles. 

“Please. My mother couldn’t have a bigger stick up her ass. She thinks Jayce is only with me for money.”

Turning the light off, you walk towards the other woman. Standing near her. 

Your eyes stay on her. 

“Please not you too. I’m not some fool, I know what I’m doing.” 

Putting your hands up in surrender. 

“I didn’t say anything. But you do meet the love of your life like every 6 months, you have set a precedent, my darling.”

Holding your hand out, you offer. 

Mel looks ahead. Eventually taking your hand. She stands up and stares at you. 

The tension in the air suddenly became too serious. 

“But hey what do I know? I still think you and Sevika should give it a go.” you joke. 

Mel rolls her eyes. 

“In your dreams.” 

You link arms and head for the door. 

“So, where did you make reservations?” you ask.

You lock the door behind you, walking with Mel to her car. 

Ambessa waits until she hears the door lock before exiting the shower.