“…I have a theme.” He responded to her ‘adorable’ comment.

After they’d lowered down, he released her into the passenger’s seat. Once he’d sat down, the sensors in the car read that he was in, sliding the roof shut and sealing it. “I’d suggest strapping in.” He said, fingers moving to press buttons with practiced precision.

“Sir? Who are you talking to?” Alfred inquired.

“I’m bringing a guest.”

“I’ll fix some tea.”

He almost told him it wouldn’t be necessary but with a brief glance at the woman, he could tell she was rather shellshocked by the sudden change in scenery. So he said nothing in response. Tea might be good for her. Or perhaps she’d need something stronger. The windows of the batmobile tinted so that nothing could be seen outside of the vehicle. Sliding his fingers across one of the screens on the console, he engaged the autopilot. He spared a brief glance to her to ensure that she was strapped in before he placed his hand on the throttle…and gave it a push.

There was a foreboding whirring sound and then a mighty roar of the engine and the vehicle suddenly jerked forward. Unceasing was the speed, slowing down only slightly when there was a turn. But he remained completely calm, lips a neutral frown as he focused upon the screens in front of him.

“Everything will be fine.” He reassured her, “If it turns out we’re stuck here… I know some people who are attuned to magic. They might be able to find a way to get you home.”

He was sure that someone could open a portal to her realm and send her home. He knew that she wouldn’t want to stay here and, honestly, he wouldn’t want her to have to stay in Gotham. He wouldn’t wish that on anyone. Not the way it was now. It was his city… but it was a city with too many problems. And it wasn’t long before the sound of heavy water beating against the roof of the vehicle could be heard and the echoing sound of a cave.

When the vehicle came to a stop, the ceiling slid open to reveal a massive cave. Upon the roof were thousands of bats perched upside down, occasionally flitting about in the commotion of him returning home. Bruce hopped out of the vehicle, moving briskly to the massive computer system displayed on a circular platform which protruded from the water in the cave. Alfred moved to the car the moment he’d pulled in, offering a hand for Ultear. “Greetings, miss. I’ve prepared some tea. Erm… might I inquire how you two are… acquainted?” Alfred motioned toward a table up near the computer platform where a pot of hot tea sat with cups and some biscuits.

     “So, quest set of rules.” She speaks under her breath. The windows suddenly grow dark, and Ultear can only give a sigh. Ultear was beginning to believe Batman was a bit into overkill. 

     “Don’t make promises you can not keep, darling.” They were silent the rest of the ride. The car eventually stops, and the hood removes itself to reveal a rather large cavern with high end technology and weapons scattered about. An older man, wearing a butler’s guise, holds out his hand to her. She takes it as she removes herself from the car, and out of the corner of her eye sees Batman already at his giant monitor. 

     “Oh, by pure accident and circumstance. Maybe he just likes me. Who knows?” Ultear grabs a cup of tea before she moves to lean against the desk Batman sits at.

     “I didn’t think there would be any information considering you forget everything when they return you. I would make a note somewhere to remind you just in case. Also, can you explain to me how you came about having your own cave, because this is just overdoing it.” Ultear says this before the butler comes to join them, sipping her tea and giving a smile.

Unfortunately for Archer, alcohol could no longer cloak his brain in its numbing embrace. Such was the fate of a Heroic Spirit, though he had never been a great fan of liquor in the first place. He was, however, a great fan of what often happened around liquor.

He was here–tonight, here was a particular bar in Sector 4–for that specific reason. He was certain that he’d find some form of entertainment here. True, entertaining himself was exactly what Archer had been doing ever since his arrival in the city, but this was the first night he’d spend in a place like this.

It didn’t take long before he found someone–he spotted a particularly statuesque woman at the other end of the bar. Her clothes–as flattering as they were strange–marked her as a a fellow victim of the scientists and their mad experiment.

Archer slipped past the throngs of people to find a place beside the woman–not-so-subtly brushing his shoulder against hers in the process. He quietly noted the drink in her hand–something a tad stronger than the piss-water ‘craft beer’ that everyone else in the bar seemed to favor–which only reinforced his good first impression of her.

     It had been an accident that she had stumbled onto a girl getting followed by some bar fly, and when he laid a hand on the poor thing Ultear had felt it necessary to step in. The girl, in tears and shaking, had been very grateful and proceeded to ask Ultear to watch over her the next time she had an outing. Ultear was, at first, resistant, but the girl persisted. 

     This lead to where she was in that very moment. Eyes on the girl and her group of friends as they sat beside themselves. It wasn’t what the witch had seen herself doing that night, but she could not turn away someone so scared for herself and her friends. A man approaches, the sort with a smirk that expects something to come out in his favor. She prepares herself to go through the motions.

    “And are these the observations of a very experienced woman? You seem like the type to know what to say already.” Indeed, she did look the part. She had a strong presence about her. Not only that, but his nature as a heroic spirit allowed him to sense her connection to magic. A magus, he wondered? 

     “I simply have been approached by men in bars far too often. A few of them with wives and girlfriends they want to keep secret. But you, sir, are either very friendly or have something to hide. We will see just what it is with time.”

“Well, I have to keep some promises.”

     “Ah, you did bring something strong. I commend you for not only being a wonderful masked crusader, but a good barman.” She pauses, leaning back on the bench as she contemplates what to say. Ultear had learned a lot more about him then he knew of her through their forced misadventure together. Yet Bruce for some reason took the breach of personal information with grace considering just what he does. Still, did she want to open up to someone she had just met? Maybe, but not completely.

          ❝ Y-You’re the one who gave me this necklace? ❞ All this time he hadn’t the slightest idea of who it may have come from. To think that it had been from her the entire time, it’s a little embarrassing that he hadn’t realized it sooner. The cryptic note left with it had only served to confuse him further. Still, it’s good to finally have a peace of mind with whom it had come from now and it only makes him cherish it all the more. 

     “I didn’t give it to you for you to thank me. You have shown me your gratitude by keeping it with you all this time. I honestly didn’t expect you to.”

But hey. Enough of that now. He’s too busy conjuring up small talk to even pay attention to his own thoughts.

“Huh? Oh, heh, this gritty stuff isn’t so bad! But I’ll do my best!”

     “Mermaids? But you don’t know all the legends do you?”