Yes it's been a very very long time since I've posted anything... mostly because of college and work and life in general. I happen to be sick in bed right now and have been going through pieces I have saved to my laptop and finishing some and found this. Hope you enjoy -akuiku

Barbara Gordon had a plan... she was wearing the shortest skirt she owned, a low cut top, and thigh high leather boots. She was going out for once, taking a trip to Gotham's most notorious and trendy night club. If all went as planed by the end of the night she'd be having wild , meaningless sex with a good looking stranger.

Her plan it was foolproof really...

Unfortunately there was an outside factor Barbara failed to take into consideration when concocting her plan … and five minutes into playful banter with a fairly good looking trial lawyer he showed up. The club descended into chaos around her at Batman's appearance, Barbara found herself picking her way through the panicking masses while trying to avoid stray bullets.

Of all the nights for Bruce to shake down some local mobsters and inadvertently start a gun fight... it had to be the night she was wearing her "come fuck me" heels. Scrambling for the back entrance Barbara stumbled out into the cool night air, wishing she'd had time to grab her coat before her hasty exit. Glancing around the darken alley she'd been about to make her way toward the main street when the roaring of an engine sounded behind her, the batmobile appearing out of the darkness moments later.

"Need a ride?"

He had sneaked up on her somehow – although admittedly Barbara wasn't paying very good attention to her surroundings... her mind was focused on other things – like how cold she was, and how much her feet were starting to hurt.

"Thanks"

She didn't bother to put up a fight when she realized they were heading toward the cave instead of her apartment. Barbara was feeling disappointed, frustrated, and because of the sideways glances Bruce kept giving her – a little silly.

The silence was killing her …

"I just wanted to have wild sex with a total stranger … is that so wrong?"

She regretted her words the moment she'd spoken them, the last thing she wanted Bruce to know about was her lack of a sex life. Her only comfort was the fact that Bruce just seemed to stare blankly at her for a moment – apparently she had thrown him.

"Whatever happened to romance?"

She couldn't stop the bitter chuckle which escaped her... maybe she was becoming old and jaded.

"Masked vigilantism, and an inability to commit."

And that was the story of both their lives … commitment to an almost unobtainable goal and an unwillingness to let anything, or more appropriately anyone get in the way of that.

He'd actually paused for a moment, letting his gaze travel over her, and she could only imagine how ridiculous he thought she was right now …. dressing like this in some desperate attempt to have a one night stand. He was probably reminded of all the woman who'd thrown themselves at him over the years.

Sighing in defeat Barbara stared blankly at Bruce.

"I look like a hooker don't I."

She could count the times she'd ever heard Bruce Wayne truly laugh on one hand … this was one of them. It was a pleasant sound which invaded the silence of the car, a warm rich laugh which never failed to make her smile.

"Go a head laugh it up playboy – keep mocking the poor, thirty-six year old, glorified secretary … you do realize dressing like this is the only way I can compete with the younger, stupider, more attractive girls."

Frowning Bruce pulled into the cave, shutting down the engines to the batmobile but refraining from opening the doors.

"Do you honestly believe that?"

Sighing Barbara pushed open her door, growling as she struggled to exit the car. "Would I be dressed like this if I didn't?"

Limping her way to the closest chair she allowed her eyes to roam the confines of the cave, surprised when Alfred appeared to be missing.

"It's his night off"

Blinking, Barbara stared up at Batman's hulking form, watching as he peeled back his cowl raising a hand to swipe at his ruffled hair. It was always an odd site, Bruce in costume but without his mask … reconciling the playboy with the vigilante was nearly impossible for her, opposite ends of the spectrum , the real Bruce laying somewhere between the two.

"You don't have to dress like that to get a man's attention Barbara."

God did he have to sound so condescending... just because he knew her father didn't mean he had to act like one... especially when he was only 4 years older then her.

"Please don't lecture me – I already have a father."

"Believe me my thoughts are anything but fatherly right now."

With that he disappeared off in the direction of the showers, leaving Barbara gaping at the empty cave.