Archive of Our Own

Chapter Text

My Dearest Sister, 

Things in Gotham have been lively, as of late. Swarms and swarms of people have arrived, and I can't even look down the street without seeing a few people who had just immigrated. It's quite fascinating learning where everyone on our street formerly lived. 

Even around Central City! Though that's really not as exciting as someone from India. 

I'm joking, about Central City. I really am praying that you are enjoying it. Traitorous as you are, for moving there with your husband. 

The sheriffs and the task forces have been quite busy lately, father says for me to not worry about it however. The crime just keeps doubling, and I'm uncertain that they'll ever go down.

Father is on new medication, from the doctor. Not just the opioids. He's acting rather strangely recently. Just staring out the window. 

Sometimes he claims he sees a figure clad in black moving about the rooftops. 

Strange isn't it? 

And one of our eldest rich and interesting bachelors, Mr. Wayne, has ended up settling his company in the heart of Gotham! There are sure to be many more workers coming in. Though he doesn't import his workers himself. He always seems to have enough around here. 

The church is doing well, and they are sending a gift to you, for the arrival of your new baby. Please do visit soon, I do wish to lavish my nephew or niece, and take them far away for your arms for hours at a time.

Yours, 

Reader

You hum, putting it in an envelope and heating up the wax, before sealing it. You stand up and put a shawl around your shoulders and take the envelope and start crossing over towards the door. 

"Going somewhere?" Your father calls from his armchair, staring at the clock across from him.

"The post office." You say simply. 

He finally turns his head. "To your sister?" 

"Who else would it be?" You shrug. "I don't have anyone else to write to." 

"She's a busy woman now with a child, what could you be bothering her about?" He asks. 

"Telling her all the latest news in Gotham." 

He waves you off with a scoff. "Gaggles and Gossips, I'm sure." 

"What other things would I have to tell." 

He scratches his nose and then adjusts his glasses, a gesture he usually does when he's being coy, and maybe a little jokingly mean. "Not of a husband, that's for sure." 

You cross your arms. "Why do you want to get rid of me so bad?" 

"I got your sister married off, and now I have to figure how to trick another man into taking another one of my daughters." Your father says before laughing, finding it funny. 

You shake your head, your hand going to the door. "What a terrible waste of time." 

"A waste of time indeed. No, you'll stay at my side until I die, I'm sure." 

You nod. "I have to go now Father, the post." You remind him. 

"Agh. Fine. Pick me something sweet to eat on the way back. I'm hungry." 

"Martha has something baking in the kitchen." 

"I want something sweet, not the damned potato leek soup she has." 

You nod. "Yes sir."

And before he can say anything else, or complain, you slip out the door, and make your way through the crowd. 

You hold your envelope tightly, as you weave through people, often saying 'excuse me' or 'pardon'. You bump into some girl, with auburn hair. "Sorry." You say wincing as she gives you an eye roll and walks off. 

The buildings around you were fairly new, hardly any historical monuments were up in public view. It was all about the new and the trendy. Dark Gothic Architecture was in, and old poor town squares were out.

You thought the town looked kind of depressing, with how much dark grey stone was in, but the cathedrals and buildings looked so impressive with the stained glass windows. 

Beauty in the ashes. 

You turn the corner and look at the small building in front of you. The Post Office. 

You sigh and step out into the street, when you stumble back at the sound of a horse rapidly approaching. 

A man with a handkerchief over his face, and a large west cowboy hat with some playing cards pinned to it, was barreling through people, not caring if the horse stepped on a few of the feet of the onlookers. 

He was holding a bag of money, with some dollars falling out of it. 

Well. 

At least your father didn't have a trip planned to the bank today. 

You go into the post office and mail off your envelope. 

What else could you do today? 

You could visit the creek, but it's starting to get too cold for that. Not only that, you didn't feel safe with the crowd that started to hang out around there. Thuggish brutal looking men, accompanied by some green ghoulish looking man. 

Some strange people come into Gotham indeed. 

"He's been shot!" A man cries out running down the street. 

"Who?" Another onlooker says. 

"Preacher William has been shot." The man exclaims. "Where's the Sheriff?" 

Your eyes widen. 

Preacher William? But he's your preacher?

He couldn't die now, could he?

The fleeting moments of mortality...

The next day was an interesting one.

William didn't take too long to die, which is just as well. No one wants a slow death. 

"I hate dressing for funerals. Black is not my color." Your father complains as you adjust his bowtie and hat. 

"William just died, and you're complaining that Black is not your color? Unfeeling man." You shake your head. 

William had bled out on the street, leaving behind a wife and 5 kids. Most who haven't even reached adulthood. William had married late, but the congregation forgave him. 

"Well it isn't. He could have waited until next week, I had nothing to do then." Your father doubles down on his statement. 

You can't win every battle with him, so you just move aside and let him open the door, and take his arm as you both start walking down the street. It was a nice day, despite the preacher being dead. You didn't know him very well. 

He was the type of man that spoke and spoke until the timer was up, and then he would rush to get to the food first. He was known for his stomach. 

Maybe the new preacher would be someone who took the time to know the congregation, and really had a love for God over food. 

Yeah. 

One could hope. 

You straighten your own hat, before walking into the church with your father. 

Well. This was it. 

Barbara Gordon was a woman who chased after what she wanted, with her father being the sheriff. He taught her how to be a headstrong woman. Perhaps too headstrong. Because now she found herself with a tiny small cut cloth from none other than a vigilante that was a pain in her father's backside. 

She could bring the cloth to her father, and tell her she knows who Batman is. 

But she doesn't gain anything out of that. 

No.

Bruce Wayne will have to pay for this knowledge to stay undercover, and she'll milk that for as long as possible. 

And how will he pay?

By giving her a job.

Her father won't, saying catching criminals was no place for a lady. 

But she'll do what she wants, when she wants. 

So she finds herself walking up towards Wayne's Enterprises. A building that's made its fortunes with factory technology, AND some farming branches. He's a multi talented and rich man. 

He'll have no problem seeing her ambition, and fulfilling it. 

"I'm here for Mr. Wayne." Babs says looking to the man behind the desk. 

"Mr. Wayne? He's by appointment only." The man says with a laugh. "He's a busy man." 

"I have an appointment." Babs lies. 

He double checks the days agenda. 

"...? I don't see-?" 

She leans on the counter and tilts her head. "Oh no, tell me that the employees of Wayne Enterprises aren't forgetful? Especially in a meeting as important as this?" 

"Imp-important?" The man stutters. 

Babs looks at the nameplate. "Mr. Grayson, it is of the utmost importance I get to Mr. Wayne." 

He clears his throat, averting his eyes. "Of course. I'll go and tell him that Miss...?"

"Miss Barbara Gordon." 

"Miss Barbara Gordon is here for...?"

Babs pretends to hum looking around. "A business opportunity, regarding...night time activities." Babs slips the cloth between her fingers as if fidgeting. 

Dick Grayson's eyes widen as he realizes this was a threat. 

So. 

The poor secretary knew. How interesting. 

"I'll take you to my father myself." He says. 

As he stands up and leads her to his father's office, she surveys him. They're roughly around the same age, and he had black hair. His suit was blue, and he really looked good in blue, she noticed. 

Dick opens the door and Bruce Wayne looks up startled, rubbing the sleep from his eyes. 

Babs strides in with a huge smile. 

"Tired from running around all night?" Babs says after the door shuts. 

"I don't believe we've met." Bruce says, his eyes squinting, trying to understand what was going on. 

She laughs lightly and walks over and offers her hand. "Barbara Gordon. Sheriff's daughter." 

Bruce slowly nods and he smiles. "Ah, now I remember. You've gotten older since I last had seen you."

"Mm. You don't look like you've aged a day. Now, this isn't a social call, Mr. Wayne." Babs says. "I have something you may want to know, and something you might want to keep under wraps. As it wouldn't look good for you." 

This makes Bruce wipe the smile off his face, and sit up. "Continue." 

Babs holds up the small fabric. "You recognize this?" 

"No." 

"No? That's funny. I'm sure I had cut it off your suit last night, when you pursuing the Joker." 

Bruce's jaw sets.

Babs settles down in the chair and looks up at him. "And yes, I saw your helmet get removed, Bruce Wayne. You're careful. But not careful enough." 

Bruce leans back in his chair, surveying her. "And you want me to respond to this blackmail, how?"

"Hire me." Babs says. "Hire me as your informant. Secretary, if we want to worry about titles. I can look out for things, and report them, and keep you informed." 

"Who's to say I don't have informants already?" 

"You're still being blackmailed. Besides, I'm a woman. I can go places your other informants can't. Build credibility with no suspicion in the Gothams gossip circles." 

"You can discern gossip from fact?" 

"I can fact check." Babs says. 

"How much do you want?" 

"10$ a week." 

"That's an expensive informant. 8$" 

"A quality informant, actually. This isn't a bargain Mr. Wayne. 10$ a week, off the books, with information that will be worth your time. Now." Babs pauses, "I don't come here just to blackmail you. I have information." 

Bruce allows her to go on. 

"My information, that I believe you don't already know, is that I was able to find something worthy of your attention." 

"Like?" 

Babs shakes her head "Only after you've given me your word, that I get 10$ a week, and I'm your secretary in the dark...Oh. And your signature here." She pulls out a form and looks him in the eye. 

Bruce slowly nods, before reading the contract that was made. 

"Dick. Be our notary." He calls, and Dick strides in and watches as Bruce signs the signature. "Then welcome aboard, Barbara Gordon. Though I have a few rules for you as well." Dick signs his name under the notary line. 

"Of course." Babs says. 

"You won't say a word to anyone, about what I do. You only are to assist, I don't want to see you fighting." Bruce says. 

Babs smiles. "I won't say a word to anyone else. And about fighting, we'll revisit that in the future." 

"You're never fighting." Bruce says. 

"We'll revisit it." 

Bruce sighs. "The information?" 

"Oh yes. The information is, the bar way on the dodgy end of Gotham, has been overtaken by a criminal who calls himself the Penguin. Sheriff's office just got the tip." 

"I think this will be a mutually beneficial business relationship, Miss Gordon. Get the address and give it to me by morning." 

Babs nods. "As you wish." 

There was a new preacher by Sunday, some green haired man with a wonky looking face. The older ladies chastised you for making a face when he came around to greet everyone. 

"Mama Beth, I really don't trust this guy." You whisper to your grandmother. 

"Now, Reader, is that any way to talk about a child of God?" 

"No but-" 

The new man strolls up and stops in front of you, and Mama Beth. "Hello there children of God, how are you? I'm Jack Napier, the new sheep dog. Pleasure to meet you both." His smile was creepy, forced, and the only thing stopping you from throwing up, was the attempt at having a smooth voice. 

"Oh dear, what happened to your mouth?" Mama Beth says, forgetting her own manners for a moment. 

Jack Napier shook his head looking down. "Just a tragic accident, that the LORD himself saved me from. It was tragic, you know." 

"You poor soul." Mama Beth says. "They call me Mama Beth. I'm the oldest woman of the congregation. This is my granddaughter, Reader. You married son?" 

Jack Napier laughs. "Yes, to my beautiful- wife- Harleen." 

"Sounds close to Harlot. Who would name their child that?" Mama Beth says appalled. 

"We prefer to call her Harley." Jack says, his eye twitching at Mama's Beth's comment. 

"I can't wait to hear you preach today." Mama Beth says with a smile. 

Then as Jack Napier moved on, Mama Beth looked at you. "Do you want some fruit when we get home?" She never said sorry outright, just offered some type of food as an apology. 

"I don't...know?"

"Cantaloupe? We've got apples too." 

"Mama-" You groan but your eyes catch on Auburn hair and you suddenly forget to breathe. 

Mama Beth follows your eyes. "The Sheriff's daughter! At our church? There's miracles after all." 

"What?" You look down at Mama Beth. 

"Miss Barbara Gordon. I wasn't sure our Sheriff was a God fearing man. Maybe I was wrong after all. Never seen him in these pews, even when he was a boy." 

Barbara Gordon huh?

Mama Beth begins walking to her usual pew, and before you can even try and introduce yourself, church was about to start. So you reluctantly take a seat. The desire to know who she was, was intense. 

Jack Napier takes the stage, and he clears his throat. 

"Men and women of the church! It is my duty to give you a God given sermon, isn't it? And what a great day in Gotham to do it. Now, we've been here worshipping how many years? Some of us are just starting, and some of us are exiting! Exiting to heaven." 

He puts his hands in the air. "Give a hallelujah if you're going to heaven." 

This withdrew some 'hallelujah's from the crowd. 

"Mm. Amen. I hear you, I hear you. You know who else hears you? God. Who remembers the Lord's Prayer? Way back in..."

Jack looks towards the back to a woman who was holding the bible verse on a sign, out of sight from the majority of people. 

"Way back in Matthew 6:9-13. Yeah. It is the one that we should pray, every time we pray. This then is how you should pray...Let's all say it together shall we? If you need reminding turn to your elders right next to ya." 

You hollowly began reciting the Lord's Prayer, as Jack Napier mouthed along with it, not seeming to actually know the verse. 

"Great. Now, do we think we're going to hell, if we don't say this prayer as is? Of course not. How else would Esther- Queen Esther be able to pray for her race's savior? Or Jesus to save humanity? We all need saving don't we? No this sermon is about teaching you that Prayer doesn't have strict guidelines. And neither does God's Love." 

Barbara Gordon was standing close to the back, near the blonde lady holding up signs. 

You were having a hard time paying attention. 

"We must confess our sins. To God. And you can't do that if you follow a script half a- heartedly. Half heartedly. For example I knew a man who shot 3 people in a row, got caught, and he went to the asylum. They told him 'You're never getting out of here' so he prayed to God, and a way out of the asylum appeared to him! He told him 'Go spread the word to everybody you know'. God delivers you from sin. And the man went back and finished what he started." 

Mama Beth looks to you confused. "Finished what he started?" 

"He baptized, with the rest of the families that he afflicted...in blood." He says the last words so quietly, you weren't sure you heard them. "His testimony moved me so much, especially when talking about prayer. Our God is alive, and he is here for all of us. Now...who is ready to confess silently in prayer for the rest of the 15 minutes?" 

To your own astonishment, everyone started praying silently, apparently moved. 

"That's right let the Holy Ghost- the spirit? Holy Spirit move over you. All in you. Taking you. Rapturing you. Let it move your soul and your mind to me- My words." Jack Napier says. "Oh! And it's time for communion. Communion boys?" 

And as everyone took communion, you couldn't help but stare. 

How were people moved by this?

"Now for our donations, Jesus will be needing his tithes. No skipping out, any of you. Our building is falling apart, and it needs some up keeping. Pray that we receive the funds, and receive the spirit, and do good unto others." Jack finishes. 

And as people began to get up and put dollar after dollar into the plates, you realized that this wasn't a regular preacher. 

The church has always been a beacon for bright, charming, and manipulative men. It wasn't the churches fault, with how they always preach that every little perfect child of God in there was a sheep, waiting for a leader. 

It's a story as old as time. 

Something good comes from the ground, and then a man with evil in his heart rises up to guard it, and use it as he wants. 

This was a man who was here to grab money and go. It was only conjecture of course, and you couldn't prove it just yet, but you knew something was off with this man. 

He treated the sermon as if it was a joke, and as rocky as your own faith might be, you knew that this was not the behavior you should be seeing out of a leader in the church. 

But you seemed to be the only one that was concerned about the wolf in sheep's clothing. 

"Oh what a lovely young man and his wife!" Mama Beth says looking at Harley, coming up to Jack and kissing his cheek. 

You squint. 

Something was different about him. Not just the greed, or the weird stories. You just felt...something. 

"Huh?" You say straightening up as Mama Beth says something else. 

"Go talk to that Gordon girl she looks lonely." Mama Beth says. 

You nod and start making your way over to where she was, but she turns around and starts walking out. You try and keep up with her, but she disappears without a trace. 

Dang. 

You sigh, you'll have to catch her next time. 

"Here's the address you requested." Babs says, walking into the office. "And we have a problem regarding the arrest of Jack Napier. He's the preacher at the church now." 

Dick's eyebrows raise as he was writing something down for his father. "A preacher? The Joker? That's rich." 

Bruce shakes his head. "He knows we're close to finding him. If he gains the trust of the community, before we can pin him down for a crime, then we won't be able to get him for anything." 

Babs slinks down in the seat, trying to think. "We'll have to discredit him from within. I'll start building ties with the women and plant seeds." 

Bruce nods. "Go ahead and do that." 

"I can help." Dick says. 

"How?" Babs says looking up. 

"Look, when they ask if you have a man, just say it's me. Your words will have more credit. Especially when you bring up my name. I'm known as the Golden boy around town, they'll have no reason to think you're suspicious." 

Babs wrinkles her nose at the idea. She hates it. Having to say that she's seeing Dick. "Fine. If I have to, to gain their trust, but we're not doing all that courting for real. I'm just using your name." 

Dick nods.

"Well, I'll be off to make some new friends, Bruce. Anything else I should know?" 

"Make note of who else in the church are criminals, before you slander him. They might find you and shut you down." Bruce says. "If he's in there, who knows who else?" 

Babs nods. "Yes sir. Be back with a report." 

Chapter Text

Dearest Reader, 

The baby is doing fine, her name is Aurelia. She has locks like her grandfather, and is as vocal as her father. I wish you would visit sooner than the holidays, she is getting much too heavy for me. 

We had to dismiss any potential wet nurse, Central City is starting to get a little weird as well. Strange things have been happening, unexplainable things like men taking to the sky, and wind rushing and dying down. 

There's hardly anytime I can tend to my garden as well. Aurelia is the most beautiful precious parasite I have ever seen. She cannot seem to disattach herself to me, and does not want to stay with her father for even a minute. Such is the price for being a mother. 

Tell me, I have heard about William being shot. Who's replaced him? Hopefully it's someone competent this time? 

Please write soon, and visit soon. 

We have so much to discuss. 

Yours, 

Sister

You hiss in pain as the dressmaker accidentally stabs your hip with a pin. 

"Oh, that dress is looking beautiful." Your father says wandering in, his clothes facing the wrong direction.

"Father, did you take your meds?" 

"I did!" 

"I see." Is all you say before letting the dressmaker continue to pin you. 

Your father looks down and hums. "It appears my head is on backwards." 

"No father, just your clothes." 

His hand claps at the back of the fabric and looks back up at you, not believing you. "My own daughter, bullying me at such an early hour?" 

"It's the afternoon." 

"Have you no man to bully at this hour?" 

"They all said no to my bullying, remember?" 

He waves you off, before grabbing his newspaper upside down. Well, maybe the clothes on backwards were some type of joke to amuse you. You didn't know. "Gah. You'll find a man who likes being beat by his wife, surely there's some out there. I liked your mother, they exist." 

You exchange a look with the dressmaker before she sits up. "We're done tailoring for the day." 

"You scared Miss Eisenguard. Look at her scurry off." 

"She isn't fun." Your father says. "Oh! There's an event at the church, among the ladies your age. Baking something for the new preacher, and his household." 

You perk up at that. 

Ladies your age?

Would Barbara Gordon be there? 

"Penny Sickle will be there." Your father says. 

Your interest faded, and you cross your arms holding your nose in the air. 

"Oh. We don't talk about Penny, I forgot. As your father, I order you to go. I want to entertain a lady." Your father says. 

"Disgusting." You say. 

"You can punch Penny if you like, get arrested, go out and bully men, just don't be here between the hours of 2:30 to 4:30. I am having a book club, and I want to flirt with Hayewood's wife." 

"The Lord would look down on you." You say. 

"Then we'll compare sins. Now go young lady. Out with you." Your father says. 

You huff but grab your things and start making your way to church.

Your steps slowed as you go to the front of the church, gulping. Penny was holding the door open, smiling and speaking with the ladies and older ladies walking in. You take a deep breath and intend to walk by her without saying anything. 

"Queer." She coughs. 

"Hussy." You cough back, and she glares at you, but doesn't respond. 

You walk inside and see several women talking amongst themselves and floating about the kitchen. 

Then you hear someone behind you say, "Excuse me."

The Auburn haired girl. 

You quickly spin around. "I apologize, I'm Reader, what's your name?" 

"Barbara. Barbara Gordon." She says with a small forced smile. "I still have to get by you, though." 

You nod and move out of her way, your eyes halfway closing for a moment as her scent moves past you. You smile a little watching after her before you shake your head. 

Dear Lord, you'd have to repent for that later. What was that.

You try and clear your mind, just in case some random woman in the room could somehow read minds. 

Not that there were weird thoughts in your mind. No way. 

You tried to insert yourself into work, however you could. But in a room full of over performing women, half were doing all the work, and the other half were forced to just watch and chat. 

Barbara was one of the ones speaking, chatting up everyone. 

Including, to your high distaste, Penny Sickle. 

Babs was here for one purpose and one purpose only. 

Make church friends. 

She wasn't a baker herself, nor did she make it a habit to be. So with half the room busy, it was great luck that she didn't have to help. 

"I'm Barbara. Barbara Gordon." Babs introduces herself to the golden locked woman in front of her. 

"Penny. Penny Sickle. Lovely to meet another God fearing woman." 

"Mm." Babs pressed her lips into a thin line. 

"You know, there aren't many ladies our age in the church. The only options I have for friends are Annie Mayweather, and Deirdre Falls." Penny says with a forlorn sigh, and a pretend far off look. 

Penny appeared to want Babs to ask something. 

"Isn't there another girl our age? If memory serves me correctly." 

"Oh there is. We don't talk about her." Penny says, and before Babs can change the subject she went on to talk about her. "You see, she's very suspicious. She rarely goes out to events, never has had a man, and any she has entertained disappear." 

"Disappear?" 

"Mhm. She scares them off, but last one who talked to her died. They claimed it was an accident, but I think she murdered him." Penny points to you. "I used to be her friend you know. When we were younger. She had the devil's mark on her. A horrible ugly birthmark, and I knew she'd be a sinner forever." 

Babs looks at you confused. She'd need to fact check this. 

"She also has a lot of companions with no need for marriage." Penny says. "Really the only reason she's not ex communicated is her grandma, Mama Beth. She insists we all play nice to her. But Reader is perverted. Stay away from her. Unless you want your soul to fall down to hell." 

Wow. 

Straight forward. 

Babs looks at you again trying to get a feel of your energy. You didn't seem to be a threat. You didn't have that squirrely look of guilt that she knows so well. She'd have to investigate. 

"I'll give you my address, and you give me yours, and we'll call on each other, okay? I have somewhere to be in half an hour." Penny says, and exchanges addresses with Babs. "And just in time, everyone's done cooking, and I would suggest not getting stuck with cleanup. Go deliver the food instead." 

Babs nods. 

Getting Jack's address was exactly what she needed to do anyways. 

"Who would like to deliver this to Jack Napi-" Mama Beth calls.

You and Barbara raised your hand at the same time. 

"I'll take it." You say. 

"No, allow me." Barbara says with a smile. 

"I got this I promi-" You say trying to be nice.

"I've got this-"

"Girls both of you can take it. The Lord has blessed you both with servant hearts and minds." Mama Beth says with a smile. 

"I'll take the casserole." Barbara says shortly, leaving you with the gift basket. 

You nod, following her orders, and follow after her. 

"Are you getting along with everybody?" You ask. 

"Huh?" Barbara says surprised you were talking to her. 

"It's intimidating, going to a new church and meeting people sometimes. I was just wanting to make sure you were getting along." You say earnestly. 

Barbara hummed for a moment slowing to match your walking pace. "It's all been fine." 

It went quiet for a minute. 

"I know you never knew William, as a preacher, but what do you think about our new one?" 

She side eyes you. "Are you saying there's a problem with him?"

"What?? no." You say quickly. "We can talk about something different." 

Barbara nods. 

"So are you a...Miss Gordon? Or...?" 

"Still a Miss. My man hasn't proposed yet."

Ouch. 

Why did that hurt, getting told that.

"His name's Dick Grayson." 

"I don't know who that is." You say. 

And she gave you a surprised look, so you quickly pivot the conversation "Congratulations, though. Hard to keep a man around here in Gotham. A lot of them slippery." 

"You compare men to catching fish?" Barbara takes another glance at you.

"Yeah. Is there- something wrong with that analogy?" 

"Makes you look cold and unfeeling to the opposite sex." 

"And to you?" 

"Your character would suffer a little from it, yes." Barbara says. 

Drats. 

You don't want to give the wrong impression, especially after anything Penny had said about you. You hoped nothing bad was said. 

"Well-" 

"We're here." Barbara says, her eyes fixing on the address and then the door. She knocks and Jack Napier opens it. 

"Ladies! What's this?" 

"Our congregation wanted to give some welcome food, Mr. Napier." 

"Please, call me Jack! None of that...formal Napier stuff." He says greedily grabbing the food and placing it on the table. 

You look through the door and see several guilty looking people, and his wife standing there over a sheet of paper. 

"What's that-?" You ask. 

"Oh! That. That's Jonathan and Bane, they're listening to hear my next sermon, testing it out a bit. That's what preachers do right?" Jack says looking between you and Barbara. 

You shrug "I don't know, I've never known preachers private lives." 

Jack nods. "Good. Now run along with your friend and give the ladies my thanks." 

"We're not friends." Barbara says. 

"Then with whatever this is." Jack shrugs. 

"Hey-"

The door closes and you turn and look at Barbara. She doesn't look at you. "We part our ways then." Barbara says. 

You feel dejected but you nod. "I'll see you around, Barbara." 

She spares one glance and then walks away. 

You look at your pocket watch and then wander around until 4:30, thinking what you did to deserve such a loss of potential friendship. 

Babs stays close to the building once you leave, trying to sneak a glance. It was plans, but of what? She'd get closer if she could and investigate, but the address needed to be delivered to Bruce as soon as possible. 

She sighs. 

She'll revisit the matter of fighting, and convince him it will happen eventually. And when it does, she'll need to be prepared. There are no sidelines or buffers to stop criminals from fighting anybody they want. Especially if she's caught. 

She turns on her heel, and as a woman on a mission, she briskly walks to Wayne Enterprises. 

When she gets in, she hands the address to Bruce. 

"Your gimmick didn't work with everyone. Maybe the older ladies, but some of the younger ones had some envious or disturbing remarks to figuring it out." 

Dick shrugs "It happens. They'll secretly respect you though, even if they throw word daggers at you." 

Babs looks to Bruce and he nods. "It's important you get them on your side, before the men. A trusting community of women will hide you from anything bad coming." 

Babs nods, wondering how she'll get the obvious clique problem out of the way. She can't have you as an ally if she's around Penny and the girls, but if she allies with you, then she won't have the rest of the age group. 

It was a risky side taking, but one she'd have to do. 

In the end, she wasn't going to go out of her way to convince you on her side, she would just go for the majority of the people. 

"He's in acquaintances with Jonathan Crane, and the villain known as Bane. We'll have a lot to do, won't we Bruce?" 

Bruce nods. "I'll come up with a plan, keep writing his sermons down so we can try and decipher any of these messages." 

"Yes sir." 

Dearest Sister, 

Jack Napier is the new preacher, and we have a new girl in our church. Well, not new. Her name is Barbara Gordon, and she's the Sheriff's daughter. She looks like her father, and she had a perfume that was way too strong in the room of women I had to be in today. We had to make some baked foods for him, and his household.

I don't think she likes me. Penny Sickle got to her first, and now it looks like I kicked a newborn in the middle of a sermon! It vexes me to see how she just told the preacher himself we weren't friends. 

Really, I just can't fathom why not? I have a good reputation, and if she just got to know me, she knows Penny is a liar. 

Father is back to his entertaining phase, I was kicked out for 2 whole hours. I'm not a child anymore, people pay attention to me now when I'm by myself. 

I hope to become friends with her. I'm a little hesitant, after last time. You have a lot of girl friends, what's a regular friendship and what's not? 

Best wishes to you and your baby. 

Your people are floating? Don't be ridiculous. That would mean we're in the end times. And I don't want to think about that. 

Am I really that horrid when people first see me?

Yours, 

Reader