Over by the table, Naruto tugged a chair free and settled into it. "Hi there, Barbara," he said, a quiet smile finding its way through his words.
The former Batgirl returned his smile and greeted him back. "Hello Naruto. It's nice to see you too. It's strange, I think this is the first time we've actually met for something not work related."
"Yeah I think it is. I've just never had the opportunity to talk to you really." He confessed. "But we're here now and I have about twenty minutes before I have to start my patrols. So how's your week been?" He asked, taking a sip of his drink.
What stood out most was how clearly Barbara described those recent moments, relieved that now there was someone other than her close friends hearing them. Her pals would back her without question - always - unless job matters came up, which made this fresh viewpoint feel different somehow.
Still quiet, Naruto stayed focused on her words, gaze locked without breaking away. Time slipped - what seemed a short while stretched twice as long before either noticed. His work period loomed suddenly, cutting the moment short. With no clue if later would come, he leaned forward, choosing that second to begin.
"Hey Barbara." The words came just as she slipped her phone into her bag. A pause followed before he said thank you for the drink
She smiled at him and shook her head, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "You're welcome. Well, I have to get going too, I have a few errands I need to run."
"Before you go." She looked up at him with a questioning look. "Would you like to go out this weekend?" He asked, catching her slightly off guard. "There's a new exhibit at the museum a few streets down if you'd like to go."
After a moment of silence, her lips moved without sound, struggling to form words. Then, slowly, she managed to speak. "Yes, sure, that works. Send me what you've got." She paused, looking away briefly. Her hands settled at her sides, tension easing just slightly
Sure, I will message later. Holding the door, he stepped back so she could pass easily before walking away, out of sight. Her cheeks warmed slowly once he was gone. She focused hard on keeping steady, surprised by how quickly her breath caught when he asked something so unexpected.
A grin tugged at her lips as she moved off, not seeing the hidden shape perched above on the rooftop - Naruto lingered there, still as shadow.
"I know she hurt Night Boy badly but this is gonna kill me inside just a bit." He thought before actually leaving to get to work.
That evening, following a quiet shift, he lay still on his mattress, fingers tapping out a message to Barbara - details shared, plans set. Five days off, the gallery show would stay open long enough. She answered back, familiar with the spot, confirmed she'd come. A slow shake of his skull, then down onto the cushion beneath, eyes fixed somewhere past the paint above.
This whole thing went wrong on so many levels. Barbara got caught up because she betrayed them, while Batman faced consequences for his role too. Night Boy set the entire complicated scheme into motion. He took part directly, which made it worse. Even so, two million dollars is an enormous amount of cash.
Fate swings both ways, sometimes. That idea crossed his mind. His fingers lifted the phone, then sent a message to Night Boy - details about where things stood now. Even if it seemed wrong to him, loyalty stayed; he had made a promise after all.
He gave a nod, saying stay on track - plus make sure to say something once you've found Cat Girl. Then came a snag: convincing her to even consider being close seemed unclear. They'd crossed paths just a few times, so seeing one another felt more luck than plan.
Into bed he climbed, thoughts set aside till daylight arrived. The phone found its spot on the table before darkness filled the room. Sleep came soon after the switch clicked down.
A sudden moment passed, then the day arrived. Outside the museum entrance he waited, wearing everyday clothing - black jeans, Nike shoes, a dark blue short-sleeve button-up. His eyes moved to the phone in hand; the time showed several minutes beyond when they were supposed to meet.
"I can see why Night Boy and her were together. They both like to keep people waiting." He thought to himself slightly irritated.
Out of breath, he caught her voice near his shoulder. A small delay back there, she said, shifting close. Her bike wheeled into place by his, then came that soft look meant to smooth things over.
It's fine. Not much time passed since I arrived. Time to head in now. That's what came out of his mouth while moving slow toward the entrance. Research had happened earlier - searching how dating someone who uses a wheelchair works - with one rule standing clear: never offer to push without being asked first
In through the door she came, followed by quiet steps beside her. Around corners they wandered, stopping now and then at strange shapes on walls. One piece sparked a comment about color choices - then another led to guesses about late nights in some studio. Thoughts bounced between them like stones skipping across water. Laughter showed up once or twice without warning. By the end, neither felt rushed nor tired, just full of small moments that stuck
Over by the snack counter, on some chairs near the wall, Barbara spoke up. Naruto was there too, sitting across from her. She said his name first. Then came the question - something she wanted to know. Her voice cut through the quiet hum around them
"Sure."
"What made you decide to ask me out today?" She asked.
"Night Boy hasn't gotten over what you did to him so he hired me to help him." He thought instantly. He couldn't say that though. "Well, during the time we were chatting I thought you were funny, clearly smart, and driven from what you've told me about yourself. There were times I found myself grinning like an idiot at my phone while reading a message and thought, 'I wonder if she's like this in person too' and decided to find out." He responded.