gotham l.p.

38 Perks

Gotham City, Payne Manor
Sunday Dec 27 7:40 a.m.

Caroline

My eyes opened slowly, as I woke the feeling came back in my hands and the couch was comfortable silk.

"Uh, morning.." Liam said standing above me.

"Oh god." I said, sitting up, covering the fact that I was wearing his clothes with the blanket Alfred must have put on me.

"Does your hair always look like that when you wake up?" He laughed as I tried to fix it with my hands, I gave up and started to french braid it.

"Trust me I wasn't planning on sleeping here. I must have fallen asleep."

"On my luxurious silk couch. Must have been so painful for you." He said sarcastically and winked and I rolled my eyes.

"Breakfast is almost ready. You like salmon?" He said, heading into the kitchen.

"Oh I have to get back to my apartment, tell Alfred thanks though."

He laughed. "You're gonna walk to the other side of the city?"

I remembered I didn't have a car. "Mind driving me?"

"I don't go anywhere before breakfast."

"Are you kidding me."

"Never."

"Does Alfred do everything for you?"

"You don't understand. He insists he does everything. He thinks he owes it to me because my parents- died." Well now I felt terrible.

"Sorry." I said quietly as Alfred came in holding crystal plates.

"I'll tell you about it one day." He said and insisted I sit down at his ebony table that was so perfect I wondered how you could possibly eat on it.

The food was delicious, salmon and cream cheese bagels. Mine was toasted sesame. Liam gave me a look like 'yea I remembered.'

When we were finished I took my plate and Liam's and he looked at me strange. Alfred smiled at him and I couldn't figure out why. I ran the water in the sink and washed the dishes with the probably best smelling soap ever.

"Thank you." Alfred said. I didn't see the big deal it was two dishes.

We walked outside onto the stoop, it was freezing. I pulled the sweatshirt so it covered my hands.

"Thank you. For staying. That was important."

"Your place is lovely. But Alfred wouldn't tell me why I had to stay."

"I can't tell you either. But if it happens again, you'll be back here. Promise?"

"Well I don't know. I can't just drop everything for a slumber party with Alfred if you won't tell me why."

He laughed, "Never call it a slumber party with Alfred again."

I laughed too.

"One thing before I drive you home."

"Okay."

"I need my clothes back." He raised a brow.

Was he serious? I scratched my shoulder probably blushed.

"I'm kidding gosh lighten up."

I was silent the whole ride home.

Caroline's Aptmt.
8:50 a.m.

Caroline

I spend a lot of time in  my apartment, being the loner I've become. That being understood I pretty much knew something was up when I walked in the door and put the freshly ironed clothes I wore the previous day on my granite table. Oh the perks of Liam's butler.

My things just felt out of place. My picture frames were slightly tilted, my floor seemed stepped on. Plus the fact that Liam wouldn't let me sleep here last night. This all seemed more than a coincidence.

I stepped carefully around my kitchen, and stopped for a moment.

There was something on the hard wood floor, I bent down to get a closer look and my stomach flipped like a rollercoaster.

They were tiny splatters of what must have been fresh blood.