Fish and Bits

Helped Arrived (pt.2)

A/n- This story is going to be shorter than I planned originally. But if things change then maybe after the ending I'll add on bonus chapters.

     Hunched over in the chair of the batcave, Bruce Wayne sat facing Finny the fish. His elbows were propped up on his thighs, and his interlocked fingers supported his chin as he regarded the fish with a patient curiosity. Every minute or two, he would check his watch impatiently, contrasting the otherwise controlled appearance of his demeanour. Open on his lap was the letter that had been delivered along with the fish. It had since been flattened, torn, and cut up along the corners from being subjected to several tests, guaranteeing that it was in no way harmful. Having passed those tests, the letter was now being displayed openly in anticipation of Barbara arriving so it could be shown to her for explanation.

     After a gruelling hour and a half of waiting, the entrance to the batcave finally opened to reveal a haggard, dishevelled looking Barbara. Almost tripping over herself in her haste to reach Bruce, she sprinted down the stairs and came to a stop before the tank and a very impatient Bruce. Gasping for breath, she leaned against the counter for support, placing her hand over her chest subconsciously to try and slow her rapidly heaving diaphragm. "I'm sorry I'm late-! I was so preoccupied with reading that I just lost track of time! And Dad needed some help with his tie and his hair! I swear, he'll never admit it but he'd be so lost without me." She tucked a few loose strands of hair behind her ear and out of her face.

     "I hadn't realized you were so busy. If I had known, I would have just called in Dick," Sitting up straight, he removed the letter from his lap and transferred it to the counter in front of her. "This was dropped off on the steps of Wayne Manor. Along with that fish infected with the Joker toxin. I was hoping that you could provide some insight into dealing with the issue at hand." He watched her reaction with calculating eyes, trying to read her expression as she read the note.

     "Well, I don't see anything you could do, besides the obvious.." She shrugged her shoulders, baffled. "Maybe it would just be best if you indulged him for this once. And before you say anything, I know it sounds crazy, but it would just be provoking him if we deliberately went against what he said! Besides, when he comes to collect-" She glanced at the letter again, then looked back up at Bruce, "-Finny then we can track him to his hideout! It's just a few hours of babysitting, Bruce."

     He frowned, disapproving of giving in to the demands of a lunatic like the Joker. But, after a moment's consideration, he reluctantly came to the same conclusion as Barbara; he would just have to endure the inevitable for a few more hours. Sighing, he stood up wearily from the chair and walked over to the fish, which was sleeping within its cave.

     "Bruce! You haven't even fed it! And you've had it for hours! Have you ever had a pet fish before? Where's Alfred? Tell him to get some fish food!" She held her arms out to the side, looking incredulous.

     "I'll handle it, you leave Alfred alone, he's taking a well deserved break." He made his way up the stairs to retrieve the fish food, leaving Finny in the care of Barbara. Reaching the top step, the old grandfather clock slid shut behind him.

     Folding her arms over her chest, Barbara turned on Finny, looking furious, "I hope you don't expect any good treatment from me. I don't want you here, and I think you're horrible just to look at." She puffed out her lower lip, "So don't get any ideas. I hate you. You're distracting Bruce from the time I had set aside to work with him on a case."

     Finny, who had just emerged from his cave, stopped dead and stared at her. His mouth was agape slightly and a solitary bubble slipped out. Then, in a spontaneous movement, he leapt from the tank and launched himself at her. His body made contact with her nose and cheek, and a string of noises followed; gasp, slap, screech, thud. 

     As she staggered back, Finny flopped around desperately on the floor of the cave. His gasping breaths sounding like distorted laughter. The repeated thudding of his small body on the ground echoing loudly around the spacious room.

     "What happened here? I was gone for five minutes!" Bruce hurried over, tossing the fish food onto the counter as he scooped the fish up and off the ground then into the tank. Inside the water, Finny squirmed in comfort then darted into his cave. "Did he jump out at you? It looks like water's been splashed everywhere." Grabbing the napkin that Alfred had left with the, now cold, lunch for Bruce, he mopped up the spilled water.

     "Yes, right into my face! He did it on purpose, the little stinker!" She stomped her foot on the ground and glared accusingly towards the tank, "I can't stand him, I'll be happy to see him go. No wonder that clown loves it so much." She sneered, almost spitting the words out as if they tasted sour.

     "Well, all I really needed was your input, and of course I was still wondering if you'd help me with this suspicious disappearance too..." He straightened up, folding the dripping napkin into a ball and setting it down beside the spoiled food. He watched her with controlled anticipation, already knowing the answer when he asked. 

     "Hm. Anything to pass the time. But I refuse to feed the fish, or sit near it. It's a horrible little monster and his owner is even worse. We should've just dumped it on the sidewalk for the strays to eat when we had the chance." She stormed over to the other side of the counter, angrily throwing her hair over her shoulder to get it out of her face. Her expression was dark and irritable, yet most of it seemed to disappear as she turned her attention to focus on the case at hand. Within seconds the bad mood that had been brought on by the unexpected visitor vanished as the excitement and adrenaline from a problem to solve kicked in.

     Sprinkling the flakes of food onto the surface of the water, Bruce observed as the fish eagerly swum to the surface and ate the meal provided. Retreating into his thoughts, the droning of Barbara's voice took backseat and became a low buzz. He gazed almost softly at the small animal, wondering if it was the experience of owning pets that brought people together. The joy in having the responsibility completely dependant on you that was one of the universal emotions one could use to relate to strangers. Pets and... He paused, Pets and laughter. 

     He was jolted from his thoughts by a pair of neatly manicured fingers snapping in front of his face. "Bruce? Earth to Bruuuuce!" Barbara's face was inches from his, her wide eyes staring energetically into his, "The case! We're running out of time, you know." She took a step back, taking him in with her eyes before turning on her heel and marching to the batcomputer, "Come on! I've had a boring day at the library and this will make it so much better."

     A smile played on his lips as he followed behind her, turning his back on the tank and fish. He would deal with the fish in due time, but right now he had to work on a case with Batgirl, a case which involved a martian, a glass factory, a pet store, and several gallons of stolen nail polish remover. 

     Pressing his face up to the glass, Finny watched their work carefully. And he smiled, because he knew everything, and they suspected nothing.