UPTOWN GIRL, bruce wayne

funeral

***

TURNS OUT, Wiggins is passed out at his desk when Ivory reaches the police station. He was one of three officers still in the building, and he was the only one working her father's case. Instead of waking him, she peered at the papers on the table. There was nothing majorly new, she found out quickly. Scribbled handwriting revealed theories of locations and theories to why the Riddler wanted to speak with Ivory, and to why he hung up when she answered the phone.

Ivory wonders about that too, but she doesn't have the time to snoop any longer because Wiggins begins to stir. She takes a step back and casually glances around as he wakes. "Oh, hey. You should've called, I didn't know you were coming."

"Yeah, I didn't either," she shrugs. "Spur of the moment thing. I just wanted to see how the case is going. Where's everyone else?"

"We have a few leads," Wiggins tells her, scrubbing the sleep from his eyes. "They're out searching."

Ivory shifts on her feet suspiciously. Either Wiggins is lying to her, or he has no clue that the entire force is down at the Iceburg Lounge. "Get anything back?"

"Other than a few check in updates, there's been nothing. Practically radio silence. I've been here trying to figure out the phone call thing with you, but other than that one day the Riddler's shown no interest in you or your father. There's been nothing from him, either."

Ivory sighs. "I don't know if that makes me feel better or worse."

"I know," Wiggins cautiously reaches out and lays a comforting hand on her arm. "Do you need a ride back? It's the least I can do after offering you no updates at all."

She hesitates at first, but then nods. She honestly doesn't feel like walking all the way back, and getting in a taxi is always risky this late at night, especially with her social status. "Yeah, that'd be nice. Thanks."

The drive is mostly silent, but it's not awkward. Other than the occasional history fact from Wiggins, neither of them offer much conversation. Oddly enough, she kind of hates the quietness coming from the passenger seat. She's usually never in the front unless it's with Bruce, and when he's driving she talks his ear off. Staring out the window and not speaking is strange to her, but she's not too sure if she dislikes it just yet. It's kind of...nice, being able to sit in someone else's presence and not needing to talk.

"Do you want to grab a drink?"

"Sure," Ivory says, then adds, "but only one."

It always starts out like that, she supposes. Granted, Wiggins was drinking way less than she was because he was driving, and still technically on-duty, but she still had fun. She was giggling and tipsy by the time they got back to his vehicle.

"All right, in you go."

When he pulls to a stop outside of her apartment building a half hour later, Ivory smiles at him. "Thank you a lot."

He smiles back. "It's no problem."

"No, I mean for, like, everything. Not just tonight. Like looking for my dad and stuff."

"Yeah," he nods. "He means a lot to us. And to you, and that's important. Anyway," Wiggins clears his throat. "I hope you have a good rest of your night. I'll see you at the memorial tomorrow?"

It's probably inappropriate given the circumstance of what tomorrow actually is, but she can't help herself. "You'll pick me up?"

Wiggins perks a little at that. "Yeah! Yeah, sure. I'll see you then."

Her apartment is dark when she gets inside it, and she hates that she didn't at least leave a light on. Then, something in the corner moves, and she immediately grabs her pepper spray while flicking the closest switch on.