Just Breathe: A batsis story

12 - Tick Tock Part 1

Chapter 12: Tick Tock Part 1

Five hours. That is how long it took for Alyna to lose everything. Her secrets, friends, family...

T-Minus Five Hours, till Maggie died.

4:59...58...57...56...

Alyna's hair was a mess, clothes littered every surface in her room and she could not find her other shoe for her life.

"What on earth are you doing?" Maggie laughed at the sight in front of her. Alyna sprawled out on her bedroom floor, defeated by the age-old dilemma.

"I have nothing to wear!" Alyna whined with a sniffle not even bothering to lift her head to see Maggie as she spoke to her.

"You're just going to the Wayne manor to work on your project, right?" Maggie questioned the teen. "Just wear jeans and that white top you have, the one with the red flowers,"

"Mag-" Alyna started before realizing that was in fact the perfect thing to wear. "Maggie you genius!"

Alyna sat up, almost hitting her head on her desk chair before rushing over to her closet and sprinting into the bathroom to get changed. Normally she wouldn't have cared what she wore or looked like, but she couldn't help but be nervous. The Waynes were after her, well technically their alter egos were, and so was Xenon. Fortunately only one of the groups knew what her face looked like, the other knew only what she wanted them to. After making herself look more put together than she felt Alyna grabbed her backpack and ran downstairs. Almost missing the last step and falling flat on her face.

"I'll be back in a bit Maggie!" Alyna said as she rounded the corner of the counter and with a wave walked out the door and towards the metro.

4:35...34...33...32...

The walk to Wayne Manor wasn't too far, but with how cold it was today, Alyna couldn't stand the thought. Shed rather ride the metro to cut an extra ten minutes out of her walk. Her train arrived right as she did and had Maggie not helped her pick an outfit she no doubt would have missed it.

"Alyna!" Jason shouted with a wave as he saw her get off the train. He had offered to meet her at the station since she didn't know where he lived. Or at least he hoped she didn't. Tim somehow managed to weasel his way into coming as well, although Jason would have just let him come if he asked. These past few days Tim just hasn't been himself, ever since Vestige saved him, since it was revealed their identities were no longer secure.

"Hey guys!" Alyna smiled. She wasn't all that surprised to see Tim there too, but one look at the kid and she could tell something was off. She hoped it didn't have anything to do with the other night. "I'm surprised Bruce let you leave, being grounded and all,"

"Shut up..." Jason said half-heartedly as Tim started laughing.

"H-he...oh god, he was only allowed to come get you 'cause I offered to supervise him!" Tim cheered but the happiness never reached his eyes. Alyna laughed along with Tim practically the whole way to the manor.

0:40...39...38...

"Finally!" Jason shouted as he and Alyna finally finished their project. "That was hell, no that was worse than hell. It was hell 2.0!"

"Oh come on it wasn't that bad," Alyna laughed while packing up her things. She had an unsettling feeling she was being watched. Which wouldn't be all that surprising where she was. 

"Not for you, you're smart. Too smart..." Jason grumbled from his bed which he was dramatically sprawled out on.

"Ready?" Alyna asked with a laugh at his childish behavior. Despite being grounded Jason was going to walk Alyna back to the metro station, this time without his brother who disappeared once they arrived at the manor.

"Yeah, if you're sure you don't want to stay for dinner," Jason started. Although he would never admit it he liked having Alyna around. He felt comfortable around her like he did with his brothers. "Alfred makes a mean peach cobbler..."

"Can't be better than Maggie's I'm afraid..." She jested, fully unaware that the cobblers were one and the same. Back when Maggie was younger Alfred would often watch her and Bruce when their parents were in meetings together. Baking was a good way to keep them both occupied, albeit Bruce was more interested in licking the bowl than anything else. Peach Cobbler was the last thing they baked together before her parents passed. The recipe became ingrained in Maggie's mind, and she made it quite frequently just to remember how happy she was then.

"Don't let Alfred hear that, he might banish you from the grounds," Jason joked back.

"Hear what? Mr. Jason?" Alfred questioned with a raised brow.

"Good god Alfred!" Jason shouted. He clutched his heart dramatically, "I could have died,"

0:15...14...13...

"Woe is I," Had Alfred not said that with such a stoic expression one might have thought he was joking around. "Ms. Atanol, it appears it has started snowing. The trains have stopped running, but I'd be more than happy to drive you home,"

"Thank you. I'd actually really appreciate that. I hate walking through the snow," Alyna smiled gratefully. Alfred turned to the side ushering her with his hand towards the foyer. "Bye Jason, see you Monday,"

"Peace!" Jason loudly said not bothering to get up off his bed or take his eyes off his phone. Making Alyna laugh lightly. Damian was waiting by the front door, the tapping of his foot giving away his impatience.

"There you are, tardy just like my brothers," he started once she was halfway down the staircase. "I want to have another match with you on Monday,"

Last week before Alyna got sick she had bested Damian during fencing club, something that had never happened to him before.

"Sure thing, you'll make it more interesting this time though right?" Alyna teased as she ruffled his hair.

"Oh, it'll be more interesting alright..." Damian darkly stated before sassily flipping his hair back into place, turning, and walking away. 'I wonder if this is what it's like to have siblings?' Alyna thought with a heavy heart. 

The ride back to the cafe was a quiet one; the only sound came from the radio or when Alfred grumbled as someone cut him off. The usually calm and collected butler had a bit of road rage and although he did his best to hide it after he said the third swear word under his breath Alyna started laughing.

"Sorry, I'm just surprised with all the trouble the boys get themselves into bad drivers is what sets you off,"

"I suppose it is a bit humorous, yes," Alfred gave Alyna a small smile which quickly was wiped off his face as he pulled onto her street. "Oh no..."

"W-what?" Alyna stuttered as her eyes widened in shock, her voice wavering and barely above a whisper, "Maggie?"

0:03...

0:02...

0:01...