Sparks | (nolanverse AU)

SEVEN - POISONED

I trudged into the office, feeling every ounce of exhaustion from a morning spent trying to get my sleepy five-year-old, Helena, ready for school. I could barely keep my eyes open as I shuffled into the break room. There, Emma, my friend from IT, was perched on a stool, sipping her coffee with that knowing smile she always had when she had some juicy tidbit to share.

"Morning, Emma," I mumbled, sliding into the seat opposite her. "You wouldn't believe the morning I've had. Helena was snoring away with her magic tree house book at the foot of her bed. I had to practically wrestle her out of bed and get her ready for school. It's one of those days."

Emma raised an eyebrow sympathetically. "Sounds exhausting. But I think I've got something that might cheer you up."

My curiosity was piqued. "Oh? What's that?"

Emma leaned in slightly, her voice taking on a hint of mystery. "You know the masked vigilante? He's finally got a name, with how he rounded up Falcone. The papers are calling him 'the Batman.'"

My head snapped up, and my fatigue was momentarily forgotten. "Batman?"

Emma nodded, clearly pleased to see the spark of life return to me. "Yep. It's been all over the news. Apparently, the name just stuck."

My eyes lit up with intrigue and delight. "That is... that could work. It's both suitably ambiguous and more than a little intimidating."

Emma's grin widened. "And with that, ladies and gentlemen, she's back."

I chuckled, feeling my mood lift noticeably. "I mean, 'Batman' has such a dramatic flair to it. It's perfect. It gives him that dark, mysterious edge while still being compelling. It's exactly the kind of name that fits his whole vibe."

Emma took another sip of her coffee, clearly satisfied with my reaction. "I thought you'd appreciate it. It's got that whole noir superhero feel, don't you think?"

I nodded enthusiastically. "Absolutely. It's poetic in a way. The name adds a whole new dimension to the story. I can already imagine how it's going to evolve in the media. People are going to love it."

Emma raised an eyebrow, her curiosity piqued. "So, how's Helena going to react to this? I remember you said she's been really into superheroes lately."

I laughed. "Oh, she'll probably get a kick out of it. She's been obsessed with superheroes, so having a real-life one with such a cool name might just make her day."

Emma grinned. "Maybe you should get her a Batman cape or something. Start her early on being a superhero fan."

My eyes twinkled with amusement. "That's a great idea. I might just do that. It's fun to think about how excited she'll be."

As the break room clock ticked on, we continued chatting about the latest news. My spirits had lifted significantly, and the energy of the conversation provided a much-needed boost. Emma's timely tidbit about the vigilante's new name had managed to turn my morning around.

"Well," I said with a renewed sense of enthusiasm, "I guess it's time to get back to work. I'll see you around, Em."

Emma waved me off with a smile. As I headed back to my desk in Archives, I felt lighter and more optimistic. The whimsical twist of the vigilante's new name had provided a delightful distraction and a reminder of the joy found in small surprises amidst life's routine challenges. That day, however, I didn't see Bruce making his way to Applied Sciences. Taking down Falcone was no ordinary task, and it seemed like Bruce had his hands full with matters beyond the ordinary office routine.

After work, I picked up Helena and we headed to Wayne Manor. The thought of Bruce's secretive activities and his role in taking down Falcone had me concerned. Despite the excitement of the news earlier, a nagging worry about Bruce's safety lingered in the back of my mind.