Ablaze: Told Twice Book 2

The Girl Who Received An Offer

A/N: Alfred is based on Earth One Alfred.

Flash offered to take her back to Metropolis since Superman was taking the Royal Flush gang to the police. Sakura declined his offer and noticed the sly look in his eye right before he said, "I'm sure Cyborg would take you if you asked him nicely."

Sakura punched him in the arm not caring that she had just healed him recently. "I'm perfectly capable of getting myself home. Thank you very much."

Green Lantern wiggled his brows, "But company's always nice, right?"

Sakura turned to him to give him the same treatment as Flash, but he flew up into the air and out of her range. Her lips reluctantly quirked before she said her goodbyes and disappeared in a swirl of leaves.

She didn't go home to Metropolis, though. Instead, she went to Gotham.

When she knocked on the door, Alfred didn't look surprised to see her. He waved her inside, and Sakura entered quickly.

"I just finished bandaging him up."

Alfred walked ahead of her leaning heavily on his cane. She wondered if today was one of his bad days. She hoped it wasn't because that would make Bruce even more of a dick than he had been recently.

"How bad is he?"

"About as surly as usual, I guess."

Sakura laughed. "I meant his injuries."

"He'll live. I just wish—" Alfred shook his head and pointed to the room Bruce was inside. "Don't take advantage of him in his fragile state."

"Is that even possible?"

Alfred was walking away, but even then she heard his softly worded, "Yes."

:::

He was sitting on his bed. His torso was bare and wrapped in bandages. He didn't look good, and Sakura hesitated in the doorway but when he raised his head and locked eyes with hers she feared the time for being timid had passed.

Sakura briskly stepped forward before moving to kneel in front of Bruce tilting her head up to catch his gaze once more. "What have I done to offend you?"

"Why are you here Sakura?"

Sakura's lips twitched. "To ask you a question. You think you're going to answer it anytime soon?" Bruce remained silent. "If you don't trust me anymore—"

"You think a lot of yourself."

Sakura's lips parted slightly. "What?"

"What makes you think this is about you?" She was reminded of a song that she heard Clark play frequently and it stung.

Sakura pursed her lips slightly before rising to her feet. "Fine. If that's how you want to play it." She changed the subject to something she knew they wouldn't immediately argue about. She didn't want him storming off or straining himself in some way but not telling her about it.

"I've been doing what you asked, looking into new members for the League. I've spoken with Black Canary."

The hostility on Bruce's face smoothed out slightly. "What did she say?"

"You mean after she knocked me off the top of a building with her cry?" She had fallen and probably would have killed herself if she hadn't managed to grab hold of the metal of a fire escape on her way down.

"Are you al—" Bruce abruptly cut himself off, and Sakura let out an irritated grunt.

"When did we get to the point where we weren't supposed to care about each other Bruce? You've been different this past couple of months, and I don't understand why. Don't you think we should talk about this?"

"There is nothing to talk about Sakura. Why don't you go home and worry about someone else?"

She wanted to smack him, to punch him in the face, but he was already injured, and even if he wasn't she didn't think she'd be able to do it. Sakura sighed.

"You are the most exasperating man I've ever met—and believe me I know quite a few of them." Sakura saw his lips quirk and for some reason, she softened. "I don't like seeing you hurt Bruce. Not when I can do something about it—let me finish Bruce." Sakura interjected when she saw him about to argue. "But it's your body, and I'm going to respect that. But don't sit there and tell me that it should be an easy thing for me to do because it's not."

Slowly Sakura rose to her feet and took a step back. "Do you want me to leave?"

Bruce didn't reply. Instead, he stood up and walked out of the bedroom. Sakura debated whether or not to leave. He hadn't explicitly told her to go, but he hadn't told her to stay either. In the end, Sakura just shrugged. If he wanted her to go, he'd have to say it.

He didn't.

:::

The next morning she missed seeing Clark off in the morning because she overslept. She had stayed in the cave with Batman going over clues to see if they could figure out where the Royal Flush gang had gotten their tech. They hadn't come up with anything. Sakura yawned and rubbed her eyes padding softly to the kitchen to grab a cup of tea.

She nearly tripped and fell when she saw Bruce seated in a chair in the living room as she passed by.

"Bruce?" She inquired awkwardly. He turned and looked at her over his shoulder but didn't reply. Sakura slowly approached him. She sat down across from him trying to figure out what happened the previous night to warrant such a visit.

Because Bruce did not visit her. Ever. Not anymore.

"Come stay with me."

Sakura didn't precisely understand his words. "What's going on? Is there a case?"

"No. I want you to pack your bags and come live with me."

Sakura's heart started hammering in her chest. "Bruce, just yesterday I was certain you didn't want me around. Now you're asking me to come live with you. I think you're throwing a lot of mixed signals."

"I could say the same to you, Sakura." Sakura blinked not understanding but before she could reply Bruce rose to his feet. "Think about it Sakura. I'm willing to wait for your answer."