Dispel The Darkness

[lesliethompkins]

Hope for the best, expect the worst. It's one of the many valuable lessons Leslie has learned over the years. Taught by her father, reinforced by experience. She had hoped the bomb delivered maliciously to the clinic would not be an indication of things to come. Somehow she knew that wouldn't be the case.

A week later, there are three patients in residence. Black Mask has had his revenge. Leslie and a select few are left to pick up the pieces.

Comments

[femme-du-chat.livejournal.com]

For her part, Selina Kyle is still in a fuzzy place, where drugs are softening all of the edges for her. There is comfort in it and yet at the same time, she finds it hard to live here. Her world is a world of hard edges usually and having everything blunted is never really something she gets used to.

Still, she tried to go without it for awhile and it was a little too much for her when she tried to get out of bed.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_alfred_/]

"I think not," Alfred says coolly. He does not touch her, but his stern gaze has an almost palpable effect.

[lesliethompkins.livejournal.com]

Another familiar presence is not far away. Leslie is tending the IV.

[femme-du-chat.livejournal.com]

Oh. Alfred is here.

Why wouldn't he be here?

Selina smiles up at him. Hard to tell what effect she's going for there, exactly. There is something she should be remembering.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_alfred_/]

Alfred is not amused. "A charming smile, like flattery, will get you nowhere, Ms. Kyle. You are to rest. Is that clear?"

[femme-du-chat.livejournal.com]

Selina tries to answer and finds her throat unresponsive to her desires at first.

"'lfred... S'Bruce? 'olly?"

[lesliethompkins.livejournal.com]

Leslie offers her a genuine smile. "They're both going to be fine, dear. Don't you worry."

[http://users.livejournal.com/_alfred_/]

"As Dr. Thompkins said, you should rest," says Alfred firmly.

[femme-du-chat.livejournal.com]

"M'not goin' anywhere."

Selina looks completely pouty at this point and that's only partially because she wants to cry. "Where...?"

[laughing-mage.livejournal.com]

He'd felt the pain from her but he'd kept his promise to her instead of haring off to try and help her. Looked like her and the Prat were going to be okay. He'd just needed to see to make sure, but there was a lot of people here to fuss over them that most likely wouldn't appreciated John's presence so he stood to watch without saying anything.

[femme-du-chat.livejournal.com]

"Hey you."

There are a lot of people to fuss around but she does want to at least talk to him.

[laughing-mage.livejournal.com]

"She's safe." He took a step closer to her.

[femme-du-chat.livejournal.com]

Selina's bottom lip quivers for a moment but she holds it together.

"Thank you."

[laughing-mage.livejournal.com]

"No need t'thank me. It was payment remember?" He sighed and took another step closer.

"Did a number on you didnt' they?"

[femme-du-chat.livejournal.com]

"Yeah. I'm seriously messed up."

Selina chuckles softly, "And right now, your way is ...." She looks a litlte pale at the idea.

[laughing-mage.livejournal.com]

"They dead?" Because people putting a hurt like that on the people he cares about don't tend to get a lot of second chances.

[femme-du-chat.livejournal.com]

"He's not."

And no, she doesn't sound bitter about that at all. Except for the part where she does entirely. Selina carefully lifts a hand to reach out to him.

[lesliethompkins.livejournal.com]

The look on her face is one of perplexity as Leslie reenters the Clinic. An interesting mystery she leaves on the front steps. One she strangely believes she'll encounter again.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_alfred_/]

"Ah, Dr. Thompkins." Alfred, Thermos in one hand and coffee mug in the other, greets her with a small smile. "I imagine you would enjoy a hot caffeinated beverage, yes?"

[lesliethompkins.livejournal.com]

She's never met a cup of coffee she didn't like. A small smile rises to her face. "Thank you, dear. Your timing, as always, is impeccable."

[http://users.livejournal.com/_alfred_/]

"One does one's best," he says modestly, offering her the cup. "I trust Mr. Constantine was, erm, moderately civil?"

[lesliethompkins.livejournal.com]

She reaches out to accept. The warmth feels good in her hands after having been outside. "He was," she admits, taking a sip. "After a fashion."

[http://users.livejournal.com/_alfred_/]

"Ah. Very good. I would be displeased if I had to make room in my calendar to give the man a verbal thrashing."

[lesliethompkins.livejournal.com]

She chuckles. "I have the distinct impression that neither manners nor reputation are of much importance to our recent guest."

[http://users.livejournal.com/_alfred_/]

"Manners, no. Reputation, however...." He casts a pious glance skyward. "I would say that Mr. Constantine simply has a more elastic approach to his reputation than the average man."