CHAPTER V — connections

KIRAN STARES AT THE TARP WITH GRACIE'S ART ON IT, COFFEE IN ON HAND, PHONE HELD TO HER EAR IN THE OTHER. Asher was talking about his day yesterday and Kiran could hear the exhaustion in his voice as he ranted about some of the idiot people at his job. She let him rant, knowing he needed it. Despite the fact that he basically ran the company their parents had left behind, as well as inheriting all the stocks they had in several companies. They had wanted Kiran to have nothing to do with it, to which she was grateful for now. If she had inherited any of it, the money would have been spent on things that would have furthered her spiral.

And, as much as Asher didn't want to be the public face of a company, he was good at managing everything their parents had left. Plus, he had a figurehead that was a stand in for him at events and such that acted like he was the CEO.

"Did you fire him?" Kiran asked, after Asher had stopped his story about one of his workers doing his job so terribly that everyone on his floor had called HR. It's not something that Asher even entertains the thought of it with really problematic employees. Kiran wants to be in the room when Asher takes such people into his office and reveals that he is, in fact, higher on the business food chain than just a guy who is usually tired and is hopped up on five cups of coffee by eight a.m.

"I had Cecil give him a warning," Asher sighed, and Kiran could very clearly picture her brother pinching the bridge of his nose. She knew he stressed about the affairs of the company nine times out of ten and wants to keep everyone in a safe and easy work environment, and she also knows he has done that, but he also probably gives people way too many chances. Probably because he has someone like her as a sister. "But enough about that, what was your Friday like?" In a smaller voice, "Did you try going to the bar?"

Kiran snorted, taking a sip of her coffee, "No, Clark and I went to this cool high-tech gym he has a membership to. I'm sure Lily and Lois will fill me in on any work related drama that happened at the weekly bar visit if I ask." She's avoiding the real reason he asked the question, turning away from Gracie's art. It's gorgeous, with a blend of colours that didn't make everything look flat. If Kiran had more of an eye for that kind of detail, she's sure she could explain something about planes and dimension and other things. But, she had no art critiquing experience, so all she could say as that it as fucking fantastic.

Gracie had taken her idea and ran with it. The blue of the tarp had been completely splashed in colours, with Wonder Women tastefully carrying a swooning Batman in her arms, Batman's cape trailing over muscled arms and flowing backwards. Kiran is sure there is art like this everywhere in the forums and all over the internet, but something about it being from Gracie just makes this one so much better. It's personalized and cute and Kiran wishes she could keep it on her wall for all of eternity.

"Are we still on for Sunday brunch?" Asher asks, and Kiran feels herself scoff.

"Is the sky blue?" Sarcasm is probably unbecoming of her, but Asher shouldn't ask stupid questions this early on a Saturday morning. "Is the grass green? Is Bruce Wayne hot but also a perfect example of capitalism?"

Asher was laughing. "You know, you trying to pretend you hate Bruce Wayne is funny to me. You used to hang his magazine covers on your bedroom wall and kiss them with lip gloss on."

Kiran shrieks, a pterodactyl-like sound that she hopes made Asher cringe and take the phone away from his ear. "Shut up! I was like- eight! I can't be held accountable, dipshit." She thought for a moment, then found herself chuckling evilly. "I have an interview with him this coming week."

Almost immediately, Asher said, "Kiran, no."

"But, Asher," Kiran whined, a slightly exaggerated pout coming onto her lips, even though she knew Asher couldn't see her. It was the formality of the act and she knew Asher could picture her right now, as she is. "Imagine what this could mean for my pride! For my self-care! It's clearly important, my therapist would say so, if I had one!"

"Kiran, as someone that cares for you very much, from the bottom of my heart, please, no," Asher said, seriously. Kiran couldn't help the sneaking smirk on her face. She wondered if it would stress him out, hearing about what could happen in an interview with Bruce Wayne. One of the things she was going to do a deep dive Google search on was failed interviews or reporters that have connections with the heir. However, Kiran didn't want to add more stress to her brother's already heavy shoulders.

"I'm kidding, Asher," she said softly, glancing at her stove and the time that it was displaying. Kiran had to be changed in a little for her second training session with Batman, this time to show off her powers. Which was slightly nerve-wracking considering the only thing she can do is glow really brightly and then instinctively shoot a burst of light out of her fist. And she hadn't even meant to do that. "But, I have to go. Clark made early plans with me. He used my exhaustion yesterday to trick me into something that I can't remember."

It was a white lie, but after everything, Asher trusts Clark to take care of Kiran, so he wouldn't be worried.

"I hate you," Asher said, tiredly, decisively, sighing a long breath that had Kiran wanting to distract him with movies like she used to when they were teenagers and she wasn't being stupid. "Have fun with Clark, don't let him work you too hard."

"Bye, Asher. See you tomorrow." And, in a smaller voice, "Love you."

"Love you too, twerp," and then there was a click on the other end, and Kiran is sure Asher is leaning back in his seat at his expensive dining table, running a hand down his face, trying not to worry about her. She tried not to think about sneaking back into the house at some absurd hour and instead of being greeted with either of her parents, it was Asher who was sitting up at the table. Kiran's honestly not sure why Asher doesn't hate her guts, but she doesn't like to self-sabotage anymore (or, not as much, not about Asher), so she shakes the thoughts from her head, downs the rest of her coffee, and then moves to get dressed in her room.

Clark is on time this morning, looking way too happy for the early hour. He has one of the domino masks for Kiran and he holds it out for her. She puts it in her purse, readying herself to wear it as they walk to the device that transports them to the Watch Tower. It's still so awe-inducing, stepping through the device and being immediately in the main room of the Tower. Batman is there already, facing the super computer, but Kiran can see the way his body language changed slightly when the two of them had stepped inside. Clark walks forward, that bright, farmboy smile on his face and Kiran watches in fascination as Batman greets him civilly, if not a little fondly. The only reason Kiran even picks up on it is because she's spent years trying to ignore people's body language so as to not read too much into it. She watches the two of them exchange words as she makes sure the mask is securely on her face (she knows it is, the adhesive had survived her sweat yesterday, so she's sure it'll be okay).

She walks forward, a small bounce in her step, and Clark is stepping back and taking her bag to put it away so she can speak to Batman. It's early, but Kiran has a sneaking suspicion that Batman hasn't even been to sleep yet. And that's mostly just from the fact that she knows he's as nocturnal as his namesake.

"You wanted to see me this morning, Boss," Kiran said, as the portal opened, and she was blinking as Green Lantern entered, walking in the direction Clark had disappeared, talking into his ring. Batman humphed in the back of his throat, low and beautiful, at the sight of the verdant hero.

"I told you not to call me that," he spoke, then turned on his heel and started walking towards where Kiran knew the training room was. She had to speed walk a little to keep up with him, trying not to step on his billowing cloak and still staring around at the Watch Tower and how amazing the design and architecture was in it. Not that Kiran knew anything about that, she just thought everything looked so cool.

They went to the same room they had been in last night. The design hadn't changed much, it was just a metal-looking room that had some matts on the floor to soften the falls when people were training together. Kiran is sure there is some technology for Wonder Woman and Clark to use, or for the Green Lantern to make constructs during, or hell, even just for Green Arrow to practice shooting arrows at.

"Superman told me the things he knows about your powers," Batman said once he stopped in the middle of the room. Kiran wondered if he did the small flourish of his cloak on purpose or if it was just a habit now. "Tell me everything you know."

Kiran shifted on her feet, alternating the weight of them, as she recounted the story the best she could without giving away who she could possibly be. There were only a few Metropolis journalists that would willingly sneak into a LexCorp warehouse to dig up a story there. And, despite the fact that Kiran Howell was proud of the name she made for herself in the business, it was almost a nuisance now that she was going to need an alter ego.

Batman listened to everything with a straight mouth. There was no twitch of the lip today when Kiran tried to make a joke. He must have been tired, or actually a dick. Kiran wasn't sure which one she wanted more in this moment, as she finished telling her recount of the ship blowing up and that was really all she remembered until Superman found her and she was glowing and freaking out. (She didn't tell him that it was at her apartment and that she now knew Superman's identity. Or about the huge hole in her wall.)

"Show me," Batman said gruffly. Kiran looked at him for a second, then made herself glow. It was really the only thing she could do at will. The headache she had gotten from learning how to do it had been a bitch, but Kiran was proud of herself for being able to do it on command. It was such a weird thing to think about, controlling these powers she got from being caught in an explosion. Kiran felt like an old dog trying to learn new tricks, unlike Clark who has probably known how to use his laser vision since he was a prepubescent.

"And the blast."

Kiran tried really hard to do it. She punched the air, embarrassingly, tried to fire off one of those light beams but to no avail. Batman watched with those whitened out lenses, though Kiran knew that his eyes were always on her. She tried not to shrink under the attention and she definitely tried to ignore the craving that popped up from being watched this closely. When she stopped, embarrassed, she turned to Batman and said, "I can't do it."

Batman took a second to think. Then, suddenly, he dived towards Kiran. The girl only had a second to dodge him, barely getting out of the way, before he was swinging at her. And, just like that, they were sparring again. Well, it was more like cat and mouse, as Kiran dodged punches, kicks, and tackles and rushing away as Batman ran after her.

"Why?" Kiran screeched, when Batman had almost slammed his fist into the side of her if she hadn't ducked and kicked him in the gut to push him away. She was okay at fighting, maybe not against someone like Batman, but Kiran could hold her own in a fight. Still, she knows the fear that Gotham thugs now have as Batman shrugs off the kick and starts closing the small amount of distance that Kiran had created.

"Recreating the feelings of the scenario," Batman said matter of factly, and Kiran had to dodge another fist, this time aimed at her chest.

It was odd, after a while, it became kind of fun. She started making a game of it, seeing how close she could get to Batman before having to pull away or get her shit rocked. Batman had probably caught onto what she was doing, and he stepped up his game. Kiran pulled out all of her stops, rushing under his arms, using her full weight to shove him away, and actually laughing when she pulled the cape to try and get him unstable. The feelings of panic from seeing Superman at her window were definitely not being recreated, but Kiran was having a little bit of fun.

It turned into actual sparring after that. Batman and her going head to head, like they had yesterday, but Kiran was getting used to fighting in her own ways and was trying to read Batman as well as she could. He was holding back, even if he was still mean. Kiran was definitely going to have bruises covering her body, but seeing Batman's head snap back from a well placed punch to his nose was satisfactory for all the pain.

Kiran hated to admit it, but Batman was pretty cool, despite her initial changed thoughts. But, however, Kiran had to go and embarrass herself even more. She's not sure how it happened, but one second she's kicking at Batman's cheek, the next she was on her stomach on the mat, hip aching, Batman's thick thighs pinning her legs and his hand pressing her front into the ground. And she couldn't help the pathetic whine that escaped her, sounding too sexual for what had just happened.

Both of them tensed. Kiran could feel Batman's hand tense on her back, his thighs rock hard where she was laying beneath them. Listen, Batman, with his fucking muscle and stoic-ness was hot, even if Kiran didn't want to admit she thought that. But she had wanted to keep this professional and had known that he had no interest in anything. But, moaning into a mat when he pinned her? Kiran was going to die of embarrassment.

She started panicking, bucking to get herself out from under him. He held tight, maybe out of habit, maybe cause he had some sick sense of victory, but Kiran wanted out only so that she could run to Clark and tell him she was never doing this again for her pride. She started to feel herself getting hotter, almost suffocatingly so, and the next thing she knows, Batman is off of her in a flash of burning bright yellow light.

Kiran sat up, surprised. She was sizzling, her skin smoking a little bit, and she was confused as she looked down at her bare skin... bare skin...

Kiran curled over her body, hiding herself from where Batman had been getting up from where she had knocked him prone with her blast. She was hiding her face from him, letting her hair fall like a curtain, and she's officially two for two with flashing heroes.

"Can you grab Superman?" Kiran asked, but was surprised upon the feeling of some fabric draping over her. It was black, she noticed when she grabbed it, and she realized it was Batman's cloak.

"In a second," his voice was close, but not as close as he should have been. He was keeping a respectful distance and Kiran was so grateful for it. "We're going to need to get you a suit that doesn't burn up. When are you free next?"

Kiran thought, "I work, so not until next weekend, unless I'm called in." Then, quieter, "I didn't hurt you, did I?"

There was a pause, as if Batman was taking stock of himself. "Not anything I can't handle. The suit took most of the blast, anyway." Kiran could hear his footsteps get farther away, just barely. "You did good today."

Kiran felt herself beam, "Thanks, boss!"

The door sealed shut behind him and Kiran sat up, adjusting the cloak so it was covering her more as she sat on the floor. She smiled at it, at this small after of kindness that she doubt Batman had even thought about, but it made her feel happy. She was making a connection, even if it was a small one. He also didn't tell her not to call him boss, so there was that.

The next person to walk through the door was Clark, whose eyes widened upon seeing Kiran wrapped in Batman's cloak, smiling up at him sheepishly. She tried to stay decent as she poked one of her hands out of the cloak to wave at him. It's not anything Clark hasn't seen before, but with Lois (and Lily), it felt wrong to be naked around him.

"Batman already said he was gonna make me a suit so I won't have to be naked anymore if I burst again," Kiran told Clark, as the man brushed her hair out of her face with gentle fingers, before he was securing another domino mask onto his face. "I guess my blasts have some heat to it."

"I could have told you that," Clark said, moving her face around gently so that he could make sure the mask was secure. "I'm surprise it melted the mask. But, Batman did seem a little scorched."

Kiran beamed, "He let me call him boss!"

Clark helped her up, making sure the cloak was suitably around her, smiling gently at her, "I think that means he likes you."

Kiran walked, taking in the hallway and the way Clark was leading her. There were more members of the Justice League hanging around when they got into the common room and Kiran would lie if she wasn't a little starstruck. However, none of them paid attention to her or Clark, mostly to Batman, who was talking to them, his back straight, shoulders tense and authoritative-looking. Clark led her towards the locker rooms, which were just locker rooms and it was weird to think about the Justice League like it was a sports team. Kiran changed, surprised when she checked her phone that her and Batman had been fucking around for a couple hours, even though it hadn't felt like that.

Clark helped her go back to Metropolis, but he had League stuff to do, so he sent her ahead of him. Kiran found her way back to her apartment, and slumped onto the couch, feeling more tired than she probably should. There was a thought that she should have practised trying to shoot her blasts, but that would be a problem for another time. It's not like they were going to put her in the field right now, anyway.

So, Kiran went about her day off, making sure to pay her rent, and made herself some food. She almost convinced herself to text Lily and ask if the girl wanted to go out, but something stopped her and Kiran found herself sinking onto her couch with some candy she found in the small stash she kept hidden away from Gracie to watch the prequels and talk over Ewan McGregor, Hayden Christensen, and Natalie Portman.

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soooo i have no idea if i like this or not but oh welllllllllll

not as sexually charged as i thought it was gonna be, but kiran is sweet, you get to know about asher more, and there will be more plot next chapter, whenever it is

sorry i suck at updating, i love you guys mwah mwah