Notes: This is part two of chapter five. If you're just stumbling across this, and haven't already done so, please stop and start by reading part one of chapter one.
This #Batwoman AU is based on the ABC tv series #Revenge. In this fic, Ryan Wilder believes she has nothing to lose, and revenge is the only way to get anything back, whish she's willing to do absolutely anything in service to, or so she thinks.
Another hefty chunk of words for part two. A little warning: we're in our angsty season. At least it's not cold outside, though! And I promise to keep it fun when I can.
CHAPTER FIVE - CHARADE (Part Two)
Ryan’s double life continues to challenge her as she’s confronted with the realities of her choices, and the potential for everything she’s worked for to slip through her fingers.
WEDNESDAY, JULY 5TH, 6:00 AM, THE LOFT
Ryan wakes up feeling like hell, because she’s hardly had the equivalent of a nap. She’d succumb to taking the night off, not by choice, and let herself feel for the first time in a long time. She hated every moment of it, but once she’d opened those flood gates, they were hard to seal back up. The past and the present had collided and knocked her back so hard that she couldn’t get up from her bed. Eventually, she passed out, but the sun was rising by then, and she woke up from an internal alarm that reminded her of everything she had on the line. It was more important than ever that she got things back on track.
Ryan Cell: Luke, we have a problem. How quickly can you get here?
Luke Cell: Will 10:00 work? It’d be tough to be there sooner.
Ryan Cell: We’ll make it work. I’ll get started in the meantime.
She climbs out of bed and does little more than brush her teeth and pull on the same jeans and plaid shirt she’d barely managed to slide out of before collapsing into bed when she walked through the door. She makes coffee, but nothing else, because the idea of food makes her nauseous. And then, she opens up her laptop, as she should have done last night.
A quick search on Tyler and his time with The Crows gives her some comfort. He’d grown up at the organization, starting as an intern, and had basically moved up by outlasting several of his peers and being a sidekick to Jacob Kane. He’d never accomplished anything earth shattering for them, though. So it would be a bit of a leap for him to crack this case.
This might explain why they needed Sophie’s help. Whether it was because Ryan didn’t want to know more than she had to, or because she had too much respect to pry, she had never done a deep dive on Sophie. Even after quick glimpses at her social media pages from moments of weakness and temptation, she’d quickly swipe out when she remembered she was exposing herself to a life she could never entertain. But she couldn’t put it off anymore. She had to prepare.
Unsurprisingly, Sophie is a real threat. She absolutely was on her way to being the best investigator National City had ever had, until she’d left for Gotham. She’d uncovered some monumental unsolved mysteries, and dismantled criminal organizations that seemed untouchable before she’d decided to take them on. Her instincts and determination were unmatched.
A part of Ryan is proud and in awe. Nonetheless, allowing herself to even feel that is way too close to what had wrecked her in the first place. Ryan’s reality is that Sophie Moore is definitely going to be even more of a problem than she’d already become. And worse, Ryan’s usual methods of taking people down before they could get to her won’t work this time, because they are in direct conflict with her promise to protect Sophie at all costs.
WEDNESDAY, JULY 5TH, 7:00 AM, THE CROWS HEADQUARTERS
Tyler walks into Jacob Kane’s office. He’d put a meeting on the calendar at the end of the day on July 3rd, and Jacob had accepted. He didn’t supply much context, but he did use Leak Update as the meeting’s subject.
It’s been less than a week since he’s been working with Sophie Moore and he’s frustrated, because he doesn’t see the point in being assigned to this case anymore. She has more clearance than him, and he’s basically become her assistant. He’s at her beck and call, searching for whatever she wants him to on The Crows’ database, or retrieving old files from their storage and archives.
She was able to set up a face ID and fingerprint scans for materials being provided to her. He’d dig them up, and the information would appear to be redacted on his end, but he’d add them to a shared drive that she could access, and when she logged in, she had permission to see what he could not. She’d even sent him on errands to look up old news clippings at the library, and he feels like he’s taken ten steps backwards in his career.
He’s surprised to see that Russel Tavaroff is already in Jacob’s office when he arrives. It looks like they were just having a laugh, and Tyler feels like he’s interrupting.
Tyler: “Apologies, sir. I didn’t realize you had a meeting scheduled before mine.”
Jacob: “I didn’t. Russel and I ran into each other downstairs, and were just finishing up a conversation.”
Tyler: “Do you need me to reschedule, or is now still a good time?”
Jacob: “No, it’s fine. Tavaroff, find time on my calendar, so we can continue this, alright?”
The idea that Jacob Kane was plotting or bonding with Russel Tavaroff has Tyler clenching his teeth, as if he needed more reasons to have this conversation with his boss. Tavaroff was a dirty cop, and he took this job because it paid better. He covered his tracks well, so it was hard to pin any of his wrong doings since joining The Crows on him. Tyler doesn’t subscribe to his methods, so he keeps his distance. If doing so was going to become more difficult, The Crows might not be the organization for him anymore.
WEDNESDAY, JULY 5TH, 8:00 AM, KANE MANSION
Beth: “Why do you look like death, sissy?”
Kate: “Because my outsides match my insides.”
Kate’s sitting at the kitchen table with her sisters and only a cup of coffee in front of her. She was going to take the day off of work, but would rather keep herself busy. So she’s decided to make her way into the office, even though it’s proving to be a struggle. No one else should be there, because she declared the week a summer holiday. So she’s dressed in her designer distressed black jeans with holes in the thighs and knees, and a boxy black t-shirt.
Mary: “What happened to you last night? You totally disappeared? I thought maybe you’d passed out in your room, but when I went to check on you, you weren’t there.”
Beth: “Did you phone a friend girl to create some fireworks of your own?”
Kate: “That probably would have been a better choice than the one that I made.”
Catherine walks into the kitchen with the exact opposite energy that her daughters have. None of them are demonstrating the tendencies of morning people, or seem thrilled to be up and about the day after a mid-week party. And yet, for one reason or another, they’re all dressed and preparing to start their day. They look at Catherine as though she’s insane.
Mary: “And why do you look like you got a visit from your fairy godmother last night, mom?”
Catherine: “Because we all have a choice to greet each new day as if there’s endless potential for it to be a perfect one. I’ve decided that everything will go my way today.”
Beth: “Oh great. That means she’s come in here to give us orders.”
Catherine: “You’re not wrong, Beth. Sunday is your father’s and my 20th anniversary dinner, and I’ve come to set some ground rules.”
Mary: “Wait, you’re still going through with that sham of a celebration.”
Catherine: “I’ll beg your pardon. We are still very much in a marriage, and have raised three grown daughters, while running successful corporations. I’d say that’s plenty of reason to celebrate 20 years of partnership.”
Beth: “She has a point, Mary. Contractually, they’re still bound together with all of their assets and things. So, why not throw a party to look happy about it and hide all of the internal collusion and corruption?”
Catherine: “And that’s exactly the kind of talk that I’ll have none of at our dinner. I’m expecting you ladies to be on your very best behavior, and I’d really like it to be something intimate. So you’re not entitled to bring more than one plus one, which I need to approve in advance. Kate, I believe yours will be Tommy, so yours is approved. I’ll need the two of you to confirm who you’re bringing by the end of day tomorrow, so we can reach out to them regarding their dietary accommodations.”
Kate: “You sure Tommy’s not your plus one?”
Kate says that under her breath, but both of her sisters catch it and snap their heads to stare at her in shock. She waves them off, and drinks her coffee, not in the mood to explain.
Catherine isn’t interested in any discussion around her instructions. So she leaves the kitchen before anyone can argue, as per her customary last-word having exit.
Mary: “Kate, seriously, what is going on with you?”
Kate puts her coffee mug down and looks at Mary with the seriousness she's demanding.
Kate: “I’m done with all of the charades. I’m not going to this dinner, and I’m not going to argue about it. You know I only live here because you two do, and I can barely stand it. I’m going to do my best to steer clear of both of them from now on. I need a break.”
Mary: “What did my mom do? I know she’s a bit of a bitch, but that’s not new…So, is all of this because she’s not leaving dad, or something?”
Kate looks at Beth for a while, and then back at Mary.
Kate: “Mar, she’s been hiding a lot more than their shitty marriage. In fact, covering things up in plain sight is kind of her thing. This is a pattern, and I’m done being a part of it by proximity and association.”
Mary: “What are you talking about?”
Kate: “You never wondered why they sent Beth away in the middle of the school year our junior year?”
Mary: “I mean…Beth was always getting into stuff. I figured they were just making her someone else’s problem. No offense.”
Beth shrugs. The facts were the facts. Whether she’d accepted fulfilling everyone’s expectations of her, decided this way of life was more fun, needed more mental health support than she’d received or was receptive to, or was screaming for something that felt like love in the form of attention, she was who she was.
Kate: “And what about how I was around that time…? What did you think was happening there?”
Mary: “They sent your twin away, and you’d already lost your mom. You being angry and withdrawn kind of made sense.”
Beth: “ Mar Bear is making some good points, Katie. The Hamilton women are on it this morning. And, you have to admit that you’ve always been kinda broody.”
Kate looks at her sister with utter exhaustion for being no help at all.
Kate: “Those things might have been true, but that wasn’t all of it.”
Mary: “Well, what did I miss?”
Kate sits back in her chair, not sure if she really wants to dig up this really old story. Beth is more detached, and enjoying the morning tea. So, she decides to finally tell on herself.
Beth: “My friends and I were involved in a very tragic accident, and mommy dearest covered up my part in it. After doing so, they wanted everyone to forget about my existence, so they sent me far far away to a boarding school that must have been inspired by Fort Knox. And, it seems my twin sissy was so disgusted with the whole thing that she went off to military school, to become a better human, just as soon as we turned 18. She also might have been running away from me, since she conveniently left the day before I got back, but we’ll never know the answer to that part, will we Katie?”
Kate rolls her eyes, and then sits forward to lean over her coffee, before taking one last drink.
Mary: “Wait, I remember this. That was the woman who ran our kitchen. Ms. Lewis? She was shot or something, right? You were there when it happened?”
Beth shakes her head no, to interrupt Mary’s thought.
Beth: “I’m more the type to bring a knife to a gun fight. It wasn’t me.”
Mary: “I can’t believe she did that. What the hell is wrong with our parents?”
Kate: “I don’t know, but like I said, I’m done. If she’s hidden that, and this stuff with my dad, who knows what else she’s capable of. She offered Tommy a job, by the way, without bothering to say anything to me. And I probably wouldn’t care, but I found out he’s been hiding things, too. So, it sounds like they were made for each other. I’m just over all of it.”
She gets up from the table, and walks out of the room, leaving Mary and Beth to work out the rest on their own.
WEDNESDAY, JULY 5TH, 9:00 AM, THE HOLD UP
Sophie walks into The Hold Up, and she doesn’t rush to remove her sunglasses. She thought she’d be walking into an empty bar, but her sister is already behind the counter, rolling silverware. Sophie is on her way to the office, but she stops at the bar to inquire. She places her laptop bag in an empty seat, and takes the one right next to it.
She takes her shades off, and sets them down. She runs her fingers through her loose braids, and rests her eyes in her hands, pressing them back into her head. Her sister returns with a mug filled with blonde coffee, just the way Sophie likes it. Jordan usually teases her about being more into the sugar from the flavored creamer than the caffeine, but she senses today isn’t the day for that. She sets two advil down next to the mug, too.
Jordan: “Assuming you haven’t done that yet?”
Sophie: “Thank you. Why are you here?”
Jordan: “Couldn’t sleep. You?”
Sophie: “That, and I have a meeting.”
Jordan: “Another undercover Crow convo?”
Sophie: “You know you can’t tell anyone I’m working with them, right?”
Jordan: “Duh sis. I don’t speak on your business.”
Sophie: “Oh, so we’re lying to each other now?”
Jordan: “Huh? What’d I do?”
Sophie: “Told Mary you think I like Robyn.”
Sophie takes the Advil and drinks down about half of the coffee at once.
Jordan: “I’d say I’m sorry, but then I’d be lying on purpose. I hope Mary told you to get it together before you lose that girl.”
Sophie: “Oh, she did, and Luke, too. Apparently, you’re all in this together.”
Jordan smiles, smugly, proud of herself for pushing her sister. Sophie shakes her head ‘no’ in response.
Sophie: “Na-ah. You don’t get to celebrate.”
Jordan: “What? Why not? What happened?”
She leans in, eager for tea. Sophie drinks the rest of her coffee down, and slides the mug back to her sister with a glance that states she’d need a refill if she was going to get into it. Jordan speed walks to the coffee pot, quickly refills the mug, grabs the creamer out of the small fridge under the bar, and does her sister’s heavy pour, rushing back right after. The whole thing takes less than a minute. She puts the cup in front of Sophie and picks back up where she left off.
Sophie locks her jaw as she exhales, and then grimaces.
Sophie: “She gave me her number at dinner last night. The dinner was shitty, and she left earlier than everyone else. So, I came back to the bar to invite her to talk, and she actually showed up.”
Jordan’s leaning in with her forams on the counter and her fingers woven together, really engaged, and smiling brightly.
Jordan: “Sis! I’m so proud!”
Sophie: “Nope. Remember, I said you couldn’t do that.”
Jordan: “Wait? Did it go bad or something?”
She frowns, not sure how to answer.
Her head is back in her hands, and she looks like she might pull out her hair.
Jordan: “Sophie. Spit. It. Out. What do you mean you don’t know?”
Sophie doesn’t look up, and talks to the counter she’s not looking at, because her eyes are shut tight in her palms.
Sophie: “Kate was in her loft. She came to Robyn’s, drunk and unannounced. She fell asleep on her couch, and Robyn decided to come down and talk to me when I invited her. I think we were about to get somewhere, but then Kate came down, and ran off all hurt from finding us together. Robyn ran after her. That was the end.”
Jordan: “Damn. Talk about crazy timing. But, you think you were getting somewhere…?”
Sophie: “I think? I don’t know. Nothing made sense. Like, she seemed into it, but she also kinda looked like she wanted to run away, too. And then she got the chance to, and didn’t come back. Maybe I’m just forcing this whole thing.”
Jordan: “Nah, the vibes are definitely there. Trust me.”
Sophie: “Wait, what do you know?”
Sophie sits up then, to look her sister in her eyes.
Jordan: “Well, besides the way she looks at you, like there's a halo surrounding you or something, you two just don’t see how you are when you’re in the same room. It’s almost like the rest of us are background noise that you’re tuning in and out of. Like you’re sharing a private moment, even when you haven’t said anything to each other, yet. I just think…she might be the kind of girl you have to fight for.”
Jordan seems honestly sympathetic, and Sophie inhales deeply and slowly. The door opens, and there’s a different suited white man than she was expecting walking through it. She drinks down the rest of her coffee, and stands up.
Sophie: “When I come back, I want to hear about why you couldn’t sleep, but I gotta find out why there’s a new Crow in our bar.”
He starts walking towards Sophie, and she nods in the direction of her office, communicating that he should follow her. She grabs her bag, and they continue the short trip together. On the way, she sees a text from Kate come through on her phone.
Kate Cell: Going into the office today. So, we'll have to find another day for lunch. I'll let you know.
Sophie: “Who are you, and where’s Tyler?”
Tavaroff: “I'm Russell Tavariff. Tyler couldn’t handle working for a woman of your stature. So I’m his replacement.”
Sophie sits in her chair, and looks up only slightly surprised.
Sophie: “I knew he’d be a punk about it. So, what’s the deal, then? Are you filled in, or do I need to debrief you? Do you have all the things you need to step in where he left off?”
Tavaroff: “My boss filled me in, so I’m good. I’m mainly here to introduce myself, and because you two had a meeting today, though the topic for it was unclear.”
Sophie: “Hm. We were going to set the strategy for the rest of the week. I’ve been stringing together the common denominators between Candice Long, Arthur Brown, and Roman Soionis. Arthur and Roman were actually kind of easy, but Candice is harder. Really, the Kanes seem to be the only thing all 3 of them share.”
Tavaroff: “Hold on, back up a minute. I thought you were brought on to find out who leaked Sionis’s video. How did these other people come into play?”
Sophie: “Because there’s no such thing as a coincidence. My gut says the fact that these three people are friends with the Kanes, and were recently at events with them before something happened to ruin their careers and reputation didn’t happen by accident.”
Tavaroff: “Okay. Could be a stretch, but also sounds interesting.”
Sophie: “The good news is, it’s not your job to determine what is and isn’t a stretch. But, it is your job to help me dig up every interaction the 3 of them had with Catherine Hamilton and Jacob Kane since the start of their friendships.”
Tavaroff: “That’s one hell of an ask.”
Sophie: “Sounds like you have plenty to keep you busy, then. I want email exchanges, pictures from events, text messages, literally anything you can get me. Save everything to the drive in folders with each of their names, and I’ll let you know if I have follow up instructions or questions.”
He raises his eyebrows, somewhat understanding of how someone like Tyler could struggle with Sophie Moore’s confidence in exerting her authority. He, on the other hand, liked to let people feel powerful, even though he never did anything more than he wanted to do. For now, his curiosity is piqued, so he’s choosing to move forward with her plan.
Tavaroff: “Aye aye, Captain.”
He salutes her, and then turns to walk out of the door. On his way out, his eyes land on a brunette behind the bar that he remembers that she’s Angelique Martin almost instantly. He’d thought she was cute when he arrested her for carrying when he was a beat cop. She’s busy drying glasses, and doesn’t notice him. He doesn’t stop or slow down, because he knows they’re trying to limit the people who are aware of this project, but something tells him her presence here isn’t an accident either. He might have to agree with Sophie on her point: there really wasn’t such a thing as a coincidence.
WEDNESDAY, JULY 5TH, 10:00 AM, THE LOFT
Ryan is rereading the same article that she's been staring at for 10 minutes, because it's taken that much to digest the story. It's as if she's unlearned how to read, because she seems to only catch every third word, making the sentences incomprehensible. In truth, the new information is struggling to overpower the words her mom said to her in her journal.
Initially, when she'd found this article, she'd closed her laptop, overwhelmed by its existence. She'd pushed herself away from the table and hurried to her mama's box, hoping she'd find something that could wrap her up, and remind her of her mother's hug. Last night, before the visits that led to her coming undone, she was just starting to read a letter that would help her with her decisions. On the way to finding that page again, she came across the name Andy, and stopped. She'd only read this letter once or twice, because she wasn't sure she'd ever experienced a love like the one her mama had lost. Suddenly, she felt like those words deserved more contemplation.
Dear Daughter,
I had so much fun with you tonight. I love when you watch my Denzel Washington and Danny Glover movies with me. You like to tease me and say I like bad boys who look like good guys, and men with a little bit of power, because they always have some sort of badge or official title. I usually just laugh, and defend my favorite characters. I tell you they only do bad things when they believe it's for the right reasons, or that men with that much potential will always be given a second chance to turn over a new leaf, because they're so few and far between.
You're not entirely wrong about your mama, and based on these girls you keep talking about at school, I'm thinking I might have found a way to rub off on you. I know I haven't told you much about my deceased husband, because even after all of these years, thinking too long about him can send me into a tailspin, and I can't really afford to give that much concentration to those feelings, because I have you to take care of. But you should really know more about the man that could have been your father, if the universe had been a bit kinder to us.
We both turned eighteen before we graduated (a Taurus and a Gemini), and were married with little more than his older brother present as a witness. He was also in the military, and agreed that this was the right strategy for us.
He shipped off the day after graduation, and even while I knew he was still mine, in every sense of the word, I felt like I'd given him away at the same time. I'd have to learn to live without him, for his safety and for our future, and I'd just have to pray he'd come back to me. He did come back once, for a beautiful three weeks after basic training, and it felt like no time had passed between us. But then he was deployed, and…I didn't see him again after that. I sent him away to protect him and lost him to something worse.
In the time he was home with me, we'd conceived a little boy, that I named AJ, Andrew Junior. Sadly, he didn't make it either. They called it failure to thrive.
You see, I'd received the news about Andy, and gone into delivery at 22 weeks. I hadn't even told him we were expecting, because I didn't know how to fit the words into the brief, occasional conversations we'd had when he could call, and when I tried to write, I didn't know what to say, because what could he do from so far away? He was the type to risk everything for me, and it felt selfish to let him come back for me like I just knew he would.
I used to wonder if our baby died from my broken heart. After losing so much at once, I wasn't sure I could ever bear to risk loving someone again. And, I had to find a way to take care of myself… I'd received a little something from the government from being his wife, but not enough to sustain me. So, I began growing my cooking skills, and spent the rest of my time at church, praying for mercy every single day. Eventually, the women who would help out got tired of watching me sit by myself, staring at the paned glass, and said if I was going to be there all the time, I might as well put my hands to good use. They gave me a purpose again, and I threw myself into those two things: cooking and the church.
Andy's brother called me on my birthday the next year, and told me about a woman who was looking for a good mother for her daughter, who'd be born in a couple of weeks. I was angry with him at first. And then I started hurting all over again…But one day, when I was back on my bench praying, one of the women asked me to consider the possibility that every ounce of pain I'd endured was leading me to this moment. To the chance to be this baby girl's mom.
I liked to cuss the lord out for being so dramatic. I could have had you and them. But if you were destined to be mine regardless, how could I not show up for you?
Whether I knew it, or even liked it at first, God had a plan for me to have healing love and for us to save each other, my blessing of a daughter. And so, no matter how frightening it can feel to love you as much as I do, and let you go out into this world filled with risks each day, I walk with faith that this is the love I'm meant to have, for however long I'm meant to have it.
Ryan had placed her hand on the page, as if she was resting it on her mama's hand, and closed the journal while it was still there, not wanting to let go of her. Her throat felt swollen with unshed tears. Her mama wouldn't have changed a thing. She'd still have let the love of her life go to protect him. She'd known that away was the safest place for him, even with him being exposed to every other risk she couldn't control. Sometimes loving someone meant you had to let them go.
She'd put the journal away, and returned the box. Then, she'd taken a few minutes to collect herself. Finally, she'd returned to the article, determined to move forward and accept her fate.
Now, Luke knocks on the door, announcing ‘it’s me,’ right on schedule, and Ryan calls out saying ‘it’s open,’ unwilling to break away from the article on her laptop to greet him properly. She hadn’t realized she’d left the door unlocked overnight until just then. She'd really been a mess.
Luke walks in and takes in the scene. It’s been a long time since he’s seen Ryan so un-put together. It wasn’t the ensemble, itself, but there were tells everywhere. Her hair was up in a lopsided bun. She had no makeup on, and remnants of not completely washed off eyeliner darkened her eyes, which were puffy and swollen too. As if the SOS at sun up hadn’t already had him concerned, seeing someone he'd come to think of as his unbreakable little sister look so worn down shot a spark of protectiveness through him that he rarely had to experience with her.
Luke: “You keep the door unlocked now?”
She doesn’t look up from her computer.
Ryan: “Not usually. Guess I forgot to lock it last night.”
Luke: “You forgot to lock your door? And then didn’t realize until now? Where’s Ryan Wilder and who are you.”
Ryan: “That’s a good question.”
Luke sits at the table in something other than a three piece suit for a change, but not entirely far from it. He still wears a collar in the form of his Polo shirt, and dark blue, structured jeans. He's staring at her, even though she’s yet to look in his direction.
Luke: “Welp, I’m officially worried. What’s going on?”
She turns her laptop around, and shows him an article about Sophie Moore apprehending Eve Teschmacher, member of the elite, underground Leviathan Society and spy for the DOD's biggest threat, Lex Luther.
Ryan: “This is our problem.”
Luke: “Sophie? Did you text me at 6AM with a dating emergency?”
The mix of emotions that cross her face in less than a second tells him he’s not entirely wrong.
Ryan: “Jacob Kane has her and his number one, Tyler, working together to find out who leaked the Sionis videos.”
She gives him a moment to put that together. They were good at what they did, but they might not be better than Sophie Moore.
Luke: “Okay. That explains some things… But, we can figure this out, like we do everything else. Am I supposed to believe this is why you resemble post-release Ryan right now?”
It was a little harsh, but it was also accurate, and he needed her to be clear for once. She got up from the table, taking her mug with her, and went to the coffee pot to replenish.
Luke: “Sure, but I still need an answer.”
She doesn’t respond immediately. She makes their coffees and returns to the table with them. She sits down, holds her mug with both hands, and takes a drink from it. When she sets it on the table in front of her, she stares into it when she speaks.
Ryan: “I knew Sophie…before.”
At first, Luke has to say it back to himself, because he heard it like it was spoken in a language he only understands a few words of. Then, he pieces it together, and so many things start clicking into place that he feels inundated with an overwhelming amount of information and questions at the same time. Not to mention frustration for being excluded from this crucial detail.
Luke: “Knew her in what way?”
Ryan takes a deep breath and answers on an exhale.
Ryan: “In high school...We were really young, but…I think I loved her.”
Luke: “Wow…okay. Ryan, that's the kinda thing I probably should have known sooner."
She doesn't move, just continues looking lost in her cup, as if she's watching the past replay in the reflection of the black liquid it contained. She doesn't just look tired or worried, but honestly sad. So many moments pass that he starts to feel a little like an insensitive ass, but just a tiny bit.
Luke: "Alright, I see it's not the time for a lecture. So…you loved her. And…she doesn’t remember you?”
Ryan finally looks at him, and offers a small shrug.
Ryan: “I don’t know. I mean, she hasn’t up until now. It was a long time ago, and kid Ryan and Robyn Wilde don’t have a lot in common on the surface. But…last night…”
Her voice cracks, and she cuts herself off. She clears her throat and drinks from her cup, as if the liquid will wash the threat of falling apart all over again away.
Luke: “But your ruse isn’t working on her.”
She gives him an unhappy, glassy eyed, side smile.
Luke: “And now she’s on a mission to find…you, even though she doesn’t know it’s you. Damn, this just got really complicated.”
Luke: “Ryan, level with me here. Would it really be the worst thing if Sophie knew who you were?”
Ryan: “Are you kidding me? She is Miss Law Enforcement. And nothing about what I’m doing is legal.”
Luke: “Is that the real reason you don’t want her to know, though? Because you think she’ll alert the authorities?”
Ryan doesn’t know the answer to that, but she also would never want to put Sophie in the position to have to make that decision. Regardless, she's made up her mind. Sophie isn't meant to be mixed up in this life of Ryan's. The best thing for both of them is still to keep Sophie as far away from this as possible.
Ryan: “Luke, she can’t know.”
Luke: “How can you be okay with hiding so much from someone you feel this way about? And don’t feed me that bull about you trying to protect her, because clearly Sophie is someone who can take care of herself.”
Ryan: “Luke, this isn’t up for discussion. Either help me figure out what the hell to do, or don’t, but we’re not changing the plan. She can’t know.”
Luke shakes his head in clear disagreement. He knows this is going to blow up in their faces, but he also knows his charge is to stand by Ryan’s side, no matter what. So, of course he’s going to help her.
Luke: “Just let the record reflect that I said this was a bad idea.”
Ryan: “Noted. Now, please use that big brain of yours to find out how close they are to figuring me out.”
Luke's watch lights up and vibrates. His eyebrow peaks at what he reads. He taps it with his finger to read the rest of the message, frowns, and then looks like he makes a choice, sighing audibly.
Luke: "Your angels might be looking out for you, because I think we just got a shot at a Hail Mary."
He chuckles at himself for his double entendre, and Ryan scowls at him, in no mood to decode his lame humor.
Ryan: "Luke. What does any of that mean?"
Luke: "Mary just invited me to The Kanes' for her parents' 20th wedding anniversary this Sunday. She said Catherine wants it small and to approve everyone's plus one. She figures I'm likely to get approved."
Ryan squints at him, thinking there was probably more to Mary's choice in company for the night than limited resistance from her mom, but she didn't have the energy to dig for information about an additional set of people at this time. So she decides to table that for now and focus on their mission."
Ryan: "What are you thinking?"
Luke grins the way he does when he's about to nerd out about some new tech he's excited to try out, and Ryan prepares to be inundated with a different explanation than the one she's really asking for.
THURSDAY, JULY 6TH, 9:00 AM, THE CROWS HEADQUARTERS
Tyler sits at his computer, sorting through someone else’s files, and wondering how he got here. After all he’s given to this organization, how did he go from a stint as Sophie Moore’s lackey to being downgraded to Russel Tavaroff’s fill-in? As much as he’d toyed with the idea of giving Jacob Kane an ultimatum - to establish that he was Sophie Moore’s superior and grant him equal access and clearance, or for them to begin discussions about his future with The Crows - he didn’t anticipate that informing his boss that he was dissatisfied with the situation would get him temporarily demoted. Sure, on paper, his role and level hadn’t changed, but he knew that these cases were at least two levels beneath him.
He was instructed to review Tavaroff’s drive on the server for cases where he might be able to make headway more quickly; since Tyler had more experience, perhaps he could clear some things off of his desk, so that Tavaroff could take on this bigger, stretch project, and help out Sophie in his stead. Of course Tyler could do that, but this was the equivalent of being given admin work after you shot a firearm at someone. It felt like retaliation.
Russel sorts is folders by last modified. So, when Tyler is finished looking through one file, and decides it’s not the one he wants to start with, he goes back to the main folder and sees a different one at the top of the list than what he remembered being there before, named Martin. He’s supposed to be working Tavaroff’s older cases, but he’s wondering if he just overlooked this one. In transitioning things over to Tyler, maybe Russel added some information to something he’s supposed to handle now. Realistically, it's more likely this is new, because Tyler is really good at keeping track of what he’s seen.
Tyler’s retention and recall is actually his competitive advantage. He knows some other detectives are skilled at piecing together information, and uncovering hidden details, but to retain all that they’ve collected, and call upon it when it’s most useful - that’s where others tend to drop the ball. He benefits from being nearby when information is learned or needed, and reminding everyone about the right thing at the right time, which is often what it takes to make sense of a case. So he knows in his gut he didn’t miss this folder.
If Russel is working something new, when he’s supposed to be working the Sionis files and helping Sophie, this might be what Tyler needs to demonstrate he’s not more cut out for the role… And, if this is something Sophie has asked him to work on, then he can’t help but be curious about it. Even though he didn’t want to work for her, he’d always wanted these answers too. Not being a part of this case has the potential to haunt him after all of his contributions towards it.
He gives in, and opens the folder. He finds records for Angelique Martin, who has had a run in or two with The Crows: a birth certificate, foster care records, different transfers of guardianship, school admittance records, sentencing to Gotham’s juvenile detention center and release paperwork, arrest records for small carrying charges, apartment applications, job applications, I-9s, and termination records, and a folder labeled photos. There aren’t many pictures, but there is a yearbook picture from her freshman year of high school. Russel had also tracked down a few images from facial scans of different news articles from events, where she’d simply been in the background.
In one picture, she was standing next to a woman he gets the feeling he’s seen before, but she also looks different enough that he’s not sure if he’s wanting to find familiarity in someone where it doesn’t belong. They’re standing in the background, and it’s blurry, but he can tell it’s O’Malley’s bar, and the clipping from the newspaper dates back to 2014. It’s a photo from the police department’s Holiday Happy Hour, where they were also bidding farewell to one of their retiring officers who wasn’t returning in the new year. They’d done a small piece on his contributions to the city. Martin was behind the bar, and the familiar woman was sitting at it. It looked as though they’d turned towards the camera automatically, probably from several bursts of flash occurring in their peripheral.
Tyler’s retention and recall has never failed him. He stares a little longer, and then remembers a folder he’d started weeks ago and never went back to. Jacob Kane had asked him to look into Robyn Wilde. He wasn’t finding anything very worthwhile, and when things started going south with the Sionis case, he’d let that request fall to the back of his mind, until now.
He clicks into his folder, opens it up, and finds the badge photo he’d saved that granted her access to Jet Tower. He puts the two photos next to each other on the screen, and sure enough, there were enough similarities between the two women that it’d be hard to argue they weren’t the same person. Wondering what history Angelique, who had also just moved back here from Freeland and now worked at Sophie Moore’s bar, could possibly have with the current CEO of Jetirian, someone who he hadn’t found any records of having lived in Gotham before this image, he decides to look into Angelique himself.
It’d been a while since he’d had any field time. Stretching his legs, and getting outside of this office might be exactly what he needs to re-energize him about his choice of career. If he can come back with something noteworthy about Robyn Wilde, maybe he’ll even be able to remind Jacob Kane why he is his number one to begin with.
THURSDAY, JULY 6TH, 10:00 AM, KANE MANSION
Mary is on the back porch, looking for old news articles about Cora Lewis's death. Even while her family was involved, which really should have made this big news, there was minimal coverage. She doesn't know if that's because the deceased was a Black woman with little family to advocate for her, or if it was because her family kept others quiet.
Catherine walks out, happy to find one of her children. She's still floating around as though she's planning for the most joyous occasion, and the overcompensation is nauseating to observe. Mary wants to sympathize for the woman who created her and sacrificed everything in the early years of her life to ensure she had absolutely every opportunity, because she honestly can't imagine what it must feel like to have your husband participate in an affair and have that become Gotham-elite news. Unfortunately, the realities of who her mom is has Mary leaning towards Karma being a bitch instead.
Catherine: "Good morning, Mary!"
Catherine: "Goodness, it's really turning out to be a lovely summer. We've hardly had a cloud in the sky…"
Mary: "Did you seriously come out here to chat about the weather?"
Catherine: "Partially. I've decided I want Sunday to be a brunch, starting at 11AM. Why waste these beautiful days having dinner inside? And maybe the sobriety and energy will be different if your sisters haven't had a whole day of dramatics to engage with."
Mary: "Sure, like they're the only ones who engage in dramatics."
Catherine: "And that reminds me. Have you decided who your plus one is?"
Mary: "Luke, if he's still available with the new time. Figured he was safe enough."
Catherine: "Are you two an item?"
Mary: "Are we really going to pretend we're the Gilmore Girls and we share intimate details around our love lives? You try to pretend you and dad are picture perfect with me, just like you do the rest of Gotham."
Mary hasn't made eye contact with her mother. She's continued scrolling through headlines, and trying to decide if she's ready to confront her mother about what she knows. The temptation is strong, but she's not feeling quite informed enough to go toe-to-toe with Catherine Hamilton, a more than formidable opponent in any confrontation.
Catherine: "You're right, but maybe we can change that. You know, I could really use a spa day. Care to join me?"
Mary: "Thanks, but pass."
Talk about way too little too late. Catherine stares at her daughter for a moment and Mary resists the urge to look over at her for equal fear if caving or exploding. The latter seems to have a few more pebbles weighing the scale down, though.
Catherine: "Alright, well, you'll tell your sisters about brunch? 11 o'clock?"
She pulls up the iMessage app on her Mac and starts typing. Catherine quietly excuses herself. Mary finally glances up, watching her mom leave, and then returns to her keyboard.
Mary Cell: Sunday's dinner is a brunch now. Mom says we're more likely to show up sober if she can get us before we even leave the house. Who cares about all of the people who have to adjust their lives on short notice? 😒🙄
Beth Cell: Brunch is so boring!!!
Mary Cell: I think that's the point.
Kate Cell: I'm still not going.
Beth Cell: That might make it a touch more interesting, but I'll miss you Katie Kat
Mary Cell: I don't blame you, but I do hate this for me. She's going to be even more of a pain.
Kate Cell: You know you're not required to appease her?
Mary Cell: Easier said than done, but I'm close to following your lead.
Beth Cell: Maybe I'll claim your seat, Kay Kay, since you aren't using it. And they'd be entitled to your plus one, of course.
Kate Cell: Whatever. I won't be there to care.
THURSDAY, JULY 6TH, 11:00 AM, THE HOLD UP
Jordan walks into the office while frowning at her phone. Sophie looks up at her and watches her text someone, looking uncertain. She observes her sister for almost a minute before her curiosity is too strong to continue waiting.
Sophie: "J, did you need something?"
Jordan finally looks up at Sophie, her expression unchanged.
Jordan: "I think I need Sunday off."
Sophie: "Okay…is something wrong? You don't seem thrilled about it."
Jordan walks around to the chair at Sophie's desk and sits down tentatively. She sets her phone on the desk, face up in front of her, and then grimaces. She blinks a few times, but eventually decides to talk.
Jordan: "I was invited to the Kanes' anniversary."
Sophie raises both eyebrows and sits back in her chair, twirling a pen between her fingers.
Sophie: "That's different."
Jordan knows the unsaid question Sophie's awaiting an answer to.
Jordan: "Um…I'll be Beth's guest."
Sophie: "Wow. Did not see that coming."
Jordan: "Well, technically, I'm Tatiana's plus one, and she's Beth's guest, along with Jonathan Cartwright."
Sophie: "Her little boy toy? Wait…am I tripping or…does this sound like-"
Sophie's eyes grow three sizes, and now Jordan's elbows are on the desk in time for her head to collapse into her hands.
Sophie: "What is happening right now? I'm too smart to be this confused. Is this a date, Jordan?"
Jordan: "I don't know…maybe?"
Sophie's eyes tighten, trying hard to follow along, and really needing the details to this story.
Sophie: "She's who you hung out with last night, right? Is she gay?"
Jordan peers up, presses her lips together, and nods yes. Sophie's confused forehead creases are only becoming more prominent, and it's clear she's not sure if she should ask what she wants to ask.
Jordan: "We just hung out on her cousin Ocean's boat all night, waiting for the fireworks, and talking. We talked a lot more after the fireworks… for hours... We have a few things in common, like overachieving sisters we have a hard time living up to, and familial responsibilities that feel like they're more important than the unserious lives people our age tend to live. And, eventually, she kissed me."
Sophie takes a beat to process everything her sister just shared and manage her own reaction. She leans forward, placing her elbows on her desk, and weaving her fingers together.
Sophie: "What was that like?"
Jordan: "I didn't hate it…Look, I know what you're thinking and yes I still like guys, I just…I don't know, sometimes I like girls too, I guess."
Sophie reaches over to take her sister's hand, and Jordan sits up enough to let her.
Sophie: "You know that's okay right? Why does it sound like you were worried for me to know that about you? Me of all people?"
Jordan: "I don't know, Sophie. Being gay is kinda your thing. Like how ridiculous am I…the world's most literal copycat?"
Sophie: "My thing? You make it sound like a hobby, like reading books versus gardening. And even if that was the case, it's not like only some people can garden or anyone would think less of you for also liking to garden if I liked that too."
Jordan: "Oh, I can think of one person who'll think less of me…"
Sophie squeezes her sister's hand, fully understanding why Jordan would be worried about their mom's reaction to this information.
Sophie: "Mom definitely doesn't make this specific thing easy, but I just try to sit with gratitude that we're both able to find enough middle ground to stay in each other's lives."
Jordan: "And you think that'll be easier if she feels like we're both hellbound?"
Sophie: "Honestly, I think if she has a problem, it'll be with me, for the 'example' I set. But I'm not worried; I've got a lot of practice dealing with her. I just want you to know everything is going to be okay, no matter what…But wait, so this is why you couldn't sleep?"
Jordan was feeling slightly less nauseous before Sophie brought that last part up.
Jordan: "Kind of. I wasn't worrying about mom, or even telling you, I just…"
She inhales deeply and holds onto the breath. She takes her hand back so she can return to cradling her head.
Sophie: "What happened, sis?"
She releases the breath to talk, but doesn't return her eyes to Sophie's.
Jordan: "I did like kissing her. And I just went with it at first, but at some point, I got really hot, and overwhelmed, and I pulled away, and…I um…I guess you weren't the only one who had a girl run away from you..."
Sophie is filled with sympathy, watching her sister torture herself with regret, and it makes her wonder if Robyn is somewhere feeling similarly.
Jordan: "So, I texted her apologizing in the morning, and asked her if we could have a do over or something, and she took until just now to respond with this invite."
Sophie: "And you want to say yes?"
Jordan sits up again, looking at her sister with a bit of pleading in her eyes.
Sophie: "Then I think we need to also make time for a little shopping, because you can't wear just anything to the Kanes', and especially not if you're going to help this girl feel motivated enough to shoot another shot."
Jordan's entire face lights up, not expecting that response from her sister whatsoever. Sophie pushes the phone towards her and looks down at it, encouraging Jordan to accept the invite, and she quickly complies.
Sophie grabs her own phone and texts Mary.
Sophie Cell: I think I'm going to need your help.
Sooo...things are happening. We're learning more... What's on your mind? Tell me your thoughts!
I added this note after the fact last time, and am repeating it in case you missed it: If you pay super close attention and noticed that the season changed in the high school memory with Angelique before, that's the tricky part about posting as you go. Sometimes, things you wrote before fully ironing out what you plan to write don't fit as neatly as you need them to. It was a tiny edit to the text that made a significant difference in the story. But yes, originally, Angelique defended Ryan earlier in the school year and I changed it to closer to Christmas, because it worked better for this part and more that's to come. Thanks for going with it.
Currently, the goal is to put the next part/conclusion on Ao3. I've been writing, so it's entirely possible, but stay tuned to find out.
For #PrideMonth, the #SaveBatwoman campaign has all kinds of fun topics to chat about on Twitter. Join the conversation.
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