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Batgirl Begins (dbspock/WendyTheRed)

She shrugged when he called her out on 'probably'. "Sure, it'd be easier. But far less interesting and you might have trouble finding a driver you can trust. Well, except for Sara, but it's better for her to be able to concentrate on other things." She grinned when he mentioned her getting out from behind the desk. "Indeed. At this rate, I'll have to hire an assistant to handle all the calls and meeting arrangements and stuff." She laughed and then rolled her eyes. "I'd probably be so paranoid about using the card you'd have to nudge me to let me know it's ok to use it."

She parked the vehicle and turned to look at him for a moment. "I'm sure R&D has something that can pass for street legal but has some interesting features under the hood, so to speak. Maybe something in a motorcycle though if I drive you around that could be awkward, you'd have to ride behind me."

She got out when he did and nodded, adding that information to the list of things she'd need to ask Sara about. She smirked at the question about Chloe and quickly texted her for her measurements, waving the phone at him. "Sorry, you'll have to content yourself with only having the memory of Daisy to drool over and not my friend. I texted her to ask about her measurements."
 
"Finding a driver wouldn't be a problem." Bruce claimed, not willing to let her off the hook that easily. "Even with Sara riding shotgun. You might as well just admit it..your just like your dad, and want a little excitement in your life." Still, he didn't seem inclined to forbid her, even though it was well within his authority to do so. He just couldn't resist ribbing her about it. He laughed when she mentioned an assistant for the assistant position. "Still angling for a position for your friend, I see?" He chuckled, then shrugged. "I have no objections to riding behind you." He claimed. "But the helmet would mess up my hair for all those important meetings. And for future reference, anytime we are together and someone hands you a bill, that's an authorized expense and your allowed to use the card.

He raised his eyebrow a bit when she waved her phone at him, then shook his head. "You realize that if Chloe does actually come to work for me, I'll probably see her occasionally? And I have held her in my arms already." He pointed out, even as her phone beeped in reply. Clearly Chloe was so intent on the prospect of her dream job that she was practically glued to the phone.

5'5" 120 lbs 33-26-34 34B shoe 7 dress 4

Bruce caught a glimpse of the message before Babs brought her phone back, but if he had a reaction to the intimate details about Bab's friend he kept it to himself as he politely held the door of the store open for her. As soon as they entered the shop, a middle aged woman approached them. "Mr. Wayne! How mice to see you again. I trust the dress fulfilled your expectations?" When Bruce nodded, assuring her they weren't here to return Daisy's dress, the woman turned to Barbara, figuring she was the reason for their visit then. "And what can we do for you?" She asked with a smile.
 
She smirked at his reply. "I said one you could trust. Which, actually, you probably have a list of people you can trust." She shook her head. "I doubt my dad craves excitement. I suspect he gets too much for his own good with some of the costumed criminals in this city." She tapped her fingers on the wheel, thinking about herself. "I don't really crave excitement, not like you might mean. I'm not an adrenaline junkie or anything. I just want to be someone that can be counted on to do the right thing and be trustworthy. It's important to me."

She blinked at his laugh and her eyes widened. "I was joking about getting someone to handle the phone calls and stuff but...Chloe. We can trust her and that'll free me up to handle stuff like..." she coughs and talks quickly, knowing full well he'll understand her. "seeingwhatisgoingoninr&dandgoingtomeetingswithyou." She nodded her understanding about the card and when it was authorized to use it. "I suspect you'll have to nudge me sometimes as I'll probably err on the side of caution with the card. So you don't have to worry about me doing something wrong with it."

She looked at Chloe's measurements and smiled. "Huh, we're pretty close in measurements. Last I checked I was 34-24-34. I have height and weight on her though, I'm 6 inches taller than her. " She shook her head and smirked slightly. "I used to feel like a baby giraffe. And got teased a lot about it until I got into better shape and my uhhh...womanly assets grew in." Her face clouded over briefly as she remembered the teasing she used to get it but she does her best to push it aside.

She smiled as he held the door open and walked in with him. She wasn't at all surprised the woman knew him so well and she had a suspicion she'd be treated well just for accompanying him. "Hello, my name is Barbara Gordon. I'm his new assistant and it appears I only have one suitable dress for the job. I'd like some more more in styles ranging from casual business wear to ones suitable for more formal events. I also need to get similar for another new employee. I have her measurements but she isn't here with us. Speaking of measurements, I know mine but would like more precise measurements for another outfit I'll be getting later if you don't mind?"
 
"Oh, lists are your department." Bruce claimed airily, then shrugged. "People don't join the Marines, then the police force in one of the most crime ridden cities in the United States because they wanted a nice cushy desk job." He pointed out, then chuckled as she blurted out her next phrase. "Well, we already know Chloe is detail oriented, and her reference is impeccable." Bruce laughed. "I'll still have to see her resume, of course, but maybe we can delegate the nudging to her as well." Even the playboy Bruce was pretending to be wasn't about to make comments on teenagers measurements, beyond the detail oriented remark, so he let Bab's comment about their similarities pass. He did raise an eyebrow when she mentioned getting teased, though. "Well, if you want revenge, and recognize anyone's name on a job application, just say the word." He told her, also not commenting on her womanly assets.

"Of course, Miss Gordon." The saleslady said with a nod. "Why don't we take care of your measurements first. Then I can have Darcy pick out some outfits for you, and your friend, if you could give us her measurements as well." She seemed to have given some secret signal for help, as two more ladies appeared from the back room, and after a quick whispered conversation they vanished into the racks of clothes. "Did you have a color you preferred? I've found blue works wonders with someone of your complexion. And would you be favoring a daring approach, or something more conservative?" Even as she asked, the lady was running a cloth tape measure around Babs chest and hips, without bothering to write down the figures when she was done.
 
She nodded when he mentioned lists and glanced briefly at him, her thoughts circling around a very important list she had in mind. Her focus came back to him fully when he mentioned her dad's background. "Or, he did both of them because he feels duty-bound to serve and help people." She shrugged, feeling a bit defensive of her dad even if she knew Bruce didn't mean anything bad by his comments. She laughed at his comment about Chloe's references. She nodded at his comment about her resume. "Of course. She's a hard worker and I think she'd just be happy to prove herself." She shook her head at his commentary about revenge. "No, petty revenge like that, keeping them from getting a good job just because they teased me in middle school? No, I'm not going to do that. And honestly, I think if I did you'd wonder if I wasn't who you thought I was."

She nibbled her lip. "Speaking of lists. This armor I'm going to request from R&D. Is there anyone down there you trust to keep quiet about it? Especially if it starts showing up...elsewhere? I'm serious, if there is no one you trust that much in R&D then I'll use it only for things like this delivery mission." She wasn't going to come out and say what she truly meant, that she was thinking she might repurpose the armor for the crime fighting career she intended for herself. She had a suspicion at least some of his gadgets came out of Wayne Enterprises R&D. It's not like he could order it online or something.

She smiled at the saleslady. She nodded at the woman when she suggested getting her measurements. She quickly rattled off Chloe's measurements of '5'5" 120 lbs 33-26-34 34B shoe 7 dress 4' and smiled at the woman. "Blue would be great. Perhaps something in purple as well to mix it up a little. A dark purple preferably." She bit her lip at the question about daring or conservative and her cheeks actually colored a little. She glanced briefly at Bruce then back at the woman. "I suspect he'd love daring. I don't really have a preference really. I'm thinking as his personal assistant I should look professional, so I'll trust your judgement on daring versus conservative."
 
"There are easier ways to serve than what your father chose." Bruce pointed out, then nodded at her mention of Chloe. "She'll get her chance." Bruce promised. He didn't comment on her refusal to take him up on his revenge offer...that alone was probably evidence the offer had been another form of test to see if she'd rise to the bait he offered. He did react to her comment about if there was anyone he trusted at R&D. "Rick is quite used to my office losing things. If he gives you the suit, he won't be expecting it back. But if your father shows up at Waynetech asking about it, don't expect him to lie for you." Babs clearly wasn't the only one not quite speaking their mind, but it seemed he was giving her permission to use the suit in her off time.

"Of course." The room might as well have been miked, because as soon as Babs mentioned her color preference, two ladies came out of the back room and laid a pair of dresses, one blue and one dark purple, in front of her. Even without trying them on, it was clear they would leave little to the imagination in the chest area, and would show a great deal of leg as well. The ladies clearly agreed Bruce would prefer 'daring'.

"Well, I think these would be fitting for an evening affair." The lady declared, then glanced between Babs and Bruce. She noticed Babs blush and took a bit of pity on the young girl. "But around the office, I believe conservative, at least a bit, would be fitting." With that comment, two more dresses appeared, the color almost the same as the first two, but they would cover Babs almost to the knees, and cover everything from her shoulders on down. "And perhaps a suit as well? Though perhaps we should tend to more traditional colors for that." With that comment, a pair of slacks appeared, grey in color, along with a white button down shirt.

"How does that look? And your friend...what style and color might she prefer?" The lady asked as she waited Babs reaction to their recommendations, clearly ready to spring into action if Babs mentioned she might prefer something else.
 
She shrugged a little at his reply about her dad. "To be honest, I don't know why he joined the marines. As for GCPD, I don't know for sure, but I bet it felt like the life he was already used to or something?" She listened as he mentioned Rick and smiled. "Well, I'll need to put into the letter to keep any WayneTech branding off of the suit." She nibbled her lip thoughtfully and sighed softly. "I hope someday you trust me with your real life so I can have someone to truly ask for advice about this stuff." She glanced at him out of the corner of her eye. "I understand, don't get me wrong." She blew out a breath. "I think, when I drive for this delivery, if asked, I will tell my dad I am a trusted contractor hired to help out. You know, in case I do anything else in that suit and my dad gets curious."

She looked the dresses over and nodded her approval even if she had to fight hard not to turn red at the thought of wearing them in front of people like Bruce Wayne. Still, some part of her liked the idea of the attention she'd attract in the dresses. She nodded when she saw the more conservative dresses, glad to see that they were more practical for office wear but didn't make her look like a nun either. She couldn't help a small grin when they mentioned a suit, her thoughts turning to the prior discussion about the armored outfit R&D was going to make her. "Yes, a suit might be nice for some occasions. Would it have a blazer as well? And why gray instead of black?"

She considered the question about Chloe's preferences. "Well, on the style front, I think her tastes would be similar to mine. As far as colors, she's a blond with fair skin, what colors do you think would look good on her? Actually...I'll text her and ask." She did just that, also asking if she'd want a suit in addition to the dresses just in case.
 
"Have you ever thought about asking him?" Bruce teased her lightly, but he did get the feeling he knew her father better than she did, and given what had happened to his own parents, he felt a bit of a need to push her to form a relationship with her father...a chance he no longer had. When she mentioned branding, though, he couldn't resist grinning a little. "Well, the Waynetech logo on your butt would be interesting product placement." He countered, then frowned. "As my assistant, you'll know more about my real life than anyone save Alfred or Sara." He insisted. "Though I doubt your dad would want you coming to me for advice. I'm surprised he even agreed to let you work for me, to be honest." He nodded when she mentioned a possible alibi. "I won't lie to your dad, if he directly asks me if you were in the suit." He warned her, then shrugged. "But I doubt it will come to that."

The saleslady nodded at the blazer question. "We can certainly add a blazer. We also have an assortment of accessories you can choose from. And while black certainly looks stunning, and we can certainly get you a black suit if you choose, in my experience black tends to show dirt more than gray, as odd as that may seem." She nodded at the answer about Chloe. "Well, your measurements are certainly close enough you could probably share dresses if you wished, but from your description, I believe red would look fabulous on her."

Either Chloe was too excited and nervous to risk being away from her phone, or she always had it with her, but Babs received a reply almost immediately. 'I like green, it matches my eyes. and a suit would be great...I think. What exactly am I going to be doing?' Chloe envisioned some sort of tech job, which might entail crawling around on the floor, which meant a dress might not be the best option.
 
She looked at Bruce, well aware of his past, at least what is publicly available and nodded. "Maybe I should. I want a good relationship with my dad. Even if soon there will be parts of my life I have to keep from him." She was, of course, referring to what she saw as her new true career going forward. She blinked at his reply about the branding and blushed quite deeply. "Mister Wayne!" She said in a somewhat playful scandalized tone.

She looked at him for a moment and then smiled, a little sadly. "I look forward to the day you can drop the facade with me Mister Wayne, but you're right about that I think." She shook her head with a smirk. "I don't think he truly thought I'd get the job. He kept trying to keep my expectations in control. He loves me but he also thinks of me as just his teenage daughter. But I think maybe me getting this job and what happened at the restaurant is opening his eyes a little." She frowned softly at his comment about not lying and looked directly at him for a moment.

"Why not? You lie to him all the time. We both know what and who you really are. You may say 'well, I never lied to him about it' but sure you do. Not directly but through your persona. Through things like letting me tell my dad you were going to be with a Russian ballet troupe when we both know what you'll really be doing that day. There's no way you'll let that cargo or Daisy Johnson go without protection from you."

She snorted then looked away. "You lie to me too you know. If I directly asked you if you were Batman instead of hinting about it, you'd laugh and put on the vapid playboy billionaire act." She looked right back at him once more. "I know why you'd do it. I'm not accusing you of being a bad person Mister Wayne. You have to protect yourself and Alfred. If people knew the truth he'd be in danger and so would anyone you cared about. I get it. These thoughts have been on my mind too since I've realized who I am. I'll have to be careful and keep my two identities secret once I am ready to be out there helping people. The irony being that my dad is already a target and I might become one because of him someday." She looked at him. "So if it comes up, I'd appreciate it if you asked yourself 'would it be dangerous for Jim Gordon to know the truth?' before you answer him. That said, I doubt it will, it's why I'm going to ask R&D for a voice scrambler. And his view of me will help. He subconsciously won't allow himself to think of me doing something like this."

She let out a breath. "That's the advice I want from you. How to do this and do it right. I'll do it regardless, I won't let people suffer what I did if I have a chance to stop it. But it sure would be nice to avoid pitfalls that you already know about and have dealt with." She shook her head, looking sad. "I know that no matter what, people are going to suffer. I won't be able to be everywhere, just like you can't. But if I can help some people, it's, well, it's something. And if I am able to help people, I can give the women of this city hope that at least one woman is standing up to the evil out there." She looked a little embarrassed when she stopped talking and glanced at him out of the corner of her eyes again. "Sorry..."

She cocked her head and smiled at the lady's reply. "Dirt huh? You imagine I might be crawling through dirty, confined spaces in my suit? Gray it is." She heard the ping of Chloe's reply to her and spoke to the lady. "Red it is then. She also said she likes green. Says it matches her eyes."

She showed Bruce the text from Chloe and then showed him her response afterwards. 'Well, I'm trying to talk Mister Wayne into hiring an assistant for his assistant as it turns out the job has even more to it than you might imagine.' She whispered so only he could hear. "Like going to meetings with secret agents and arranging to drive a top secret item for them."
 
"I think he wants that as well." Bruce said softly, dropping the playboy facade for a moment of true vulnerability. It seemed Babs had found the chink in his armor. Of course, the moment didn't last long as he immediately transitioned to teasing her about marking her ass. "Yes?" he asked innocently with a raised eyebrow, then chuckled when she mentioned her dad's doubts about the job. "Well, it was a fairly unusual career track...and interview." he pointed out. It was not by traditional means she had arrived at this point, certainly. "And you certainly handled yourself at the restaurant well. Jim was impressed, I'm sure."

Bruce looked at her with confusion at her lying question. "It's called discretion, Miss Gordon. I am certainly not going to tell anyone what I did with the troupe. And of course I'm offering the shipment protection." he rapped the windows of the armored vehicle. "That's what this is for. And you do know there is a warrant out for Batman's arrest, correct? If your Father had any idea who that was, he'd be obligated to arrest him. For all I know, he's still in charge of the task force dedicated to bringing him in. And yes, your relationship with your father does make you a target, as well as your affiliation with me, to be honest. If you'd like to improve security at your home, add that to your R&D request. I'm sure they'd love to try out a voice scrambler on you." Bruce grinned a bit as he thought of Rick's reaction to Babs ever growing wish list.

He looked at her with feigned confusion as she mentioned wanting to make sure to do it right. "Your doing your job fine." He informed her. "Just follow my lead and I'm sure you'll continue to do so." If there was another meaning behind follow my lead, he wasn't about to tell her.

The saleslady shrugged lightly at Bab's question about dirt. "I had an office job when I first started out, and made the mistake of wearing black. I didn't do much crawling, but I still managed to pick up dirt from who knows where practically every day." She nodded with a smile when Babs took her advice on the color. She didn't have to say a word to the other ladies, who were clearly listening closely, as a pair of red and green dresses were suddenly added to the selection.

Bruce was trying not to get too involved in Bab's clothing selection, and he looked at Bab's with surprise when she walked over to him, then looked down at her phone. and let out a soft laugh. "Well, sadly, that won't be an everyday occurrence." He told her. "And unless you are trying to slack off, I doubt being your assistant would be a full time job, but I'm sure we can find something else for her to do part time, and I'm sure her supervisor would understand about emergencies. I can't tell her exactly what she'll be doing until I see her resume and see where she'll fit in, but in the meantime...I'll help her pick out a dress for the job interview portion." With that, he wandered off into the aisles while the saleslady walked up to Babs.

"And will you be requiring underwear to go with the outfits?" She asked softly so only Babs could hear. She wasn't about to get Bruce involved in that, but she felt the need to ask.
 
She heard the drop in the facade and glanced at him thoughtfully. "You know, you have family too Mister Wayne. Alfred, I can tell that just by looking at him. Who knows, maybe someday the Gordons and your little family will spend a holiday together or something. My dad would probably bitch and act suspicious or something but I bet he'd enjoy it in spite of that."

She flushed at the compliment about how she handled herself at the restaurant. "I'm still feeling a bit like...'did that really happen?' You know? I mean, it's surreal to me that I sort of took over. But it also felt...good. To be heard and listened to. For my ideas to be taken seriously."

She listened to his commentary about lying thoughtfully. "Well, keep that discretion in mind in the unlikely case he asks you if I was the one in the armor. As for that warrant..." She thought for a moment before speaking. "I took a test at my last school because some of my teachers thought I was cheating. Turns out that I may be some kind of genius or something. My dad isn't a genius but he's far from dumb. And he's good at his job. I think on some level he probably has an inkling who Batman really is. But he also knows Batman does good for this city without crossing the line. So I think subconsciously he's decided that as long as he doesn't know for sure, he doesn't have to do anything. You know?"

She nibbled her lip thoughtfully. "Someday, he may have to make the same decision with me. I suspect it'll be much harder for him not to figure out who the new red head out there is. But I think with me, he'll probably do that thing parents do when they figure out something about their children they can't quite agree with and he'll just never bring it up. It'll be this weird unspoken thing with us."

She raised an eyebrow at his suggestion about security at her home. "Hmmm...wonder if dad would agree with that or not. I don't see why he wouldn't though I can see him going 'what does Wayne get out of it?' or 'How much is it costing us?' That kind of thing." She laughed quietly at the mental image of her dad's reaction. "And I am going to write that up as soon as we get back. The request for R&D I mean. Feel free to look it over before you sign it and offer me any thoughts for improvements. Think I could throw in two escrima sticks with some kind of stun baton style shock end?" She shrugged, answering her own question. "I'll throw them in. If they don't have time, it's understandable." She glanced at him. "So...Rick. You said he won't lie if my dad pokes around. But if, say, he hears about a red headed vigilante using eerily familiar looking equipment?"

She scowled a little at the feigned confusion about wanting his guidance but she nodded anyway. "Follow your lead. Right. Got it Mister Wayne."

She nodded her understanding when he said it wouldn't be a full time job but she looked into his eyes when she said. "A day may come when I have to leave the office at odd times to handle unspecified emergencies. I'm sure you have these kinds of situations often. It'd be nice to have someone we both trust to handle things while we step out." She figured he'd play it off but also know what she meant. She also thought he probably still wasn't sure just how committed she was to this path but she was determined to plan ahead.

Barbara looked at the sales lady and nodded. "Yes please. And I'd really appreciate your guidance on it. Oh, and before I forget, could you write down those measurements you made earlier and give me a copy please? For the other outfit I mentioned I'll be picking up later from a different location."
 
"I don't think family calls you Master Bruce." Bruce pointed out with a chuckle. The facade, if indeed that was what it was, was firmly back in place. He shrugged at her mention of the holidays. "Well, you are in charge of the guest list for the Wayne Christmas gala, and you are certainly welcome to invite your father, as a guest, and not as security. Whether he enjoys it or not...well, that would be up to you, but I'm sure you could think up some sort of entertainment he would enjoy." He smirked as she mentioned the restaurant. "Oh yes, that really happened. You just gave your father a set of orders." He pointed out, then turned serious once again. "I can't promise I'll always take your suggestions, but I can promise I will always give them serious consideration."

"Well, if I don't see you put the armor on, I can't say for sure your wearing it." Bruce pointed out, then shrugged. "There are those who think Batman is employed by the GCPD...some sort of bogeyman they dress up as to try and keep the criminals in line. I'd imagine if pressed, Jim would come up with some sort of story like that, at least internally, rather than acknowledge how good his daughter looks in skin tight armor. As far as what Wayne gets out of it...just a good night sleep knowing my new assistant isn't going to be murdered in her sleep. If it makes him feel better, you can assure him it's not unprecedented. I provided a security system for Marcy when she started to get stalked by her former boyfriend. And if your willing to try an experiment, I'm sure Rick has some equipment he'd love to field test. I don't know if he has escrima sticks in stock or not, but I'm sure he'd love to try it out. But if you intend to take them on the bus with you next time, I'd suggest giving them a paint job...and maybe slap a Lexcorp logo on them as well." Bruce chuckled again, then shrugged. "If a lunch appointment comes up again, I'm sure Chloe would do a fine job of covering for you. When you do her paperwork, just make sure to include that clause, so she doesn't get in trouble with her supervisor."

"Of course, Miss Gordon." The saleslady said as she led Barbara back to a discrete corner of the building. Underwear was not what they were trying to push, but they had an adequate supply for cases such as this. "Is the style you are wearing now your preference? If so, I believe you would find these satisfactory." She said as she pointed to an array of well made bras fitted on mannequins. I would suggest a half dozen or so, so you'd only have to launder on the weekends." A flicker of annoyance crossed the ladies face at Babs suggestion that they didn't have everything she might need at their store, but it lasted only for a moment as the saleslady quickly scribbled down the measurements she had taken and handed it to Babs. No doubt the pile of dresses Bruce was add8ing to the pile (and the resultant commission) helped with that. And Bruce had clearly been paying more attention to their conversation than it seemed, as three of the dresses he picked out matched Chloe's eye color perfectly.
 
She shrugged. "Samwise Gamgee called Frodo 'Mister Frodo' but still carried him up the side of Mount Doom and they held each other when they thought they'd both die. Family comes in different forms Mister Wayne." She nodded at his mention of the gala. "Well, I'd prefer he's not working during a Christmas event, though he might insist on it to have money for presents or something. I suppose we'll see what happens when the time comes." She blinked when he spoke of the restaurant, she hadn't realized that was what she did until he pointed it out. "I...did. Didn't I?" She shook her head in amazement then nodded. "Of course Mister Wayne. I wouldn't expect you to."

She nodded at his not so subtle suggestion for how to give him plausible deniability about the armor. She snorted at his comment about the Batman conspiracy theory but blushed at the mention of how good she might look in skin-tight armor. She also nodded at his mention of the security system. "Good idea. It'd keep most people out I'm sure. Not Batman of course. He'd likely find a way around it if he decided to come visit for some reason." She smirked as she said it, not bothering to point out that he probably had backdoor pass codes to bypass such systems. She grinned at his comments about Rick and the paint job suggestion. "So, that's approval to paint any gear I get from R&D. Thank you Mister Wayne, I already have colors in mind. I may need to make a stencil for part of it as well. It'll wait until after this delivery mission though. And I'll mention field testing to Rick, that's a great idea. Can I give him an idea of what I may be doing? IE, the delivery mission, in generic terms of course."

She nodded at the comment about that clause and barely hid her surprise when he flat out said she'd be doing Chloe's paperwork. She glanced at him for a long moment. "Thank you for the trust Mister Wayne. And for helping Chloe out."

She smiled at the woman as they began to speak about the underwear. "Well, I guess I hadn't given much thought to the style of my underwear to be honest. I suppose I should start doing that. Also, do you have any sports bras? I probably need some of those though I suspect that's a bit less fashionable than what you carry." She nodded at the woman's suggestion. "Good idea. I'll do that. Same with panties." She smiled and took the measurements, noticing the flicker of annoyance but she couldn't exactly say 'it's for the armor I'll be getting later'. Ironically, she didn't need it written down, she could've just asked for the numbers but she wanted to be sure she had it just in case. "Thank you so much for your help with this. Is there anything else you suggest? Maybe a winter coat that would go well with the dresses?"
 
"Who?" Bruce looked at her blankly. Clearly 'Lord of the Rings' was not on his reading list. He shrugged at her mention of her father insisting on working. "Well, if he won't listen to you, send him to me. If that fails...we can sic Alfred on him." Bruce threatened with a laugh. "I'd offer him a Christmas bonus, but I know he wouldn't take it. Appearances and all that." He smirked as realization of the restaurant meeting sunk in. "Yes, you certainly did."

He laughed when she mentioned keeping Batman out of her house. "Well, there are those who think your father is Batman. Wouldn't be much of a security system if it kept him out of his own home. And any gear you get from R&D would be yours to modify as you like,,,within reason, of course. Rick won't expect it back...just reports on how well it worked. And yes, he's authorized to know about the delivery, just not what's being delivered. At least not until after its safe in our lab. After that. I expect he'll be pretty heavily involved in the research."

He shrugged when she thanked him for all but hiring her friend. "Just be warned, if this doesn't work out, you'll probably wind up doing her discharge paperwork as well."

"Of course, Miss Gordon." She took a few steps away and bent over, quickly retrieving a package of sports bras, in the correct size, of course. "And don't let the name fool you...its perfectly acceptable to wear them under your business clothes as well. You might discover some outfits lay better that way." The customer looked young, so she didn't feel too bad offering that bit of advice. At Bab's word, she retrieved a couple of packages of panties and added them to the ever growing pile. She nodded again at Bab's question about the coat. "Perhaps a small collection of sweaters as well? And I think you'd look stunning in a blue blazer. And perhaps a small purse in a matching color?" She suggested as she picked up a waterproof jacket that she estimated would cover the young woman to her knees.
 
She nodded with a smirk. "I think Alfred could get even my dad to go along. As for Christmas bonuses..." She shrugged. "Maybe we can figure out something where he will accept it. We have time to think it over." She smiled a little at him.

She snorted at the comment about her dad being Batman. "He would have fainted on Friday night then." She blushed, remembering that was the first time he'd seen her nude and quickly glanced at him. "Within reason hmm?" She bit her lip, her eyes sparkling. "I think Rick is either going to love or hate me depending on how he feels about my requests. Hopefully he'll find them an exciting challenge." She nodded slowly at the comment about the delivery. "Speaking of, I'm sure you can't give me details but is there anything I need to know under the circumstances?"

She nodded as he mentioned her discharge papers. "Well, since you're bringing her on partially on my recommendation, it's only fair I take responsibility. Even if it would be hard. That said, I don't think it'll come to that. If I did, I would have dissuaded you from giving her a chance."

She smiled at the woman's advice, nodding to her. She listened to the other suggestions and nodded, looking a bit nervous about the growing pile. She knew Bruce could afford it but she didn't want to take advantage. Still, she found herself asking in a bit of a quiet voice. "What about matching shoes and boots? I have some black flats but, well, you know. I should probably mix it up. And uhhh...they may not be up to the quality of the rest of this."
 
"I think Alfred stopped World War Two." Bruce joked, then shrugged. "If you can figure out a way for your Dad to take money without it looking like a bribe, please let me know." He told her as he returned her smile before he looked at her with puzzlement. "What happened Friday night?" he asked curiously, then nodded. "Within reason." He confirmed, then shrugged. "I don't think Rick will mind your requests. He likes a good challenge, which is why he has this job." He then shook his head. "Nothing I can think of. You covered everything pretty well at the meeting."

"Partially?" Bruce asked with a raised eyebrow. Chloe was pretty much bypassing the whole hiring process thanks to Babs, and he was glad Babs understood the reality of her role in it. "I hope so too. Firing people is one of the worst things about this job." He admitted, and smirked at Babs. "But now I have you to do it for me."

Bruce, clearly, had no qualms about the size of the pile Babs was making as he kept adding to it. The saleslady did her best to ignore him and focus on who the outfits were actually for. "Of course, my dear. If you wouldn't mind taking your shoes off so I can get the correct size?" That was one part of Babs body that hadn't been on her list to measure before. She didn't say a word about the quality, or lack thereof, of the shoes Babs was currently waiting, though she did examine them to determine what might fit her. She then led Babs to yet another part of the store, and removed a few pairs from the rack. Another pair of flats, but as Babs suspected they were of higher quality than her current pair. She also picked out a pair of sandals, some high heeled shoes, and of course the requested boots. "Why don't you try those on?" She suggested. Dresses were a bit forgiving when it came to size...shoes now so much.
 
She nibbled her lip thoughtfully. "Could it be as simple as a Christmas bonus for some job working security for you or something? Maybe have Alfred give it to him, like we've covered, Alfred can't be denied." She grinned at him then snorted at his question about Friday night even as her cheeks colored. She nodded at his confirmation of how Rick would react to things though she nibbled on her lip thoughtfully. "I suppose you'll have to sign off on things anyway, assuming Rick doesn't just start assuming my requests are essentially coming from you." She grinned slightly because she was hoping that was exactly what would happen.

She nodded at his reply about the delivery. "Well, I meant more...is there anything I should be concerned about regarding the item itself? Like...if the worst happens and a mercenary group attacks and somehow gets ahold of it is it 'damn it, that'll set back our research!' or is it 'if we don't get that back the whole city could be destroyed!' " She paused. "Though, I suppose if it was the latter, Coulson wouldn't have said that no costumed villains would have interest. Unless he just doesn't understand them."

She grinned at his reply about Chloe. "Well, I assume some of it has to do with her falling into your arms at the gala." She couldn't help teasing him a little. "But yes. I understand. I'm torn on whether to let her know how much I had to do with it. I'm afraid if I do, it'll make her nervous." She nibbled her lip as she debated with herself. "That and I don't want her to feel like she owes me or something. I think I won't tell her. Unless she asks directly." She grinned at him. "Discretion, you know?"

Barbara watched her measure her feet and made a mental note of the measurements for the armor request. She nodded at the woman's sensible suggestion that she try the shoes on and she tried on each pair the woman presented to her without complaint and even a bit of excitement. It was clear she hadn't really had shoes this nice before and she couldn't help a little bit of 'ooohhhhing' and 'awwwing' as she looked them over and tested out how they felt on her feet. "Thank you so much for your help. Do you think we have it all covered?"
 
"No." Bruce flatly shot down Bab's idea...clearly he'd already thought along those lines. "Even if your dad doesn't consider it a bribe, someone will report it to IA as such. Not a problem he needs to deal with, and an issue even Alfred can't solve, I fear. He raised his eyebrow at her reaction to his question about Friday night....and took note of her refusal to answer. "Do I need to order you tot ell me?" He teased her, then nodded. "And yes, I will have to sign of on your requests...unless you intend to start forging my signature. Which might make my job easier, come to think of it."

He shrugged when she asked for clarification about the delivery. "If we knew that much about it, we wouldn't have to study it." He pointed out. "But there's no indication it would destroy the city if it got out of its packaging...though you might want to ask Rick if he can include radiation shielding in your armor. And I think Coulson has had his fair share of colorful enemies, though I can't say anyone really understands them."

He chuckled when she reminded him of Chloe falling into his arms. "Well, that certainly didn't hurt." He admitted, then raised an eyebrow. "If Chloe can't make the connection between being hired as your assistant the day you came to work for me, and make the conclusion you were instrumental in getting her the opportunity, I'm not sure I'd have a place for her after all." Bruce doubted Chloe would have to ask...she probably took it as a given already.

The saleslady smiled at Babs reaction tot he footwear...it wasn't often she got a customer this excited. A lot of them seemed entitled or jaded, Miss Gordon was a pleasant surprise. "Perhaps a hat and a scarf to top off the ensemble?" She suggested, and of course said items were immediately placed on the table by her assistants. "And perhaps some pantyhose...a bit old fashioned, but your boss would appreciate it." She declared as she picked up a package, and ran the scanner over it. The clerk at the counter had been quite busy keeping up with all the clothes Babs and Bruce had picked out, but she'd managed it, and with a press of a button the sales slip began to print out...and it was well over a foot long. The saleslady didn't mention anything as crass as the bill, though, even as it was laid on top of the pile of clothing. "Of course, if you do find we missed something, you are welcome to return. Or just call, and we can have it delivered." She promised. It wasn't a usual service they offered, but after an order like this, she'd make an exception.
 
She frowned softly as he shot down her idea. "What if you gave it to me as a bonus then I gave him a cash Christmas present?" She blinked and then laughed. "Is that money laundering? Did I just suggest money laundering as a way to get my dad a Christmas bonus?" She looked at him thoughtfully as he persisted about Friday night and decided to test the waters a bit. "Well, when you write a program to invade someone's privacy, they take notice and sometimes they show up to tell you to stop it. And I think to get the measure of you." She arched an eyebrow at the signature forging idea, unsure if he was joking or seriously extending that kind of trust. She decided it was probably smart not to say anything about that.

She blinked at his comment about radiation shielding but nodded slowly. "Well, hopefully we don't have to find out what happens if the wrong sort get their hands on it. Truthfully, I'm surprised Coulson is giving it up to your R&D department. He strikes me as someone who keeps his cards close to the vest." She smirked. "Reminds me of someone else I know."

She nodded at his reply about Chloe. "I'm sure she will. But I don't intend to say anything about it. I don't want her to feel like I'm holding it over her head or something."

She was a bit in awe of this entire situation and she felt a little like she was in a movie where a girl suddenly got rich or, well, had a rich boss. She gave Bruce a bashful look, feeling a bit odd at spending so much, well, she assumed it was a lot. She'd thought she'd get a dress or two and she would have been grateful. She had no idea how much this was going to turn into and she bit her lip, waiting there while he took care of his end of things.
 
Bruce raised an eyebrow at her suggestion. "Your first day and your already talking about a bonus?" he said with a shake of his head, then shrugged. "I don't think it's money laundering. That requires an illegal source of cash, and I don't think working for me qualifies. " He then stared at her blankly when she tried to 'explain' about Friday night. "I have no idea what your talking about." He claimed, then chuckled. "Is this what its going to be like working with you? A typical example of teenage jargon I need a translator to make sense of?"

"Well, that is the plan...isn't it?" he asked, as she was the one who had sort of come up with the plan. He then shrugged. "Well, I got the impression Coulson has had it for a while and wasn't making much progress. Our labs are a bit more advanced than anything he has access to. " He pointed out, then blinked innocently at her. "And who might that be?"

If Bruce noticed the look Bab's cast at him after presenting the bill, he showed no indication of it. Nor did he seem to notice the bill on top of the pile of clothing as he wandered down the lingerie section. "What was Chloe's bust size again?" He asked as he held up a green bra that perfectly matched Chloe's eyes. The saleslady cast an awkward glance between Bruce and Babs. She'd thought they were done, but that didn't seem to be the case.
 
She rolled her eyes. "I'm not talking about a bonus for me. You mentioned giving one to my dad. I was just brainstorming a way to make it happen if you wanted to do it." She smirked as he pretended to be clueless about Friday night. Her not so subtle hint should have been obvious to him even if he wasn't Batman but she merely shrugged. "Of course you don't Mister Wayne."

She wasn't sure what to say to the idea that their R&D was more impressive than a secret government agency that she didn't even know the initials of. It only made her more excited at the idea of getting some quality time in R&D. She would have to be careful not to make too many requests and get carried away. She was pulled out of this line of thought by his question. She glanced at him with a smile when he asked who she was talking about. "Well, I am sure if you don't know then it's not for me to tell you."

Somehow she wasn't surprised he barely noticed the bill. For him it was probably like a trip to the corner store would be for her. She watched him wander down the lingerie aisle and for a moment she wondered if he intended to buy some lingerie for her, or far more likely, Agent Johnson. When she saw the bra and heard his question she cleared her throat and called out. "34B."
 
"You don't?" Bruce asked, as if Babs wouldn't want her dad to get a bit of extra cash. He then shrugged. "well, you did get Daisy to wear that dress. If you think that's worth a bonus, fill out the requisition." He told her, then shook his head. "Am I going to need a decoder manual to figure out what you are talking about?" He asked, then stared at her and shook his head as her next reply was just as cryptic. "Does Chloe speak in code as well?"

"Ah...that's what I thought." Bruce said as he brought the 34B bra to th4e pile of clothing and added it to the pile. The clerk glanced at the saleslady, who shrugged, and the clerk began to ring up another sales slip. Bruce glanced between the saleslady and Babs with a puzzled look on his face when neither seemed to be picking out any more clothes. "oh...did you want one too?" Bruce asked Babs as he turned to head back down the lingerie aisle.
 
She laughed. "There's a requisition for a bonus? And maybe I will fill it out on that basis." She shook her head, muttering under her breath. "Men." She looked at him. "A decoder manual? No more than I need one to interpret what you're really saying without coming out and saying it. And Chloe and I probably do speak our own language or will, as we grow closer."

She watched Bruce add the bra to the pile of clothing. "Well, uh...they got me some underwear." She shot the clerk and saleslady a confused look then hurried after Bruce. "Did you think I needed some other stuff as well?" She caught up fairly easily due to her long legs and fell into step next to him.
 
Bruce frowned in puzzlement, then shrugged. “I think so. I’ve never had to fill one out. Honestly I’m not even sure I get paid. And if you need a decoder manual for all the office acronyms, I’m sure Lucius has one. When you find it, get me one as well. “

“But not enough, is that what you’re saying?” Bruce questioned as he picked up a red bra, quite close to Babs hair color. He turned and held it out in front of her, as if gauging the size. “Did you want to try this on?” He asked her, then shrugged. “I don’t know what’s in your closet. Do you need anything else?”
 
She looked at him one more time. "I refuse to believe you're that out of touch. You can pretend if you like, you can put on a front of being a playboy. But there are some things I just don't believe. That you aren't intimately familiar with how things are for those who work for you is one of them."

She blinked at his question about whether it was enough and about whether she wanted to try the bra on. In spite of him having seen her naked several times now she turned a dark red nearly the same hue as her hair. "Well...uhhh...I can." She was thankfully distracted by his follow on question and she grabbed the bra as she shrugged, looking embarrassed. "I didn't plan my flight from my mother's very well. I had a backpack with some clothes and other necessities. When the Ghost Dragons attacked me, they stole them. Dad took me out and got me what he could on his policeman's salary. I figured once I got some paychecks I'd start to expand my wardrobe beyond the basics. I have enough clothes to last about a week or so now. As long as I wash them every weekend, I'll be fine."
 
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