Chapter Seventy-Two

After the triumphant completion of their covert operation, the victorious group made their way back to their cabin.

All the girls decide to celebrate with drinks but exhaustion soon took over, and one by one, they succumbed to sleep's embrace.

Jayden who had Just returned not too long after dident mind how quiet it was and just wanted to go straight to sleep.

Jayden, sandwiched between Selina and Lola, found himself drifting between consciousness and slumber.

.....

(The Early Morning)

The early hours of the day passed quietly, but eventually, the sun's warmth and the increasing daylight nudged some of them awake.

Jayden's drowsy eyes blinked open to a sight that initially left him befuddled.

His arms were securely wrapped around a warm body, and as his gaze wandered, he realized that the bed was more crowded than usual.

Ivy, Selina, Lola, and Harley were all there, sleeping soundly in a jumbled heap of limbs and blankets.

His confusion must have been written all over his face, because Selina, the first to stir, greeted him with a soft smile.

She placed a gentle finger against his lips, forestalling any questions he might have had. "Shh, it's all right," she murmured, her voice a soothing balm. Her bedhead also being all over the place as lone strands of hair stood at attention.

"After we successfully wrapped up the mission, we came back here to unwind a bit. Things got a little out of control."

As the memory of the night's celebration and laughter began to trickle back into his consciousness, Jayden felt himself relax.

He nodded, a faint blush on his cheeks, and silently thanked Selina for understanding the situation.

"You sent me a text that everything had gone smoothly...but are you alright." Propping himself up on an elbow, Jayden listened intently as Selina recounted her role in the mission.

Her voice was low, almost conspiratorial, as she detailed how the mafia men had been sent away via helicopter, and by this point Ivy's control over them would have waned.

But Ivy had already implanted a few memories into them so they wouldn't find it suspicious. Jayden was glad to hear that.' Hopefully, now that that's taken care of...no...hell no, im not jinxing it again.'

As their conversation continued, Jayden's gaze couldn't help but wander to Harley, who was still deep in sleep beside him.

In a comically adorable scene, he noticed that she had managed to drool a bit on his chest. Suppressing a laugh, Jayden pointed it out to Selina, who couldn't help but grin mischievously.

Quiet laughter filled the cabin.

As the morning sun filtered through the curtains, Jayden found himself cocooned in a nest of bodies, Selina's and Harley's warmth closest to him.

In the midst of this cosy tangle, a question that had been lingering at the back of his mind slipped out.

He turned to Selina, his voice soft with curiosity, "Doesn't it feel weird to you that other women are sleeping with us?"

"Especially with me here."

Selina's response was immediate, her tone casual and unaffected. "Not really. I've spent plenty of nights sharing a bed with them, and Harley has a habit of sleepwalking into our rooms back when we lived together." Her nonchalant demeanour revealed that their sleeping arrangement was far from an anomaly in her life.

Intrigued, Jayden propped himself up on his elbow, a slight smile playing on his lips. "You've piqued my curiosity now. How did you all end up together in the first place?"

Selina's gaze softened as she looked at Jayden. She paused, contemplating how much to reveal.

Before she could find the right words, Jayden leaned in and placed a gentle, chaste kiss on her lips. The gesture spoke volumes – an unspoken assurance that she could share her story when she was ready.

With a grateful smile, Selina watched as Jayden rose from the bed. He asked if she wanted to join him, but she declined with a playful wink, hinting at her desire to luxuriate in bed a little while longer.

As the door closed behind Jayden, signalling his exit, all the girls opened their eyes.

They had been awake all along, choosing to remain still and silent. Ivy, Harley, and Lola exchanged knowing glances.

Lola, ever perceptive, looked at the door and then at her friends. There was a hint of love in her gaze, a promise of something brewing beneath the surface.

A silent exchange passed between the four women, a mixture of secrets, camaraderie, and the unspoken agreement that they were in...

"Alright, now that Jay's gone let's have that talk Harley..."Lola said with a smile that wasn't really a smile.

Harley gulped but nodded.

"Do you need me here, if not ill head off to the gar..." Though before Ivy could finish her sentence, Lola had interrupted her and said she needed to speak with her as well.

Lola didn't know how they would react to what she was about to say as it sounded kinda crazy...but if there was something she was not, that would be a coward...

"I..."

....

( Location: Deck 15 - Sea View Area!)

Meanwhile, on the deck of the ship, Jayden stood at the ship's prow, looking out at the vast expanse of ocean before him.

The breeze carried a sense of tranquillity, and the rhythmic sound of the waves provided a soothing backdrop. He watched as the ship cruised through the waters, its path clear...

He could already catch a glimpse of the outline of their next destination – France.

The intercom crackled to life, and a cheerful announcement filled the air, declaring their imminent arrival in the country of baguettes and art, in just a matter of hours.

As Jayden absorbed the peaceful scene, he couldn't help but reflect on the journey he had embarked upon.

What had begun as a seemingly ordinary cruise had unfolded into a series of events that were anything but ordinary.

With a contented sigh, Jayden continued to gaze out at the horizon.

As Jayden stood at the prow, his eyes fixed on the horizon, his thoughts involuntarily drifted to Raven, his beloved pet cat.

He had entrusted her care to Alfred and he wondered how she was doing, hoping that she wasn't causing too much mischief back in Gotham.

...

(Location: Midtown - Gotham City)

While lost in his thoughts, the scenery shifted, transporting the narrative back to the bustling streets of Gotham.

A towering building encased in a chilling layer of ice dominated the scene. Batgirl, Robin, and Batman moved in precision, taking down the thugs that Captain Cold had brought to the city.

The icy villain had ventured out of his usual haunt in Central City to cause chaos in Gotham, but little did he know what was waiting for him.

Amidst the confrontation, a distinctive sound cut through the tension – a meow that sent shivers down Captain Cold's spine.

It was a sound he recognized from his nightmares, that had started a few days ago. A sound that had haunted him.

His icy exterior betrayed a flicker of terror as his gaze shifted upward. Perched in the shadows of the rafters was a figure that struck fear into his heart – a cat adorned in a bat-inspired costume.

Bat Cat had arrived!!!!!!

*Nununununununununununununununununu Bat Cat!!*

Frozen in both body and mind, Captain Cold could only watch as Bat Cat descended from the rafters with agile grace.

"YOU DIE TODAY YOU FELINE DEMON!!!!"

Captain Cold shouted in anger as he pointed his Freze gun at Bat Cat and shot, but she gracefully dodged it in mid-air.

The sight of the feline vigilante landing on his face was the culmination of his worst fears. Sharp claws made contact, and his scream echoed through the icy chamber.

In a flurry of fury, Bat Cat unleashed a swift attack, leaving a trail of scratches and ensuring that Captain Cold's face mirrored his icy moniker.

Amidst the chaos, the Bat Family – Batgirl, Robin, and Batman – observed the scene with amusement.

It was a familiar yet unexpectedly entertaining sight. But the addition of Bat Cat to the mix had introduced a new element of surprise.

"Bat-Cat!!!"

Batman's authoritative voice called out, breaking through the momentary laughter.

Bat-Cat leapt off Captain Cold's prone form, her fierce demeanour blending with the shadows. Batman's powerful presence commanded attention as he threw one final punch, rendering the icy villain unconscious.

With Captain Cold now unconscious, Batgirl swiftly turned her attention to the colossal computer that held the key to the city's safety.

Her nimble fingers danced across the keyboard, navigating the digital labyrinth of the weapon's control system. As the minutes ticked by, her determination was matched only by her expertise.

After skillfully hacking into the mainframe, Batgirl's efforts bore fruit as she successfully shut down the icicle reactor – a device that held the potential to plunge all of Gotham into an icy abyss.

Her voice echoed through the chamber as she announced her victory, "Alright, I've managed to turn off the Reactor. Now I only need the detonator device and to deactivate the other…"

Her sentence trailed off abruptly as the trio of heroes turned their attention to the unexpected arrival of Raven.

In a comically unfortunate twist of fate, Raven unknowingly triggered a device that eerily resembled a detonator. Tension hung in the air as Robin's nervous inquiry filled the space,

"Babs, that wouldn't happen to be the detonator, would it?"

With a wry smile, Barbara's response confirmed their suspicions, "I'm afraid it is."

Batman, known for his stoic demeanour, found himself at a loss for words as he processed the absurdity of the situation.

"Coool...cool, cool, cool, cool, cool... and what per say would happen if said detonator was activated." Before Barbara could offer an explanation, an unexpected event unfolded.

The gravity of the moment was punctuated by the arrival of an unexpected event – an earthquake that shook the very foundations of Gotham. Citizens everywhere were taken aback by the sudden tremors, their faces etched with shock.

Then, as if scripted by the hand of fate, the sky ignited in a brilliant display of light, casting an iridescent pulse that stretched across the horizon for miles.

The once-ominous weapon had been disabled, and the threat it posed had vanished in a flash of brilliance.

Amid the chaos, Batgirl's focus shifted to the enigmatic Bat Cat, who moved away from the detonator with an expression of sheepishness.

"Batgirl, what just happened?" Batman inquired, seeking answers, but Barbara remained silent. Instead, she gestured toward the window.

Batman stood there in a momentary daze, his typically unshakeable demeanour momentarily disrupted.

Robin's eyes widened in amazement as he looked outside, the awe apparent on his face.

Meanwhile, Bat Cat, having playfully moved away from the detonator, watched the scene unfold with a sheepish yet fascinated expression.

As the unexpected events transpired, the heroes were left contemplating the mysterious pulse of light that had transformed the Gotham sky.

....

(Back with Jayden)

"Yep, she's probably fine." Jayden said completely unaware of what had just transpired in Gotham at that very moment.