(For chesstotem )

[gcpd]

It was a few days since the night he got beat up. The Batman was all over the news and it was the hot topic. Had he really returned? Hadn't he died? Those were the questions people were asking, but they obviously weren't going to get any answers. John arrived at her hotel just as he said he would. After parking in the underground parking lot, he took the elevator to the lobby and then another elevator to her floor. He was still pretty bruised up along with his cracked rib but his face was getting better.

When he got to her floor and walked down the hall, he knocked on her door.

Comments

[chesstotem]

Ariadne was waiting for him - she'd already ordered Chinese from a little place a couple of blocks over that did delivery. She opened the door with a bright smile. "Hey there. Exciting couple of days, huh?"

[gcpd]

"Hi," he said in return. "Yeah I guess." John laughed a little.

[chesstotem]

She ushered him in. "Food should be here soon, I hope you don't mind Chinese."

[gcpd]

"Chinese is good." John was in a tshirt and jeans. Gotham was going through a heat wave at the moment. "How was work?"

[chesstotem]

"Not bad, I'm not getting too much crap for not knowing anything about football," she joked, going to the little kitchen area. "Want something to drink? I've got water, soda, wine, there's a wet bar..."

[gcpd]

"Waters fine," he said as he sat down on her couch. He turned on the tv.

[chesstotem]

She poured them each a glass, glancing up at the TV. "I thought the Batman was dead. Heard he blew himself up," she said.

[gcpd]

"I guess he didn't die after all," he replied. He snuck a glance at her and then took his glass. "Thanks."

[chesstotem]

She smiled. "It's good, though, right? I mean, it sounds like he did a lot of good for this city. Even before he saved it from that bomb."

[gcpd]

"Yeah he did." he took a sip of his water as they showed the Batman on the batpod racing through the streets of Gotham.

[chesstotem]

She shook her head at the images on screen. "It's so weird, though. Like something out of an action movie."

Not that she really had room to talk, given some of the things she'd done in the past.

[gcpd]

He shrugged. "It is." He slung his arm around her shoulders.

[chesstotem]

She glanced at him critically. "How are you? Still on pain meds?"

[gcpd]

"I'm fine," he said before turning to kiss her cheek.

[chesstotem]

"Your lip looks like it's starting to heal a bit," she murmured, touching it gently.

[gcpd]

He smiled a little and then puckered his lips to kiss her fingers.

[chesstotem]

She grinned sheepishly at him. "I really like spending time with you," she admitted.

[gcpd]

"I like spending time with you too," he said. "You're basiclly perfect company."

[chesstotem]

"Yeah? I'm glad." Just then the phone rang, and she picked it up.

"Hello? Great, I'll be right down.

"Food's here," she announced. "I'll be right back."

[gcpd]

"Alright." He watched her go.

[chesstotem]

She came back a few minutes later with a couple of bags, smelling strongly of sweet and sour and other delicious things.

"I've got chicken or pork, your choice," she said. "Also some egg rolls and a few other things. I always get way too much when I order Chinese."

[gcpd]

"My choice? Then both." He grinned and followed her to the kicthentte.

[chesstotem]

"Both?" She laughed. "Well, okay... Here, I'll split it up so we both get some of each." She pulled out cartons and started switching food around.

[gcpd]

"Good idea."

[chesstotem]

She offered him a carton and a pair of chopsticks.

"I called your building manager yesterday, I'll be looking at an apartment tomorrow afternoon," she said.