CHAPTER FOUR - A MUCH-NEEDED QUIET

The aroma of warm coffee drifted through the air as Taylor settled into a small corner booth of an old diner. The rain outside had softened to a faint drizzle, blurring the neon lights into smears of pink and blue against the windows. Inside, the low murmur of conversation and the clatter of dishes created a soothing background hum.

She tugged her hood down, her damp hair clinging to her face. The warmth inside was a welcome change from the biting chill of Gotham’s rooftops, and for the first time in what felt like days, she allowed herself to relax.

The waitress, a tired-looking woman with a kind smile—Doris, according to the name tag pinned to her faded uniform—approached with a coffee pot in hand. “Refill?”

Taylor nodded, sliding her mug closer. “Thanks.”

“Not from around here, are you?” the waitress asked, pouring the coffee with practiced ease.

Taylor hesitated. “What gave me away?”

The woman chuckled. “You’ve got that look—like you’re trying to figure out whether to run or stay put. Locals stopped wondering a long time ago.”

Taylor didn’t have a response for that, so she just nodded politely and wrapped her hands around the warm mug. The waitress took the hint and left her to her thoughts.

Her swarm drifted lazily at the edges of her awareness as she took several sips, scattered throughout the city like an ever-present whisper. She wasn’t actively searching for anything—just keeping tabs, ensuring nothing too dire demanded her attention. For now, Gotham seemed… calm. Or as calm as it ever got.

She traced a finger along the edge of her cup, letting the remaining heat seep into her skin. It wasn’t often she allowed herself moments like this—moments where she wasn’t constantly planning her next move or keeping watch over the city. After everything she’d been through, sitting in a quiet diner felt almost surreal, like she’d slipped into someone else’s life.

The door jingled as another customer walked in, shaking off a rain-soaked jacket. Taylor glanced over briefly from the scratched surface of the diner table—a man in his forties, looking haggard but harmless. He didn’t give her a second glance, heading straight for the counter.

The waitress returned with a fresh pot of coffee. She topped off Taylor’s mug without asking and offered her a tired smile.

“Another late night?” Doris asked, her voice warm but tinged with curiosity.

Taylor gave a noncommittal shrug. “Something like that.”

“Thought so,” Doris said, tapping the side of her temple. “You look like you don’t sleep much.”

Taylor managed a faint smile. “Guilty.”

“Long as you’re not out there causing trouble,” Doris said lightly, but there was an edge of concern in her tone.

Taylor shook her head. “No trouble. Just passing through.”

Doris seemed satisfied with that answer and moved on to another table. Taylor returned her gaze to the rain-speckled window, letting her thoughts drift.

It had been days since her meeting with Robin, and even longer since her rooftop encounter with Batman. For someone who hadn’t been in Gotham long, she was already brushing up against the city’s most dangerous personalities. Not exactly how she’d planned to start.

They’d both left impressions—she thought about Damian and his sharp words, about Batman’s warning, about Gotham itself. The city didn’t care who you were or what you wanted—it chewed people up and spat them out, and Taylor wasn’t naïve enough to think she was an exception.

Still, Gotham didn’t allow for hesitation or regret. She’d learned that quickly enough. You moved forward, kept to the shadows, and made the smallest ripple possible. It was a delicate balance to maintain—help where she could, but avoid drawing too much attention.

For now, though, it was quiet.

Her phone buzzed faintly in her pocket, pulling her back to the present. She fished it out and glanced at the screen. A text from her landlord—if you could call the guy who ran the crumbling apartment building a landlord.

Heat’s out again. Might be a couple days. Sorry.

Taylor sighed, slipping the phone back into her pocket. Of course. She’d picked the cheapest place she could find, and it showed.

Her fingers drummed absently on the table as she debated her next move. She didn’t have anywhere pressing to be tonight, and staying in the apartment sounded miserable. Maybe she’d head back to the library, lose herself in a book for a few hours.

But even as she considered it, she knew she wouldn’t. She’d end up walking the streets again, keeping an ear to the ground for anything out of place. It was a habit she couldn’t shake, even now.

The man at the counter stood up, paid his bill, and left, leaving the diner quieter than before. Taylor finished her coffee and signaled for the check. Doris brought it over with another smile, and Taylor left a tip larger than she could really afford.

“Take care out there,” Doris said as Taylor pulled her hood up.

“I will,” Taylor promised, though she wasn’t sure she believed it.

The rain had stopped entirely by the time she stepped outside, the city shimmering with reflections of neon and streetlights on wet pavement. She stuffed her hands into her pockets and started walking, her boots scuffing softly against the ground.

For now, she’d take the calm for what it was, even if it wouldn’t last. It never did.