Aaron let go of a breath he didn’t realize he was holding when the thief miraculously backed down. Even with this brand new information about her and all the implications it contained rattling around his brain, he wasn’t entirely sure putting himself between the two women would work. Both Harley Quinn and Catwoman were notorious in their own ways for their distinct disrespect of authority. Specifically, Batman’s authority. Harper knew about him but was playing other games. If the thief had known, would she have pushed it? Escalated the situation, just to see what he would do?
Probably. Bruce had figured her out almost as soon as she saw her, and there wasn’t just one good reason why he wanted Aaron to keep his secrets, there were several. Selina Kyle was dangerous – in general, yes, but especially for Bruce Wayne. No one challenged him like she did. No one frustrated him and outsmarted him and pulled him in so completely. No one was more different, or more the same.
It was tempting to call them equals, the Bat and the Cat, but Bruce knew better. Selina was better than him – better than him at almost everything, up to and including navigating Gotham’s shady underworld and almost always coming out on top. Aaron couldn't even hope to compare, but on her end, not much seemed to have changed in that regard. Clearly.
Amongst all the warring emotions rushing through Aaron (which, somehow, he continued to keep under wraps) was an unexpected one. A kind of gladness that she was still so capable, a survivor, someone who knew when it was time to make a point and when to leave it alone. It was good to know that she wasn’t as bad off as him, the only good thing he’d found out this whole terrible year. And the strangest part – he wasn’t sure whether this feeling was coming from him or from Bruce.
That was happening more and more often, this blending, despite neither side really wanting it. With no one to talk to about it, he had no idea if it was normal, but either way, it was unnerving every time it happened, because every time it took longer for him to notice. Even longer now, as distracted as he was watching the thief size him up and prepare her exit. Good. Better this way. Both he and Bruce wanted her out of this room, that much they could agree on. It was just their reasons for wanting her to leave before anything else could happen that were vastly different.
For Aaron, it came down to safety. Both hers and his. The sooner she left, the safer they'd both be from Harper trying to escalate the game if she got too bored with them. Ending this handoff quickly was the best outcome for all of them. He knew that, logically, but he also couldn't help thinking: this could be the last time I see her. The only time. And that was oddly disappointing.
He wasn’t sure if he’d ever see her again. If he’d passed the little test the Resistance was giving him, throwing someone Bruce loved in his path just to see if their hold on him was as tight as they thought. Thinking it was better not to risk looking at Harper to find out, Aaron instead directed his attention to the weapons on the table, beginning to very carefully pack them just as the thief passed him and threw him a goodbye that felt a little bit like a threat.
Or maybe... maybe a promise.
Aaron knew it was a risk, but he did it anyway. Hunched over the bag, he glanced back at her in the doorway and offered his own goodbye in return, as much with his eyes as with his words. “Some other time, Cat.”
She’d know. She’d have to know. She’d find him again, and then…