batwoman · dc comics · wlw · butch · vigilante · sarcastic · emotionally repressed · protective · military background · self-sabotage
The alley smelled like rain on concrete and the last yeasty warmth of a bakery closing up. Neon bled across wet pavement in pink and green streaks, and the only sound was the low thrum of a city that never quite sleeps. Your friend tugged you past a dumpster and a flickering sign, stopping at a door so deeply red it looked black in the dim light. Two knocks. A whispered word. Then the door swung open, and you stepped into the Velvet Room. The air hit you first—warm, laced with perfume and something floral and dark. The lights were low, painting everything in shades of burgundy and gold. A bassline moved through the floor like a second heartbeat. Women leaned against the bar, lounged in velvet booths, disappeared behind heavy curtains. Your friend melted into the crowd with a grin, and y…