FAULT LINES ━━ titans [REWRITING]

TWENTY FOUR.

The lobby was silent. Empty, save for a single elderly lady, pleasantly trimming the small potted plant upon a cabinet in the hallway to the elevator. Abby's gaze lingered on the only occupant for a moment, then she followed Dick to the directory found on the touchscreen podium.

He looked up to her as she approached, his voice low and hushed, "Only one inhabitant."

She glanced down at the screen. Adamson, Penthouse suite. Her eyes met Dick's again.

"Why are they always in the penthouse?" Abby muttered, raising a dark eyebrow.

Dick smiled, shrugging softly. "Evil corporations must pay well."

Abby chuckled ironically, casting him a look, "Look to Lex Luthor if no one else."

The two walked away from the podium in sync, beginning to make their way towards the lift at the end of the mirror-clad hallway. Clicking the upwards arrow, Abby stepped back from the doors and waited for it to arrive, folding her hands in front of her patiently. She turned to look over her shoulder only to find Dick, taking a step forwards, glaring challengingly at the security camera positioned in the corner opposite them.

Abby's voice came out unimpressed, but not unsurprised. "Can you try not to piss them off before we arrive? I'd like to get at least one sentence in before having to get in a fist fight with someone."

"You? Talk?" Dick turned around, looking to her with a raised brow. "Since when did you talk first, throw punches later?"

"Well I didn't beat the shit out of you when I first saw you at Hank and Dawn's," she pointed out without missing a beat.

Dick crossed his arms, his voice taking a lighter intonation, "I'd like to see you try."

"I bet you would, Batboy," Abby scoffed, lips crackling into a smile.

His nose scrunched up in contemplation, his words teasing, "From what I've seen so far, I'm not too worried, Bird Brain."

"Oh really?" Abby challenged, her brows lofting.

Before Dick could reply, the grey-haired woman from the lobby appeared beside them, voice polite and friendly. "Butterscotch, dears?"

The two watched her for a moment, then cautiously took one each from her open palm. They nodded in thanks, and she beamed brightly back at the duo. Their gaze didn't leave her back as she walked away, but the lift arrived with a ding and they clambered in.

On the way up, Abby gazed out of the glass walls, watching the city below grow smaller and smaller until they became ants beneath her boot. Sometimes the height still made her stomach drop. She lifted her gaze, turning her head as her eyes settled on Dick beside her.

"Big building," Abby mused aloud, "Wonder why it's only them."

The brunet shifted to look at her, a smile tugging at his lips, "We're about to find out."

Abby's eyes trailed to the scene before her as the lift slowed to a stop. "Great."

"I like our odds," Dick smiled softly, confidently, eyes still on her, until she met his gaze and he faced towards, pushing through the glass door of the penthouse elevator.