Sylvana had just entered the Batcave when she saw a young man struggling with a torpedo. Her eyes widened as she saw the screw holding the cradle together plink to the floor, and her small hand flew to her throat as she watched the torpedo fall.
Miracles of miracles, the young man caught it. Refraining from applauding, afraid that it would break his concentration and the torpedo would slip from his grasp, Sylvana instead silently made her way over and positioned herself opposite him.
She crouched slightly and took up some of the weight. "Need help?" she asked without looking up at him.
"Just don't drop it," he responded as he began, with her help, to push the torpedo into place.
Finally, with a small clang, the weapon was in, and Sylvana leaned back against the Batwing as Brad slid the hatch shut.
"That thing's heavy," she said with a sigh.
"Yes, thanks for the help. Who are you?"
She pushed away from the fighter and held out a hand, "Sylvana Lorrdain, Terra Eleven." She smiled disarmingly.
He took her hand and shook it firmly, "Brad Corletti, Terra Ten."
"So, do you take care of the starfighters here?"
He laughed, "No, just my Batwing," he motioned to the fighter she'd helped load.
"You pilot this?" she turned and apraised the black ship, then for the first time saw the yellow symbol. Then she smiled, "That's great."
"I own it, rebuilt it after a crash."
She turned and smiled, "That's very cool, you must be talented."
"Thanks."
She leaned back against the starfighter again, folding her arms as she regarded him silently. He raised an eyebrow and looked at her appraisingly in return. Then she smirked, "So, what're you doing up at this hour, moping about the Batcave?"
"I'm not moping. Just not ready to sleep yet."
"Insomnia?"
"Night owl."
Sylvana thought a moment, "No."
"
No?"She then pointed her thumb back to the fighter she was leaned against. "Not owl, Bat." then she smiled again.
He finally smiled as he shook his head. "Okay, fine. A Bat, but I'm not wearing that cape and cowl, nor the tights."
"I never said you had to!" Sylvana opened her eyes wide in feigned innocence.
"I know, I just thought it'd be good to let you know," the smile soon disappeared. "Would you mind not leaning against my B-wing?"
Sylvana instantly moved away, "Sorry."
He nodded his thanks. "What are you doing up so late?"
She shrugged, "Can't sleep well at night, I guess. I'll take a nap come morning, prossibly."
"Prossibly isn't a word."
She flashed him a bright smile, "It is now."
He shook his head as she moved away from the Batwing, and began to circle it in wonder. "I've never seen a B-wing before."
"You haven't?"
"Not outside of books and film, no," she replied from behind the ship.
"Well, now you have."
She finished the circuit in silence, "Yes, now I have." She looked at him uncertainly, "Are you always this brusque?"
"I beg your pardon?"
"Are you always this brusque?" she repeated. "So . . . short with people."
"I'm not short."
"Yes you are, and you should smile more often - you're too serious."
He frowned at that observation. "Well, I think I've earned the right to be serious."
"Have you?"
He nodded.
"Then we need to get you the right to be a bit less," she smiled.
"Do you make it a habit of talking like this to perfect strangers?" he asked her suddenly.
"I know your name, so we're not strangers," she laughed.
He sighed, "Go on, get out of here," he waved to the door.
She moved up to stand right before him, and looked up into his eyes, arms akimbo. "What if I don't want to?" she said defiantly.
"Then I stun your arse and put you out."
"Well, if you put it that way," she half smiled. "I guess I have to!"
When she turned and started to walk away, he went back to tinkering on the B-wing. She was halfway to the door when she turned around, and silently ran back over to him. "Oh, Brad?"
"What now?" he sighed, from where he was crouched down, a hydrospanner in one hand.
She leaned down and kissed his cheek, "Lighten up." With bell-like laughter, she turned and quickly left the Bat-cave.
"Batty newbies," he grumbled as he swiped at his cheek and went back to his tinkering.