Selina Kyle | Cat (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
fille_fatale) wrote2017-12-09 10:18 pm
fille_fatale) wrote2017-12-09 10:18 pm
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"Then what's keeping you away?" She realizes, after it's out, that this is probably too heavy a conversation for their first time back together in five years. "I mean that lake house of yours is good and all, but it's not--"
She cuts herself off. Is it weird if she says home? It's not her home.
She cuts herself off. Is it weird if she says home? It's not her home.
He fills in the blank. "Home?"
Her strong attachment to the manor doesn't go unrecognized. She has her own memories there and just like parts of this Gotham, it must seem like familiar ground. A connection. In his continued effort to be honest, he replies, "I'm afraid it won't be the same."
Her strong attachment to the manor doesn't go unrecognized. She has her own memories there and just like parts of this Gotham, it must seem like familiar ground. A connection. In his continued effort to be honest, he replies, "I'm afraid it won't be the same."
It makes perfect sense. Nothing is exactly the same when you rebuild. Still, the prospect of seeing it wholly different is more disappointing than she thought it would be.
"Yeah," she says, doing her best to shake it off. "I know. I mean, it's obvious."
She leans back in her chair, letting out a breath. It's not her home. It makes her antsy, anyway, so there's no point in being bothered by it. "So what made you start? Rebuilding."
"Yeah," she says, doing her best to shake it off. "I know. I mean, it's obvious."
She leans back in her chair, letting out a breath. It's not her home. It makes her antsy, anyway, so there's no point in being bothered by it. "So what made you start? Rebuilding."
[He got up roughly the same time she did, after making sure the hand on his shoulder had properly balanced her. A few steps later, and he was stopped just long enough for her to kiss him again.]
[To some, it might have seemed like a goodbye kiss. Bruce knew better.]
[A few whispers and murmurs surrounded them as they headed towards the back hallway together. Full of suspicions and making every assumption. He paid them little heed as they reached the door, and he punched in the security code that would allow them access to the stairwell. Stopping to allow her to go first once more.]
[To some, it might have seemed like a goodbye kiss. Bruce knew better.]
[A few whispers and murmurs surrounded them as they headed towards the back hallway together. Full of suspicions and making every assumption. He paid them little heed as they reached the door, and he punched in the security code that would allow them access to the stairwell. Stopping to allow her to go first once more.]
[The sounds of the club, the people in it, turn into ambient noise: she's already tuned out his friends, and she feels people watching. She barely notices.
Making an annoyed sound when she sees the door needs a key code, Selina steps out of the way to let Bruce punch in the pass. No quip comes to mind fast enough, so she pushes through the door once it's open and nearly trips on the first step. It makes her laugh, and she peels her shoes off without stopping, taking the rest of the stairs barefoot.]
Making an annoyed sound when she sees the door needs a key code, Selina steps out of the way to let Bruce punch in the pass. No quip comes to mind fast enough, so she pushes through the door once it's open and nearly trips on the first step. It makes her laugh, and she peels her shoes off without stopping, taking the rest of the stairs barefoot.]
[Bruce's shoes were a little easier to manage in,, and he took the steps at precisely her pace, reveling in the look of her silhouette in the darkened stairwell. The way her laughter echoed off the walls. The door at the top was opened with a single push of the handle--]
[The air was cool and refreshing and, were he a few shots shy of his current condition, it may have even sobered him up a little. For the time being, however, Bruce continued to ride his alcohol-induced high as he closed his eyes and inhaled deeply.]
[It was quiet up here. Perhaps one of the few quiet places left in this part of the city. The sounds of street life continued on below, but were muted to the point where one could almost ignore their presence. There was no one around to see them. And he was 90% certain he had closed the bottom stairwell door behind them, meaning there shouldn't be anybody coming up anytime soon to disturb them either.]
[For the first time since...well...before...they were alone.
[The air was cool and refreshing and, were he a few shots shy of his current condition, it may have even sobered him up a little. For the time being, however, Bruce continued to ride his alcohol-induced high as he closed his eyes and inhaled deeply.]
[It was quiet up here. Perhaps one of the few quiet places left in this part of the city. The sounds of street life continued on below, but were muted to the point where one could almost ignore their presence. There was no one around to see them. And he was 90% certain he had closed the bottom stairwell door behind them, meaning there shouldn't be anybody coming up anytime soon to disturb them either.]
[For the first time since...well...before...they were alone.
He's gone to great lengths to make it as similar to the original as possible. It won't be wholly different, just new. But he'll know it's new, a substitute for the grand old lady that shaped him. When it's finally finished, he'll take her on a tour. Hopefully it won't disappoint.
There's so much he could tell her in reply that he doesn't. It means giving up too many details about a life she knows nothing about. He sticks strictly to his public life when answering, his expression both sad and serious. "A lot of good people were killed in Metropolis. Wayne Financial was destroyed. It took a long time to get through that."
There's so much he could tell her in reply that he doesn't. It means giving up too many details about a life she knows nothing about. He sticks strictly to his public life when answering, his expression both sad and serious. "A lot of good people were killed in Metropolis. Wayne Financial was destroyed. It took a long time to get through that."
[The air is bracing, and once she's out in the open, Selina closes her eyes and tilts her head back, filling her lungs. Everything always sounds better, up here - the city was still there, a comforting backdrop of noise, but quieter. It was like the city giving her a place to think.
She's a few drinks shy of him, and she hasn't been drinking like this for the past God knows how many days, weeks, like he has. It helps clear her head a little, of the thrum of the speakers downstairs, the crowd of too many bodies.
Turning around to face Bruce, she lets her mouth quirk up in a half smile.]
Just going to stand there?
She's a few drinks shy of him, and she hasn't been drinking like this for the past God knows how many days, weeks, like he has. It helps clear her head a little, of the thrum of the speakers downstairs, the crowd of too many bodies.
Turning around to face Bruce, she lets her mouth quirk up in a half smile.]
Just going to stand there?
"I read about that." The truth is, Metropolis - for all that they could manage decent pizza - had freaked her out from the start. Learning that aliens were an actual thing had left her the most off balance she'd felt in the past five years, ever, maybe, and it had made her miss her Gotham more than it had any right to. Just seeing the clean up from whatever fight Superman had gotten into in the city had been enough to send her packing pretty quickly.
She hadn't spent a lot of time thinking how it might affect him, but then, she hadn't paid much attention to the businesses that had been taken down. The white collar world never had much of her concern.
Bruce earned a lot more of it than she was ever comfortable admitting.
Nothing she could say would help here, she knows it: it would sound empty, or unnecessary, and those aren't really things Selina cares for. When they were kids, there were a few times, when bad things would happen, that she would just hug him. It had been easier than finding the right words.
She's not a kid anymore, and he's not the boy in her memories. She doesn't hug him. She does reach out to settle her hand on his, fingers curling around his in a quick grasp.
She hadn't spent a lot of time thinking how it might affect him, but then, she hadn't paid much attention to the businesses that had been taken down. The white collar world never had much of her concern.
Bruce earned a lot more of it than she was ever comfortable admitting.
Nothing she could say would help here, she knows it: it would sound empty, or unnecessary, and those aren't really things Selina cares for. When they were kids, there were a few times, when bad things would happen, that she would just hug him. It had been easier than finding the right words.
She's not a kid anymore, and he's not the boy in her memories. She doesn't hug him. She does reach out to settle her hand on his, fingers curling around his in a quick grasp.
He appreciates her gesture more than any platitude she could have offered. Squeezing her fingers gently with his thumb, he doesn't try to flip his hand in her grasp or withdraw.
The owner descends on them a second later, bringing the first round of plates. The elderly gentleman smiles, bobs his head, and says a few more words to Bruce in Manderin. Bruce in turn is first in agreement, then slightly taken aback. Lastly dismayed.
The owner descends on them a second later, bringing the first round of plates. The elderly gentleman smiles, bobs his head, and says a few more words to Bruce in Manderin. Bruce in turn is first in agreement, then slightly taken aback. Lastly dismayed.
The timing is good, and the food comes before she feels like she has to let go. The food itself smells great, though she will, in true Gothamite fashion, act as if it's just good enough.
Selina doesn't waste time serving herself, but she pauses when she sees the reactions playing across Bruce's face.
"What?" Her eyes dart between the two men. "What's wrong?"
Selina doesn't waste time serving herself, but she pauses when she sees the reactions playing across Bruce's face.
"What?" Her eyes dart between the two men. "What's wrong?"
I'm enjoying the view.
[Spoken genuinely, even though he was very cheekily grinning at her.]
You're having fun. You're smiling. It's nice to see.
[Spoken genuinely, even though he was very cheekily grinning at her.]
You're having fun. You're smiling. It's nice to see.
I smile. I have fun.
[It's less defensive than it might normally be: she feels a little less like she has to defend herself. Dropping her shoes, Selina heads to the ledge, though she's at least aware enough of her BAC not to jump up on it.
She just looks out at her city, and for once doesn't first think of how gross it is, how bad it smells.]
I'm also drunk.
[She turns to smile at him over her shoulder, crooking her head in an invitation to join her.]
[It's less defensive than it might normally be: she feels a little less like she has to defend herself. Dropping her shoes, Selina heads to the ledge, though she's at least aware enough of her BAC not to jump up on it.
She just looks out at her city, and for once doesn't first think of how gross it is, how bad it smells.]
I'm also drunk.
[She turns to smile at him over her shoulder, crooking her head in an invitation to join her.]
I know. So am I.
[Though not enough to miss that invitation. It had him crossing the last remaining space between them until he was standing right at her side. Arms resting on the raised surface, looking out and down onto the city lights below. A breeze blew at his face, lightly tousling his hair.]
[Though not enough to miss that invitation. It had him crossing the last remaining space between them until he was standing right at her side. Arms resting on the raised surface, looking out and down onto the city lights below. A breeze blew at his face, lightly tousling his hair.]
[She leans against his shoulder once it's there, turning into the breeze. It sends her curls bouncing, and she looks up at him - he just kept growing, she feels like he's gotten two feet taller since they first met - with an immediate smirk.
Reaching up, Selina ruffles his hair, mussing it up. He always looked too put-together - maybe less, tonight, but his hair was still so well coiffed that she wanted to ruin it.]
That's better.
Reaching up, Selina ruffles his hair, mussing it up. He always looked too put-together - maybe less, tonight, but his hair was still so well coiffed that she wanted to ruin it.]
That's better.
[Only not so long ago, it seemed like Bruce still had to look up at her to meet her gaze. Now, the situations were reversed, and...for some reason, he still felt like he was looking up at her. Just not physically.]
[Then he blinked, and her hands were in his hair, and he had to pull back before freeing himself. Not before the damage was done, however. And he...pouted.]
Hey!
What was that for?
[Then he blinked, and her hands were in his hair, and he had to pull back before freeing himself. Not before the damage was done, however. And he...pouted.]
Hey!
What was that for?
Bruce addresses the owner one more time, saying something Selina will undoubtedly recognize. A simple thank you and then they're alone again as he retreats. "He said you have a beautiful smile," he confesses. "He also thinks you're my daughter."
[He pouts, and she wonders how he always looks so wounded--
--in the back of her mind, where she's still mildly aware, she knows exactly how he manages that--
--but she smirks up at him despite it.]
Trust me, it looks better.
--in the back of her mind, where she's still mildly aware, she knows exactly how he manages that--
--but she smirks up at him despite it.]
Trust me, it looks better.
[He nearly goes cross-eyed trying to look up and discern the damage. Pausing only when she insists her preference for the messy-haired look. That...seemed to alleviate him some, but there was a moment's pause in which the pout had yet to fade.]
[Until it did.]
[Because he had an idea. A stupid idea. But an idea.]
Yeah? [He took a step forward.] What if I repaid the favor?
[With that, he playfully darted his hand out, intending to mess with her own locks.]
[Until it did.]
[Because he had an idea. A stupid idea. But an idea.]
Yeah? [He took a step forward.] What if I repaid the favor?
[With that, he playfully darted his hand out, intending to mess with her own locks.]
She doesn't bother trying to cover her smile when she catches the old man's meaning. She does, at least, hold back the last.
"He should get his eyes checked," she says, keeping her voice light. "We don't look anything alike." A pause, and then Selina shrugs: his eyesight was good enough to pay her a compliment.
None of that stops the smile. "You are looking gray around the edges, though."
"He should get his eyes checked," she says, keeping her voice light. "We don't look anything alike." A pause, and then Selina shrugs: his eyesight was good enough to pay her a compliment.
None of that stops the smile. "You are looking gray around the edges, though."
[If she was sober, she'd see it coming long before it does. As it is, she only gets a second's leeway where she tries to dodge out of the way, ducking down to avoid his fingers.
It reminds her of their food fight, just a little, but they're a bit past if you hit me, I'll let you kiss me.]
No way! [She steps back, laughing.] My hair's perfect as is!
It reminds her of their food fight, just a little, but they're a bit past if you hit me, I'll let you kiss me.]
No way! [She steps back, laughing.] My hair's perfect as is!
He can take the good natured ribbing. The gray doesn't bother him as much as it used to. "My father started going gray in his late 20s. I consider myself lucky I made it to at least 40."
"No idea what he had to go gray over." She murmurs it, momentarily distracted; at least forty, he said. He's probably more than twice her age, now, and she can still remember when she was taller than him. It's strange, like deja vu is strange, only the weird part is that she hasn't been here before.
The moment passes, and the smirk comes back full force.
"I should probably just be glad you haven't gone full on silver fox on me."
The moment passes, and the smirk comes back full force.
"I should probably just be glad you haven't gone full on silver fox on me."
Looking back, he knows he wasn't the easiest child. Disappearing for hours on end without telling anyone where he was going was fairly routine. He must have driven them crazy with worry. "Don't wonder off, dear," his mother often told him, maintaining her composure. He's drawn out of the self-reflective moment by her smirk.
"Give it time."
"Give it time."
"I'm not really the patient kind."
She doubts there's a Selina Kyle out there, in any universe, who is. "It kind of suits you, anyway." She reaches up, fingers brushing the gray along his temple. "Makes you look--" she purses her lips, looking for the right word, and shakes her head.
"Never mind. Distinguished makes you sound dull."
She doubts there's a Selina Kyle out there, in any universe, who is. "It kind of suits you, anyway." She reaches up, fingers brushing the gray along his temple. "Makes you look--" she purses her lips, looking for the right word, and shakes her head.
"Never mind. Distinguished makes you sound dull."
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