(no subject)
That first Christmas, she got him a tie. It was a joke, really. Even with the mansion burned down, even with Bruce Wayne reportedly dead, he was still a rich man - he could've had a tie studded with diamonds if he'd wanted one. It was a joke, but he'd taken the small, plainly wrapped package without cracking a smile, without even a thanks.
That didn't bother her. The guy was Batman, after all, it wasn't like she could have expected much from him. A week later she spotted the plainly wrapped package, still intact, resting on a forgotten shelf to the far left of the computer console. It sat there for a week before she took it upon herself to do away with the thing. The boss never commented, and the silence seemed a small kindness. He'd always been good at not dwelling overly long on her embarrassments and missteps.
The following year she bought a ring. It was sturdily built, like Bruce. A solid, brassy metal, bearing a noble shield at the head of it. It was very Bruce, and a good find. She kept it for two days before returning it to the store. Christmas came and went with no exchange of gifts between them. There was no comment on the matter, and there didn't need to be.
This year, she hadn't glanced once at the calendar other than to know the date. Christmas was a day, the same as any other. There were no frivolous purchases, the same as there weren't the rest of the year. But there was a plan of Luthor's coming to fruition, and Bruce had put her on security detail while they broke into his Nevada facility. There was work to be done, the same as the rest of the year, and Carrie's focus never wavered.
That didn't bother her. The guy was Batman, after all, it wasn't like she could have expected much from him. A week later she spotted the plainly wrapped package, still intact, resting on a forgotten shelf to the far left of the computer console. It sat there for a week before she took it upon herself to do away with the thing. The boss never commented, and the silence seemed a small kindness. He'd always been good at not dwelling overly long on her embarrassments and missteps.
The following year she bought a ring. It was sturdily built, like Bruce. A solid, brassy metal, bearing a noble shield at the head of it. It was very Bruce, and a good find. She kept it for two days before returning it to the store. Christmas came and went with no exchange of gifts between them. There was no comment on the matter, and there didn't need to be.
This year, she hadn't glanced once at the calendar other than to know the date. Christmas was a day, the same as any other. There were no frivolous purchases, the same as there weren't the rest of the year. But there was a plan of Luthor's coming to fruition, and Bruce had put her on security detail while they broke into his Nevada facility. There was work to be done, the same as the rest of the year, and Carrie's focus never wavered.