RP for bruisedwayne

[rattle_thecages]

Her day at the office had been largely uneventful. Aside from going through some paperwork all she'd had to do was deal with one of Matt's less-than-pleasant clients. Rachel was up to the task in this regard. For her friends she reserved her playfulness, and kindness for strangers, but when it came to slipping into lawyer mode she was a cold statue

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[bruisedwayne]

The trip to New York had been a short one. It pays to own a Gulfstream. But Bruce was late. Lunch was over three hours ago.

"Rachel," Bruce called out as he stepped into her office. "I hope that's not what Murdock's hired you for because I could always tempt you to work for me instead. I've got a whole library of books to catalog and organize, if that's in any way a perk for you. Plus, Pepper says I should get myself an assistant." Bruce turned and thanked the legal clerk for showing him the way in and no, he won't be needing any coffee, but yes, it would be great if she could get Monique a cab.

[rattle_thecages]

Rachel nearly dropped the books in her hands. She sucked in a sharp breath, and Bruce thanking the clerk allowed Rachel to slip into the casual veneer he was offering her. Which, she should have realized, was the only one he could give her.

"Pepper says a lot of things, most of which you shouldn't listen to particularly if it involves pictures in any capacity." She placed a hand on her hip, tilting her head to regard him. "And I'm pretty certain cataloging your library would be the least of the assistant's problems. Besides." A crooked little grin. "I'd probably take over in a day and then where would you be?"

[bruisedwayne]

"I'd be more than happy to sit back and watch," Bruce replied, rewarding the clerk with a lazy smile as she offered to take his coat. She'd probably take his sock too if he were to give it to her. "I'm sure you taking over what I do, or rather what I don't do-" Lucius Fox was back to being in charge of Wayne Enterprises; Bruce had refused to accept his resignation. "-will provide sufficient entertainment for a least one lifetime. I can already imagine the headlines. ... 'Rachel Dawes. PA. Personal Assistant turned Party Animal.'"

[rattle_thecages]

Not for the first time Rachel's struck with how effortlessly he played his part. No one would guess he was the same person that would bleed into the night avenging his city. Rachel watched Anita fall over herself, obviously aware who he was because who didn't know Bruce Wayne?

She rolled her eyes in mild amusement, her voice kind but firm when she said, "That'll be all, Anita."

Rachel waited until the girl scurried away - not without another awestruck glance back at Bruce - to answer him. "I think I'll leave the - what was it the papers called it? Philandering to you. I couldn't possibly do it as well."

A beat. "How are you, Bruce?"

[bruisedwayne]

Bruce knows how to create a smokescreen. He's a master at that. He plays his part well and his audience never needs further convincing. What you see is what you get with Bruce Wayne is the message he tries to convey. But it's one Bruce has failed to convey to Rachel for some time now

[rattle_thecages]

She was taken aback. She wasn't sure what she had been expecting from him. Maybe something a little more than conversation regarding coffee after months of non-communication and everything they'd gone through. His life of smokescreen and mirrors wasn't hers. She regretted she hadn't mastered the poker face he had, was unable to stop the evident way in which her face fell, however momentarily.

And then she recovered - she always did.

Something had shifted and she knew it was in part because of what she'd said during their last conversation.

Dropping to her own chair across from him, she shook her head slightly. "I'll pass, thanks."

Sarcasm aside, she cleared her throat a little, at a loss as to how to proceed. "How's Alfred?"

[bruisedwayne]

The intricate web of lies and deception he'd built for himself was one Bruce needed to fortify and maintain. He'd given it a great deal of thought; deciding that it'd be best if Rachel knew nothing more about it. Why pull her into a game he'd trapped himself in when he can leave her out of it?

She's in New York. She's safer here than she'd ever be in Gotham. Bruce wants to believe that. The less she knows, the less lies she'll have to make up to cover the truth. Alfred once told him that Batman can make the right choices, the difficult choices. This is one of them. He's going to keep her out because it's the only way he can protect her. Bruce has to face his demons alone

[rattle_thecages]

"Party." She nodded her head, headlines already floating inside her head, black and white images of him and his pearly whites amidst an adoring crowd. "Of course."

Rachel's problem was she always looked back. It didn't matter how many times she walked away, or how long the road had stretched with every step she took. She looked back. And a part of her would always, always hope she'd see the little boy staring back at her, the boy she'd loved.

That boy was gone now.

Maybe it was easier to pull away.

"I like the job well enough," she said softly, fingers tracing the law book in front of her. "It's not the courthouse." Not that she'd been able to step foot in it since. It's not Gotham. "But this is who I am so. I filed a motion to practice here. I don't have to take the bar exam because New York has a reciprocity agreement with Gotham and - "

She broke off. "I don't want to bore you with the details."

[bruisedwayne]

He wasn't bored but he'd certainly managed to look the part as he played with the paper clips on her desk. She'd already begun to aid him on, and he was allowing her to do it.

"That's great, Rachel. I'm happy for you." He was losing her to New York but that was fine. He'd already lost her to Harvey Dent once and then to the Joker. And when compared to that last one, the Big Apple should be something of a relief.

"I'll have Alfred drop by to see you in the evening."

[rattle_thecages]

Her lips pressed into a thin line. She didn't know if he understood - if he really understood - how much she'd needed to see him. Her stomach coiled and churned and she realized it was because she'd been holding her breath from the moment he strolled into her office talking about coffee.

She missed him, in ways she could not express with mere words, but she didn't miss him like this.

"Is - " she lifted her gaze, "Is this how it's going to be from now on, Bruce?"

[bruisedwayne]

Trust Rachel to cause a crack to appear in the surface of his disguise. Instead of answering her, Bruce stayed silent for a long moment, continuing to stare out the window, watching the clouds in motion. It had rained all day.

"I told you I'd bring some of Gotham with me."

[rattle_thecages]

Please talk to me she wanted to cry out, but she didn't. The words remained lodged in her throat until she felt she would choke on them, until she felt all she could do was follow his gaze to the window.

Everything came with a price. She'd set her sights too high and this was all that remained, silences resting in between them. This was the price. Distance. Secrets. Regrets. And death. There was so much death.

"Yes." Her voice was light, barely wavered. "You did tell me."

Please talk to me she wanted to cry out, so she had to.

"Just...talk to me Bruce? Please?"

[bruisedwayne]

The plea had cut through him like a blade, and Bruce decided to close some of the distance between them. He perched himself on the edge of her desk and fixed his gaze on her.

"You were right, Rach," he said. "You were right all along. ... We're not meant to walk the same roads. ... Don't you think it's high time we both stopped trying to play catch up?"

[rattle_thecages]

She bit her lip, bit hard on it until she felt the taste of blood swirling in her mouth. There was truth in everything she had ever told him. She'd never wanted him to pin all of his hopes for a normal life on her. But whatever life had made of them - her a lesson and him a symbol - whatever he chose Rachel had always planned on being there. "I wouldn't know how it works," she told him, swallowing thickly.

She'd been missing Gotham something fierce and Bruce was Gotham.

Maybe you really can't go home again.

"If that makes it easier for you..." she closed her eyes briefly. "I didn't think we'd play catch up. I just wanted to be your friend and for you to be mine and have it be like before but that's-" she finally smiled at him sadly, biting down on her lip again to keep it from shaking, "-that's not possible anymore, is it?"

[bruisedwayne]

"We are friends, Rach. But if you're interested to know the details of my life, the National Enquirer covers the interesting tidbits. You could always subscribe." Bruce canted his head to the side, watching her for a reaction as he continued, "You never mentioned you were seeing someone."

[rattle_thecages]

It was a cold bucket of water. She laughed, though it held no mirth, cheeks red with the sting. "How very gracious of you, Bruce, I'll remember to sign up and ask if there's a package deal."

"Talks about Mocha Latte and Little Italy don't exactly translate to me wanting to talk about the more private aspects of my life." She looked away from him, blinking furiously. "But I am seeing someone. Just very recently. Sorry there's no magazine for you to subscribe to regarding the details of it."