Fic: Strange Days
Title: Strange Days
Characters: Batman Returns Batman and Catwoman (a bit of the comics thrown in there too)
Disclaimer: Not mine.
“I’ve dealt with many bastards in my time. Mainly Schreck and mostly because I had to. Most of them were drunk, too. If that’s the reason you came here with your $2000 bottle of wine, then let me tell you, you’re in the wrong place. Now let go of me and get out!”
Bruce instantly released her arm.
“Selina, I--.”
“No. Just leave.”
He didn’t move. She didn’t either. He knew she wouldn’t. She might have years ago, but not now. She would stand her ground because he had made the mistake. She would have regardless, even if she had suddenly lost her mind and behaved so out of character. Why? Because she wasn’t afraid of him and he knew it.
He also knew she was furious with him and rightly so. He was pretty sure he couldn’t salvage the situation.
He took one small step away from her, but looked her directly in the eye.
“I shouldn’t have--I’m sorry.”
If he had to, he could force himself to focus, but for once, he had hoped to be free of calculating every move and the next ten steps. He just wanted to forget for a moment. He wanted simply to exist. With Selina. He really thought alcohol could help him do that.
However, the combination of alcohol, little control, no inhibition, and jealousy proved to be too much even for him and he let himself go too far.
“I came here to be with you.”
Selina sighed and held up a hand to stop him, “Bruce. Just go. I don’t want to talk about it.”
He picked up the turned-over chair upright and took a seat on it.
“I wanted to re-experience the effects to have a more vivid recollection of it when I’m out there.”
He gave her the line he had determined covered any question she might have best.
“Fine. But why come here?”
Bruce cast his eyes down and took a deep breath before speaking again.
“Because I knew you wouldn’t judge me.”
She sniffed in annoyance, “Why would you think that?”
He chanced a glance at her.
“Because you’re more accepting than anyone else I know. “ He took her hand and was surprised she let him, “You’ve seen me at some of my lowest points and you have yet to condemn me.”
“That’s not completely true,” she pointed out, “I’ve sent you to hell more times than I can count because you’re too stubborn to listen, but-”
“You don’t judge me,” he finished for her.
“We’re passed that. I didn’t know you’d get so chatty when drunk. I’ll try to remember it next time I feel like having a conversation with you.”
Bruce didn’t want to look too much into her words or her smile, but was she forgiving him?
“I don’t appreciate being mistreated. I’m done with that. I don’t deserve it.”
“I know.”
“So, don’t ever do it again.”
She was.
“I won’t.”
They stared at each other. Neither moved. Neither said anything. They simply stared.
“That was definitely a buzz kill.”
Bruce nodded in agreement, though, he was starting to feel light in the head.
“Maybe we should get something to eat.”
“Yes, I….”
His legs gave way and he was forced to sit down on the chair again.
“Bruce, you okay?”
“Just dizzy,” he replied.
“Okay, just relax. Take deep breathes. No, don’t shut your eyes. Everything will start spinning. I’m not going to clean up any mess you make.”
“Keep talking.”
“Why?”
“It’s helping.”
She laughed at him, her blonde hair bouncing as she did so.
“Since my lovely voice seems to sooth you, I’ll tell you about this friend I have. He’s tall, dark, and so very handsome.”
He peeked one eye open.
“Really?”
“Yes, really. And he’s incredibly smart and highly skilled in just about everything.”
“And?”
“And nothing. That’s who he is.”
“Sounds impressive.”
“He is,” Selina agreed, “But he’s also stubborn, obsessive, controlling, demanding-”
“Is that all?”
The irritation was visible in his face with his eyebrows arched in annoyance.
“I can go on. If you like?”
The dizziness passed and he stood up again.
“Then why spend time with this…friend?”
“I don’t know. He’s kind of grown on me.”
She caught the slightest tremor of his lips, which could only mean one thing. An oncoming smile.
“You know what? Stay right there.”
She ran to her room.
“Selina, what are you doing?”
She returned waving a camera in front of him
“What does it look like I’m doing? I’m going to take our picture.”
“You’re going to document this,” he corrected.
“Maybe it's just to torture you. Maybe it's because I found a picture of you and Vicky, in a hideous, white dress by the way, and it bothers me that there isn't any of you and I together. Or, maybe I want to know this really happened and I didn’t just imagine it. When I’m old and senile I’ll probably need proof.”
She set the camera on the counter and stepped over to Bruce’s side. She wrapped an arm around his waist and he around her shoulder.
The little light warning of the impending flash quickened and then the camera took their picture.
“I hope you get to be old and senile.”
“Gee, thanks.”
“You know what I mean.”
“I do,” she admitted, showing him their picture on the small LCD screen. “And I hope you get to grow old, too.”