The Path Least Expected
By Misha
Disclaimer- I don't own anything except the idea. The characters and the worlds belong to various people with more money than me.
Author's Notes- This is a Gossip Girl/Batman crossover, inspired by some awesome stories I've read. It begins immediately after "The Witches of Bushwick" and is in its own universe from that point on. I started this several years ago and while it is completely non-canon, I still like it. Crossovers aren't my normal thing, but I think this one works. I didn't pick any specific Batman verse, I just use the character and his details, though there is no Robin as I couldn't find a way to fit Robin in.
Pairings- Blair Waldorf/Bruce Wayne, Blair Waldorf/Chuck Bass, minor Serena/Dan and Serena/Nate.
Summery- Blair needed to make a name for herself in the world and then she could go back to Chuck and they could rule the world together, that was the plan, but when life lead her to Gotham, she began to wonder if fate had something else in mind for her. Post the "Witches of Bushwick". Blair/Chuck, Blair/Bruce.
Spoilers- Up to the "Witches of Bushwick"
Ratin- PG-13
1. Plans and Expectations
After losing out on the position with Anne Archibald's foundation, Blair does not fall apart. It is just one more setback and by now she's experienced with dealing with setbacks. After all, no matter how carefully Blair plans, nothing ever turns out the way she wants it too. She's learnt from her mistakes and this time she doesn't let it get to her, instead she takes a deep breath and carefully plans her next move. There are other charities, other ways she can make a difference and prove herself.
In the end it is Lily who points her in the right direction by telling her that the newly revamped Wayne Foundation is looking for a spokesperson, preferably a young woman who people would want to follow and who the media would want to cover. After her previous rejection, Blair is dubious, after all the Wayne Foundation is much more prestigious, but she applies anyway.
Gotham is close enough that she can manage both foundation duties and school if it comes to that. It's only a few hours by car, and Blair has always wanted to learn how to drive, and it's less than an hour by plane. Plus everyone has heard of the Wayne fortune and the young billionaire heir and Blair admits, if only to herself, to being intrigued.
Six weeks after she sends in her application she finds herself flying in the Bass jet, courtesy of Lily, to Gotham City for her final interview. It's her first time in Gotham, but the city doesn't make much of an impression, she's too busy concentrating on her interview.
She's nervous as she walks out of the elevator on the executive floor of Wayne Industries, but she does her best not to show it. After all, she's still Blair Waldorf and while her life might not have turned out the way she thought it would, she was not going to let it defeat her. She is going to make her mark and find out who she was without Chuck and then once she has done that, she can come back to him and they'll live happily ever after. While nothing else in her life has ever gone like planned, Blair believes that she and Chuck will get their happy ending.
She's shown into Mr. Fox's office and he rises to greet her. "Miss Waldorf."
"Mr. Fox." Blair says with a smile, greeting the CEO of Wayne Enterprises. Bruce Wayne might be the face of his family's company and the majority shareholder, but everyone knows that it's Lucius who's really in charge. Blair is grateful that her interview is with him and not Bruce Wayne, because one charming playboy billionaire is all that any girl can handle.
"You have an impressive profile for someone so young, Miss Waldorf," Mr. Fox praises, "you're beautiful, smart and you are well known in important circles, everything we've been looking for in our spokeswoman. I'm surprised that some other foundation hasn't snapped you up."
Blair can't stop the bitter little smile from appearing on her face, "I think they've decided that I'm not worth the risk." Maybe it's not the wisest thing to say, but at this point Blair figures there's no harm in putting all her cards on the table. "Apparently people are still judged by the company they keep."
"Not at Wayne Industries they're not," Lucius assures her, "we don't care who you associate with or what you do in your personal life. Mr. Wayne believes that any press is good press and as long as you give 100% to the foundation, then we don't care what you do in your private time."
Blair gets the unspoken message, that if she is given the position then she is expected to get press coverage and they don't care how she does it, as long as she keeps herself, and the foundation, in the news.
"In fact our only concern is your studies and whether you'll have the time to devote to our foundation," Lucius tells her.
"I am dedicated to keeping a 4.0 average," Blair admits, "however I've never had anything less and I don't see why there would have to be a conflict. I've always found time for other projects in the past and been able to keep up my studies, so I don't see why this would be any different." Blair doesn't want to get her hopes up, but this is sounding promising, so she hurries to reassure Lucius and hopefully seal the deal. "The foundation would be my top priority, along with school, and I think I can manage them both without any issue. From what I understand of my proposed duties with the foundation, most of my duties would be on the weekends, along with some evenings and the occasional midweek day thrown in. I assure you, I can make the schedule work."
Use of the Bass jet would help for sure, though Blair knew that sometimes she might have to fly commercial. At least until she learned to drive. She could even take the train, if she really had to.
Lucius smiles. "Well then, Miss Waldorf, if you think you can handle it, then I'm pleased to tell you that you are going to be the new face of the Wayne Foundation."
While Blair was getting a good feeling from the interview, she's surprised it's so simple. "Mr. Wayne doesn't have to approve?"
"He already did," Lucius informs her, "he picked the three finalists and then gave me the go-ahead to choose which one I thought was the best fit."
Blair accepts that explanation, because again, she'd heard that Lucius Fox was the real power behind the Wayne Empire and that Bruce Wayne was just a brainless playboy. It still feels too good to be true though and she can't stop herself from asking, "What about the other finalists, don't you want to interview them?"
Lucius smiles. "I already did. You were the most promising applicant, so I saved you for last. Any more questions?"
Blair smiles brightly, "just one. When can I start?"
The next month is a whirlwind of activity as Blair prepares to officially take on her new role. She's glad that she and Chuck are taking time apart, because juggling school, taking care of Serena, who is still recovering from Juliet's sabotage, and preparing for her new duties occupies all of her time.
She won't be announced as the face of the Wayne Foundation until a big gala on Valentine's Day, but before that happens she has to meet everyone in the foundation and read up on her responsibilities. It's not all parties and public appearances, the job entitles a lot of hard work, some of it very boring, but Blair's ready for it.
Not only will the Wayne Foundation be her way to prove herself, it'll also give her life a purpose it was missing. All the scheming and plotting of the last few years was starting to get to her and Blair knows there more to life than that and she wants to find it. She thinks the Wayne Foundation may be the way for her to do that.
Before she knows it, the big night arrives and Blair flies to Gotham, accompanied by her nearest and dearest. Nate is her official escort, because she needs one and he's easy. Nate's always been good at being arm candy. That's all it is now, everything else between them is long over and that's another reason why Nate is a good choice. He's agreeable, mostly because Serena's sort of back with Dan. Chuck is at the gala to support her, but neither he nor Blair brought up the idea of him acting as her escort, because the timing isn't right for them. So, Nate it is.
By the night of the gala, Blair still hasn't met the mysterious Mr. Wayne, though she knows he'll be at the gala, of course. Sure enough, he's waiting with Lucius to greet her. Blair has seen pictures of Gotham's most eligible bachelor, of course, but the pictures don't do him justice.
Blair has spent her life around beautiful boys, but Bruce Wayne still takes her breath way. It's not just his physical features, though those are divine, but it's the look in his eyes, a dark intensity that makes Blair think there's more to him than the world knows. He might come off as a brainless playboy, but those blue eyes with the hint of danger tell another story.
"Miss Waldorf," he says and his voice is deep and rich and sends a tingle down Blair's spine.
"Mr. Wayne," she acknowledges with a smile.
"Bruce," he tells her, offering her his hand.
"Blair," she counters, taking it.
As their hands touch, Blair is suddenly very glad that Bruce Wayne does not take a hands on role in the Wayne Foundation because too much time with this man could be dangerous. Her heart firmly belongs to Chuck, but apparently her hormones can be stirred by any bad boy billionaire. That attraction combined with the fact that there seems to be more to Bruce than meets the surface has the potential for complications that Blair does not want.
Blair resolves to keep their relationship strictly business as she quickly takes her hand back and introduces Nate. Bruce raises an eyebrow at her haste and there's a hint of amusement in those mysterious eyes and she suddenly feels like he can read her thoughts. Still, he politely greets Nate and then the talk turns to business.
A few minutes later, Bruce takes her arm and leads her to the front of the room. There's another rush of attraction at the contact, but it's overshadowed by the intensity of the moment.
"Thank you all for coming," Bruce says into the microphone, "and thank you for all your support. My grandfather started the Wayne Foundation as a way to give back to the community and to help bring his dreams of a better Gotham to life. In the years since my parents' death, the foundation has suffered but no longer. The Wayne Foundation will once more represent our hope for Gotham and for a better world."
There is a lot of applause at his words.
"I'd like to introduce the woman who is going to help us achieve that goal," Bruce declares, "please welcome the new face of the Wayne Foundation, Miss Blair Waldorf!"
The applause grows even louder as Blair steps forward, her reaction to Bruce forgotten as she basks in the glory of this moment. All these people are here for her. Finally, she's the start, not Serena, and it's glorifying to have one thing in her life turn out perfect.
"Thank you," she says, stepping up to the microphone, "I look forward to working with all of you and helping create a better world. The work the Wayne Foundation does is incredibly important and I'm honoured to be a part of it. I am lucky to have been born into privledge and that I've never known poverty or hunger and I wish nobody had to know those things and I'm glad for the chance to help."
The speech is well received, though honestly it is just as speech and Blair is still more into the idea of philanthropy than actually changing the world. She suspects that most of the people in the ballroom feel the same way as her. For the world that Blair belongs to, change means writing checks, not actually mingling with the less fortunate.
As Blair stands on the stage and basks in the applause, she finds her loved ones in the crowd. Serena is beaming, ecstatic for her, and her mother looks almost proud while Cyrus is beaming, her father and Roman have flown in for occasion and she can see the pride on their faces.
Blair finds Chuck, standing next to Serena and clapping harder than anyone else and their eyes meet. He raises his glass to her and she smiles back at him, both of them acknowledging what this moment means for them and the fact that they are now one step closer to their destiny.
Her instant attraction to Bruce and the complications it could pose are Blair's one worry about her new job, but thankfully they don't cross paths often in her first four months as the official face of the Wayne Foundation.
Bruce isn't actively involved in the foundation, though he does seem to be taking a bigger role in Wayne Industries from what Blair reads in the paper. However, he leaves the foundation business to Lucius Fox and its Lucius Blair deals with on the rare occasions she needs corporate approval for something.
She doesn't need much direction though, as her duties are pretty simple. She does a lot of lunches and hospital visits and fundraisers. It's strange, but the hands on part, the visits to hospitals and schools are actually her favourite part and she's actually touched by the people she meets and the stories she hears.
The Wayne foundation fills her life and thankfully it manages to do that without her having too much contact with the head of the foundation. The only time Blair crosses paths with Bruce is at the occasional cocktail party, where he's always accompanied by some brainless socialite and she has some safe, acceptable escort. Every time they meet, Blair can't help but recognize the chemistry between them, but she never acknowledges it and she and Bruce stay cordial strangers.
Until the day Lucius informs her that Mr. Wayne has requested to speak to her personally and she makes her way to his office.
"Mr. Wayne told me to send you right in," Bruce's secretary tells her with a smile.
She's not your stereotypical bimbo that you'd expect a brainless playboy to have as his secretary. She's in her late 40s, is very matronly and her eyes are very kind, but also very wise. Blair wonders if she acts as a mother figure for her boss and files it away as one more curiosity about the mysterious Mr. Wayne.
She returns the secretary's smile and then makes her way to Bruce's inner sanctum. Blair feels a flash of nerves at being called in front of her boss and instinctively smoothes the skirt of a suit that should be prim and proper but isn't. Instead, it's just a little too short and showcases her fantastic legs and her blouse is cut low enough to showcase a little bit of cleavage, that while not as impressive as Serena's, has never gotten any complaints.
It feels very un-Blairlike to show so much skin, especially at work, but the Wayne Foundation isn't Anne Archibald's stuffy charity and Blair knows that sex appeal is part of the reason she got the job, so whenever she's representing the foundation, she lets her risqué side come out. But only in the most appropriate faction.
One look from Bruce lets her know he appreciates the outfit. The attraction between them fills the air and reminds Blair why she's glad her contact with Bruce has been so limited.
"Blair," he says, standing to greet her, and she swears every time he says her name, her spine tingles.
"Bruce," she acknowledges, trying to fight her attraction to him, "Lucius said you wanted to see me?"
"Do you have an escort for the hospital gala next week?" Bruce asks her.
"Not yet," Blair tells him, "but I'm sure I'll have no problem finding one."
She has a small list of men, both in Gotham and New York, who made acceptable escorts and who, for various reasons, didn't expect a date to lead to anything more. If on occasion it did lead to something more, she was only human after all, they could also be trusted to be discreet. She usually left her choice of date to the last minute as it depended on what kind of mood she was in.
"I'm sure there are many eager escorts," Bruce acknowledges with a smile. "However, this time you won't need any of them. I'll be accompanying you."
Blair raises an eyebrow at the announcement. "Excuse me?"
"The hospital gala is one of the most important fundraisers of the year and I'd like to get as much press for the foundation as possible," Bruce tells her, "and what better way to do that than for me to escort the foundation's beautiful spokeswoman? The playboy and the debutante? The press will eat it up."
Blair is forced to acknowledge that what he is saying is true and part of her job is to get as much press as possible. However, she suspects that Chuck won't be impressed by this particular move, since Bruce is the kind of man he would see as a threat. But, they aren't together and he certainly appears in the tabloids often enough, furthering his bad boy billionaire reputation by being photographed in compromising positions with numerous women.
Blair isn't jealous because she knows that none of them mean anything to Chuck, just like her parade of pretty boys means nothing to her. Chuck is a very sexual creature and she always knew that he wasn't going to be celibate during their time apart and she accepts that, just like she knows that he understands that sometimes her escorts don't leave her at her door when the night is over. They've agreed to live separate lives until the time is right for them to be together and that's what they're doing. They're hearts belong to one another, but for now the bodies are unattached.
However, Bruce Wayne is a different kettle of fish than all the men she's been photographed with and she knows that a jealous Chuck is a dangerous Chuck. However, it's a good business decision and she'll just make sure that Chuck understands that.
"Pick me up at 8?" Blair suggests lightly, knowing she has no real choice. It really is a great strategic move to get press for the foundation and there are worse jobs than having to go on a date with Bruce Wayne.
Bruce grins and it lights up his entire face, including those mysterious eyes. "8 it is."
The night of the hospital gala arrives and Blair is ready by 8. She wears an Eleanor original, one designed specifically for the occasion. Her relationship with her mother is the best it's ever been, mostly because they don't see much of each other. Besides, Eleanor isn't one to pass up a good business opportunity and having her daughter show off her clothes as she represents the Wayne Foundation at various functions is the definition of a good business opportunity. It works for Blair, because her mother may lack as a parent, but she's an amazing designer and she knows Blair's strengths.
As Blair puts the finishes touches on her appearance, she realizes that she never gave Bruce the address of her Gotham apartment. Despite that detail, he is there at 8 sharp. Obviously Mr. Wayne employed a bit of detective work, especially since this address isn't on file with the Wayne Foundation yet. Blair only moved in a few weeks earlier, accept that after three months of travel that hotels weren't cutting it and that she really needed a Gotham base.
She wonders if she should be alarmed that Bruce was able to find her address so easily, but it is just another thing about him that intrigues her. They've barely spent any time together and the list of intriguing things about Bruce Wayne is already too long for Blair's liking.
"Blair, you look sunning." Bruce tells her and then he hands her a bouquet of roses.
Red and absolutely gorgeous. Roses might be Blair's favourite flower, but she can still appreciate their beauty. "You shouldn't have," she tells him, but takes the flowers anyway.
"I can never resist buying flowers for a beautiful woman." Bruce tells her with a smooth charm that assures her there's no ulterior motive to the gesture. There may be a sizzling attraction between them, but tonight is about business not pleasure.
"Thank you, they're beautiful." Blair tells him with a smile and she heads into her kitchen to find something to put the flowers in. Her apartment is woefully under-stocked, after all it's just a place to sleep, but she finds an empty plastic container that works. She silently vows to take them back to New York with her in the morning and put them in the crystal they deserve. After all beautiful flowers deserve to be shown off, no matter who they're from.
"I'm ready," she tells him, after the flowers have been taken care of.
He smiles and offers her his arm. She takes it, even though there are no cameras to impress in her apartment, but she understand that it's all about setting the tone for the evening. As soon as they get out of the limo at the hotel where the gala is being held, the cameras are waiting for them and they're ready.
Bruce's hand is on the small of her back and they both have brilliant smiles for the press. There are plenty of camera flashes and Blair knows her picture will be all over every society page in the state by the next day. Good ol' Gossip Girl will probably pick it up as well, even though B has moved beyond Gossip Girl into the big leagues. She's sure that Chuck will demand an explanation, but she'll tell him that it was just business and he'll understand, because he has no right to argue.
The night goes by in a blur. Bruce is a charming date and Blair finds herself having a good time. His conversation is light and easy and that should mean that he has as much depth as Nate, but the whole time Blair senses something more beneath the surface and it's just one more thing about him that intrigues her.
However, as fascinating as she finds Bruce, it's still just a business function and not a date and when Bruce sees her to the door that night, she doesn't invite him in. He doesn't ask or make indication that he'd like to make the evening more than it was and she's a little disappointed, despite herself. However, she acknowledges that it's for the best that they're keeping it professional, because she does not need to get involved this fascinating man.
That thought evaporates when Bruce pulls her towards him for a goodnight kiss that catches her completely off guard. Despite herself, Blair responds to the kiss, moulding her body against his.
The kiss doesn't last long, though it feels like an eternity while it's happening, and before Blair really knows what just happened, Bruce is pulling away. "I had fun tonight Blair," he tells her sincerely, "we'll have to do it again sometime soon."
The kiss has stunned Blair into silence, so all she can do is nod dumbly as she watches him walk away. That kiss didn't feel like just business and for the first time since she lost her virginity in Chuck's limo, Blair feels like she's in way over her head with a man. It's not a good feeling, Blair Waldorf doesn't like feeling overwhelmed or uncertain.
For a moment, she wonders if she made the right decision taking the job with the Wayne Foundation. It was move that was supposed to establish as a force to be reckoned with her and let her build her name and reputation to a point that she could marry Chuck and be more than "Mrs. Bass". It wasn't supposed to threaten everything she knew and cherished.
She tells herself that it was just a kiss and that it won't happen again. It was just a business dinner and it ended with a simple kiss goodnight, there was no expectation of anything more. It doesn't matter that Bruce is handsome and fascinating. She loves Chuck and that's what matters. Bruce isn't a threat to that, he's just a man who she went out with for business reasons and that was it.
There's also no reason why this evening has to be repeated, despite Bruce's casual comment. Her life can go on as it was, with her goals firmly in place. One kiss isn't going to change her destiny.
The day after her kiss with Bruce, Blair returns to New York. She has school and obligations, but she has to admit she's glad to be away from Gotham.
Before she knows what she's doing, she show up at Chuck's suite at the palace and kisses him. She know he's caught off guard, but he doesn't protest and a few minutes later they're in his bed. It's passionate and intense and everything she's come to expect about being with Chuck and it's just what she needs.
Afterwards, Chuck smiles at her, "I guess you've found yourself, huh Waldorf?"
Blair looks away, shame filling her. Chuck thinks that she's come back to him, that she's ready to be with him. It's been over six months since the Saints and Sinners ball and Blair has made a name for herself as the face of the Wayne Foundation, so she can see why Chuck would make that assumption. However… She still doesn't feel ready for that step or to let all the drama that comes with being with Chuck back into her life.
Chuck's smile vanishes at her hesitation. "What was this about Blair?" He demands, anger filling his voice. "Just an itch to be scratched?"
"No!" She assures him. "I just… I needed you Chuck."
"But not in a permanent, public capacity." Chuck says bitterly. "I still don't measure up as an appropriate escort."
"I'm not ashamed of you, Chuck." Blair tells him. "I just... It's never simple with us, it's all or nothing and I still need to figure out who I am before I lose myself in you again."
"Except in the physical sense," Chuck points out dryly.
Blair bites her lip, feeling like the lowest of lows. Because what just happened wasn't about needing Chuck or even about loving and wanting him. No, it was about trying to erase the fact that last night she kissed Bruce Wayne and she'd enjoyed it. That she'd felt something in that brief kiss that had scared her senseless.
"Chuck, you agreed to give me time." Blair reminds him desperately.
"And I have," Chuck answers, "I've spent seven months letting you find yourself, not saying a word while you go through a constant parade of nice boys. Hell, I haven't even mentioned the fact that you are on the front page of every society section in New York State this morning, hanging on the arm of one of America's most famous playboys. I've done my best to give you everything you need, however, I draw the line at casual sex."
"Chuck," Blair pleads, knowing he's right to be angry. "No," he says, getting out of the bed. "I love you, Blair, and I still believe in destiny and that when its right, we'll wind up together. But you can't come to me whenever you have an urge. Either we're together completely or we're not. It's your choice."
Blair hates herself as she gets out of bed and grabs her clothes. "I'm sorry." She whispers.
Chuck just nods and they get dressed in silence. Chuck leads her to the door and they've never felt further apart. It's never been like this with Chuck before, not even when they were trying to destroy one another.
"Blair, why did you come here?" Chuck asks her when they reach the door.
She looks at him with sad eyes. "Because I love you and I needed to remember that."
She doesn't offer him any more explanation, not wanting to explain her insane attraction to another man, and he doesn't ask for it. Their eyes meet and they both know that they're at a crossroads. Seven months ago it had seemed easy. They had both believed in fate and that it would lead them back together when the time was right. Now though, neither one of them is so certain, even if they won't admit it.
"I love you," Chuck tells her suddenly.
"I love you too." Blair tells him and leans in to meet his kiss. It's a surprisingly gentle kiss for Chuck and Blair and she hates how much it feels like goodbye.
"If two people are meant to be together they will be," Chuck reminds her, "I still believe that. I'll be here when the time is right for us, but until then…"
"I know," Blair says softly. She knows that this will be the last time she sees Chuck for a while, because after today they won't be able to even pretend to be friends. They may have to try for Nate and Serena, but Blair knows that she'll try and limit contact and she's sure Chuck will do the same.
"Take care of yourself," she says softly, placing a gentle hand on his face.
He places his hand on top of hers for a moment. "I'll try."
Blair nods and removes her hand and then turns and walks away, feeling more alone than she has in a long time. As she returns to her apartment, she's cursing Bruce for kissing her and herself for kissing him back. She's also cursing herself for going to Chuck for sex and ruining the fragile peace they had established.
It had all seemed so simple seven months ago. She had set goals for herself. She'd wanted to take the world by storm, make a name for herself, away from anyone's shadow, and then she was going to return to Chuck and marry him and they'd rule the Upper East Side together, like they were always meant to.
As Blair lets herself into her apartment and collapses on the bed, it hits her that life has a way of changing things on you before you even really notice. In one way things are falling into place, she's on her way to taking the world by storm and she's proving to everyone that Blair Waldorf can stand on her own two feet and be a force to be reckoned with.
That part of her plan is going just the way she wanted, but as she sobs into her pillow, its hits her that the rest might not. For the first time in years, she's not sure that fate will bring her back to Chuck and that terrifies her.