Twenty Years Ago…
Bruce revved the engine of his Ducati motorcycle scaring the brunette who had her feet dangling in the river below. They were on the outskirts of the Wayne property where they usually met to have some privacy. She was dressed in a short pair of jean shorts with nothing but a bikini top on. Bruce felt all the breath leave his lungs as she slinked her way over to him. He stared in fascination as her hips swayed from side to side in a seductive manner that he was sure she wasn't aware of. Rachel Dawes had always been able to take his breath away.
"Last night at Wayne Manor. I thought we could take a swim for old times sake," Rachel smiled at him revealing two rows of perfect white teeth.
"You realize it's the middle of the night, right?" Bruce glanced up at the sky and all the twinkling stars. He couldn't help thinking that he should be anywhere but there at that moment. He had been in love with Rachel for years but knew that it would never work between them. She was level headed and destined to make something of her life while he was reckless and lived off his dead parent's dime. He wished he could say that he had direction in life but the only thing that kept him focused was the beautiful woman in front of him.
"What? Are you afraid of the dark," she questioned while slipping her shorts off and tossing them towards the bushes. "I promise to keep you safe."
"There are quite a few horror movies that start like this," Bruce said unbuttoning his shirt. "We get into the water but are then grabbed by a sea creature who takes us to the bottom to make us his late night snack."
Rachel snickered; a breathy sound that made Bruce's heart beat faster. It didn't take him long before he had discarded all of his clothing except his boxers. Rachel turned away from him and jumped into the water sending little droplets back towards him. The water was seasonably warm despite the slight chill in the air.
"Come on coward. I don't have all night," she complained splashing her hands against the surface to wet him even more.
Bruce smiled before running into the water and grabbing her around the waist. They both went under sputtering when they reached the surface. Rachel pulled away from him running towards the other shore but he stopped her mid way and dunked her under again.
"You give up," he asked. Bruce had her in his arms dangling her right over the water.
"You wouldn't dare."
Bruce raised an eyebrow and let her go causing a big splash. Rachel came up laughing while she rubbed the water out of her eyes. It was a scene they had played out many times before. He felt his heart flutter knowing that tonight would be the last. Unlike the movies there wasn't going to be a moment when he swept her off her feet and told her that he couldn't live without her. Although it was true he couldn't stand in the way of her dreams and he knew he wasn't it.
"I'm going to miss this," she said standing to her feet till they were almost eye level. A piece of hair had fallen in her face and he subconsciously brushed it back and behind her ear. He heard her slight intake of breath and wished for once that she were feeling half of what he felt for her.
His relationships had never been easy but he didn't understand why the one with whom he truly loved had to be so complicated. For some reason it had just never been the right time and now it seemed like it was too late. They were both heading off to college and two different lives.
"I'm going to miss you," she whispered and he finally noticed the tear that was streaking down her face. Without thought to the consequences he bent to kiss away the tear on her cheek. He pulled away to gage her reaction licking his lips and tasting the salt from her skin. Her gaze seemed to pinpoint on his lips before he pulled her against him and crashed his lips against hers.
Bruce felt electricity tighten the muscles through his body a feeling that was both painful and pleasurable all at once. Rachel felt like putty in his hands opening and tightening, as he wanted. Her response to his kiss drove him crazy awakening feelings in him that he felt long dead. He grabbed her hips and lifted her into his arms till she was straddling him. His feet carried them to shore and deposited them on his jacket that he had thrown away earlier.
"I want you," she said huskily into his ear.
All the breath in Bruce's body seemed to depart at the three words she had whispered into his ear. There wasn't anything he wanted more than to make her his but he knew that she would regret it the minute it was over. They had been good friends but that was as far as it could go. So through the last few kisses he placed on her lips he decided to do the noble and pulled away.
"We can't do this," he said sitting up on the hard ground. He took a few deep breaths hoping that he could get his desire for her under control. As it was he was close to throwing the whole noble thing out the window and making love to her right there.
"Why not?"
"We're friends. Not to mention I have a reputation to protect and it wouldn't look good for me to be with you," he said feeling his own heart break at the pain that was suddenly filling her eyes.
"What does that mean," she asked letting her anger punctuate each syllable. Rachel stood to her feet grabbing her shorts from the bush and pulling them up her shapely legs. He watched her try to button them but she failed two times before giving up and searching for her shirt, which she must have gotten rid of earlier. He could see the slight tremor in her limbs as she pulled her shirt over her head and started walking away from him. "You know what? Never mind. You're not my type anyways."
He wasn't sure if he should go after her so he just stood to his feet and watched her walk away. It didn't take long for the dark to swallow her up but still he stood rooted to the spot. As much as it hurt he knew he had done the right thing. She had a future. She had big dreams for herself and he would have just held her back. Instead he had done the noble thing and set her free.
The wind picked up around him causing small goosebumps to appear on his skin. Reluctantly he grabbed his pants and put them on even though he wanted nothing more than to sink into the ground and disappear.
With a last look at the lake, and the life he was about to leave behind, Bruce hopped on his bike and sped off towards Wayne Manor. It was an empty house and a good representation of the life he knew he was going to live.
Savannah pushed the ear buds to her iPod touch into her ears wincing slightly at the hard rock music that was too loud. She was never really into it but kept up the act because she knew her dad didn't like it. It was also a way to ignore her dad when he was around.
She wasn't sure why her parents were taking so long outside but she was pretty sure they were talking about her. Like she cared. She hated the way they pretended to get along every time they were together. Her mother didn't care for her father's life style anymore than Savannah. It was embarrassing to have a dad who was with a new girl every five seconds. Then there were all the new cars and gadgets that he seemed to throw in her mother's face any time he could. Because of this behavior, her mother had made her earn all the small things Savannah had wanted over the years. It was a huge contrast between each house. Her mother lived a simple life and taught Savannah fiscal responsibility where her dad would shower her with gifts the minute she walked in the door. She figured that he did it though to appease his guilt over not spending more time with her. Either way she knew it was going to be a long weekend.
"Did you get settled in," Savannah turned to see her father standing in the doorway with his arms crossed over his chest. He seemed to take in the gash on her head causing a deep scowl to appear on his face.
"Yeah, I'm fine," she answered turning back towards the window she had been looking out. Wayne Manor had acres of land and she was lucky to have one of the best views in the house. She gazed down on the trees that were turning to reds and browns signaling the start of fall. It was her favorite season and she was happy she got to be there to experience all the change that would happen on the property.
"I was going to pop some popcorn and watch a movie. Do you want to join me," he asked throwing his ankle over the other.
"No thanks, Mr. Wayne."
"Cut the crap," his voice snapped making her jump. "Your mother is gone you can drop the act."
"What act," she asked tearing the ear buds out and threw her ipod on the bed. "The disdain dripping from every word is all real." Savannah put her hands on her hips to emphasis her point. She was done playing nice with him. If he didn't want to be her dad anymore she wasn't going to make him.
"I know I haven't always been the dad you wanted or needed but I'm trying my best here kid. So we can do this the easy way or the hard way."
"What's the hard way," she asked.
"I will take you over my shoulder and carry you down to the living room where you will enjoy a movie with me or you can come quietly. It's your choice," he shrugged.
Savannah could tell by the tense set of his shoulders that he wasn't kidding. She wrestled with the thought of ignoring him and hopping on the computer to message her friend Chloe but then thought better of it. It was going to be a long weekend if she spent the whole time fighting with him. Odds were he was going to get bored and head out to one of his super ritzy parties he liked to hit up anyways.
"Fine," she smirked. "But I get to pick the movie."
"Good. I'll meet you down there in ten."
With a small smile he turned and left her bedroom in peace. Knowing that he couldn't see her she rolled her eyes and flopped on the bed. There were worse things than watching a movie in their theater room with her dad but at that moment she couldn't think of any.
By the digital display on his watch, Bruce could see that it was two in the morning. He had wanted to wait till Savannah fell asleep before sneaking off to work on his "extra curricular activities." Bruce had kept a watchful eye on the light underneath her door surprised that she could stay up so late after just getting out of the hospital. He knew those places were not made for peace and rest. The fact that his daughter had been there in the first place made him angrier than he had ever been. The other night he had just been doing his regular patrol, making sure to keep an extra careful eye around Richmond Heights, when he had seen a young girl getting mugged. As soon as he knew that the young girl was his daughter he had gone into a blind rage striking the guy until he wasn't sure the man was still alive.
He had only lost his control like that one other time and that had been years before when Rachel had been carrying Savannah. The memory of that day still had a way of making his blood pump in his ears at an alarming rate. There were so many things he had given up becoming Batman but he would never give up the two loves of his life.
Bruce felt a chuckle rise to his lips at how true and false that statement could be at once. He may have kept them alive and protected them from Batman's many enemies but he had also given them up so that they would be out of danger.
Batman had been born to make Bruce worthy of Rachel. And the same thing that would have pulled them together is that same thing that keeps them apart. With a shake of his head Bruce walked into the first floor linen closet and closed the door ready to see what Alfred was up to.
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