Chapter 2
Heyy… I probably suck at writing, but it's fun so I'm doing it anyway… don't like, don't read (or leave some tips on how to make it better, just don't be mean please)
Ohh! Also! Before I forget, last time I forgot to put a disclaimer.
Well, I DO NOT OWN BATMAN! (No matter how much I wish I did!) That all belongs to DC. (Lucky Ducks) I only own my OC, Charlie Price.
I looked over at Lucius, whose desk was across from mine, and scowled. He merely looked back at me smugly. Yeah, yeah. Very funny. The man walked up to Lucius, who stood up to shake his hand.
"Mr. Wayne." Lucius greeted. My jaw dropped in shock. This was Bruce Wayne? I don't really know what I was expecting from him, but it certainly wasn't that. Bruce Wayne was supposed to not look that attractive, dammit! Now I know why my friend Ellie can't stop going on about him.
"Mr. Fox I presume?" Mr. Wayne inquired. I took a good look at him. He had neatly kept dark brown hair, and chocolate brown eyes. He was wearing a nice black suit that was perfectly tailored for him no doubt. He suddenly turned to me. "Then you must be Ms. Price." He stated as he walked towards me, holding his hand for me to shake. I stood up and took it, nodding slightly.
"Yep, that's me." I confirmed, "but please, do call me Charlie. I don't particularly enjoy formalities." We unclasped hands as his smile grew by just a fraction of an inch. You know, that smile that can make a girl melt completely? Yup, that one. Fortunately, I am not so easily swayed. I think. Probably not.
"Only if you call me Bruce."
HOLY MOTHER OF PHILLY CHEESESTAKES. At this point I am freaking out inside. This man is one of the most successful in the world, (also one of the most attractive, if I do say so myself) and he is asking me to call him by his first name. Like friends do. Holy. Shit. I force myself to stay calm outwardly.
"Ok then, Bruce," I say calmly, "What brings you to our humble basement department?" I joked. Bruce smiled, then turned stepped back slightly so as to keep both Lucius and I in his line of sight.
"Well, I believe that I am now working alongside both of you," He started, putting his hands in his pockets. "What is are the functions of this department, exactly?" Lucius sighed, sat down, and turned to his computer. After just a moment he spoke up.
"Environmental procedures, defense projects, consumer products." He sighed and turned to Bruce. "All prototypes. None in production. On any level whatsoever." Bruce raised an eyebrow.
"None…?" He stated incredulously. Lucius regarded him for a moment before standing up, glasses in hand. My brows furrowed, and I frowned. After a moment, I stood up as well.
"What did they tell you this place was?" I asked him.
"They didn't tell me anything." Lucius stood up, and went over to the light switch.
"Earle told us exactly what it was when he sent us down here," He explained, flicking it on. After a moment, the lights flickered on. "Dead end." he deadpanned. I decided to add in my two cents.
"Place to keep us from causing the board any more trouble, I guess." I started, half amused, half annoyed with the stupid egotistical Earle. "Apparently he's scared of people that are smarter than him." I smirked. Bruce laughed, not a fake laugh like you would expect, but a real, genuine laugh. "But hey, I actually like it down here. We leave them alone, (for the most part) and they return in kind." My smirk grew at the amusement on his face. "All in all, not the worst arrangement." I managed to get out, my smirk almost splitting my face in half. We both started laughing quietly at the expense of our current boss. Lucius looked at both of us, amused, with an odd gleam in his eye.
"Come on." he prompted to Bruce, and started walk further into the department. Bruce looked at Lucius and I curiously. After a second, he opened his mouth.
"You two were on the board?" I sighed, shrugged, and shook my head.
"Kind of." I started, " I was the board analyser for a short period of time, until I found some stuff that Earle didn't want anyone to know quite yet." I paused to see if Bruce was still listening. He was. "He must have figured that firing me so abruptly would have raised suspicion, so he had me transferred down here instead, where I can't mess anything up." I deadpanned, looking Bruce in the eye. "But, I can't really complain, I get to tinker and stuff, so... Not bad, really." I finished with a twinkle in my eye. He smiled and nodded, absorbing the information I had given him. He suddenly turned to Lucius.
"And you?" My partner and long time friend smiled.
"When your father ran things, yes. I was." Bruce looked at him in surprise.
"You knew my father?"
"Oh yeah. I helped him build his train." Interesting. Lucius had never told me that piece of information.. "Ah, here we are." He turned to a crate, flipping open the locks and opening it. "Kevlar Utility Harness, and…" he turned to me, and questioned, "Where's the Gas-powered, magnetic grapple gun and the 350 pound test monofilament?"
"Oh! I am just finishing those. They're on my desk, if you need them…?" I begin to turn away to head back to my desk and grab them, but before I do, Lucius stops me.
"Oh no, don't worry, it's fine. We can do without. I don't really need it." Lucius turns to move down the hall, with me on his heels. Bruce keeps looking at the belt for a moment, before picking up one of the compartments on the Utility Harness, and opens it, staring for a moment. "Wonderful Projects, your dad's train. Routed it right into Wayne Tower, along with water and power utilities." He thought for a moment. "Kinda made Wayne Tower the unofficial center of Gotham City." I grimaced before adding my thoughts.
"Course before Earle let it go to rot." Bruce turned to me.
"You don't seem to to like Earle much."
"Gee, was I that obvious?" I deadpanned Bruce let out a quiet chuckle and looked at me a moment. Yup. I officially decided this guy was not a scumbag. There's no way. Lucius smirked slightly at me before stopping at a cabinet.
"Here we are." Lucius opened a drawer, revealing one of my favorite things I had made. "Nomex survival suit, for advanced infantry." Bruce gave a contemplating look.
"Kevlar Biweave, reinforced joints," I began, knocking on the suit.
"Tear resistant?" Bruce questioned, obviously interested. I smirked.
"This sucker will stop a knife." I stated proudly. Bruce looked from the suit back up to me.
"Bullet proof?" He interrogated, with an… almost excited look on his face.
"Anything but a straight shot." I shot back happily.
"Why didn't they put it into production?" At this Lucius' face became slightly bitter.
"The Bean counters didn't think a soldier's life was worth 300 grand." He responded for me, shutting the container. "So, what's your interest in it, Mr. Wayne?" Lucius suddenly popped up. I had to admit, I was silently asking myself that same question. Bruce, for a moment, paused, then pushed out,
"I wanna borrow it." he began, "for-uh, spelunking." Lucius and I exchanged an incredulous look, then back at Bruce.
"Spelunking?" We chorused. Bruce swallowed and didn't meet our eyes for a split second and swallowed.
"Yeah, you know, cave diving?" I raised an eyebrow.
"You expecting to run into much gunfire in these caves?" Bruce paused, as if scrambling for something to say. He looked us in the eye and started to ask,
"Look, I'd rather Mr. Earle didn't… know about me borrowing-" Lucius cut him off.
"Mr. Wayne… the way I see it, all this stuff is yours, anyway." Bruce looked at me and I shrugged, smiling slightly.
"Go nuts." Bruce smiled at me, then gained a contemplative look on his face.
"Could I possibly get this stuff sent to my place later, I'm not going straight home." I smiled.
"Sure, I'm heading out soon, I can take it."
"Thank you." Bruce said.
"No problem." We all walked back to the front, chatting all the way back. Bruce excused himself, explaining that he had to leave, and that he was sorry. After the elevator doors closed, Lucius turned to me, smirking. I frowned at him.
"What?"
"Where's my 30 bucks?" Shit. Deny deny DENY EVERYTHING
"I have no idea what you're talking about." He simply held his hand out, palm facing upwards.
"Yes, you do." I huffed, and walked to bag over on my desk. Quickly, and begrudgingly, I gave him a 20 and a 10.
"Happy?" I huffed. He smiled smugly.
"Yes."
A couple hours later, I was finally finishing with the grappling gun and monofilament.
After putting it away, I sighed and went back to my desk. I looked up to see Lucius smiling at me, and my face contorted into a scowl.
"What?" I snapped, not really in the mood. His smile merely grew. "Stop it!" Lucius merely kept smiling in the most obnoxious way possible. "Whatever you're thinking, it's not true." Lucius leaned back in his seat and opened his mouth to speak.
"You know what I'm thinking, Charlie." I blinked. He's obviously messing with me. "Mr. Wayne." I scoffed, and leaned forward in my seat slightly.
"Lucius, drop it." I scolded. "It really doesn't matter." I must have had looked more stern than I intended, because he quickly put his hands up in a surrendering position, with that damn smirk still on his face. Ugh. I looked over at the clock, and sighed with relief. I finally get to leave. As I start to gather my things, Lucius' voice stops me in my tracks.
"Don't forget to take those things to Mr. Wayne." Dammit. I almost forgot. I hurriedly grabbed the cases, and started to leave.
"Bye Lucius. See you tomorrow."
"Bye Charlotte." And I left.
30 minutes later, I got out of the cab, and started lugging the cases up the steps to Wayne Manor. When I finally got to the front door, I rang the doorbell and waited. I gotta say, this place is nice. After a brief moment, the door opened to reveal a kind looking older gentleman.
"Can I help you, miss?" Ah, british butler. Cool.
"Er-yeah! I'm Charlie Price, and-er- I've got some things Mr. Wayne asked for from work."
"Ah, he said you'd be coming. Please, come in." He opened the door wider, and gestured for me to come in. "Master Bruce should be up in just a couple of minutes." He closed the door behind me gently. He ushered me to a couch with a coffee table in front of it. " You can just set those cases down right here." After softly placing the cases down, I stretched my fingers out and looked around me. My jaw dropped. This has got to be the fanciest place I have ever seen. My admiration was interrupted by a thought.
"I'm sorry I never got your name." I apologized. He just chuckled.
"Alfred Pennyworth, Miss." Yes! I got a name!
"Sit down, I'll make you some tea."
"Oh, you really don't have to-"
"I insist." He smiled warmly. "You deserve some after lugging those things here when Master Bruce could have brought it himself." I looked at him for a moment before smiling.
"Thank you. That's very kind." Alfred smiled and left the room. After a moment of admiring the place a bit more, I sat down on the comfiest couch I have ever sat on. After just a minute, Alfred returned, and in his hand, a nice, steaming cup of tea. I accepted it graciously and took a sip. Holy Mother of all that is good. I look up at Alfred in astonishment.
"This is the best tea I have ever had." He smiled
"Thank you." At this point, Bruce walked in, a mildly surprised look on his face, but he quickly covered it up.
"Charlie." He greeted. "Great to see you again. To what do I owe the pleasure?" I place my teacup on the coffee table in front of me and stood up.
"Well," I started, walking around the couch. "I came to deliver the things you asked for." I picked up the cases, and held them out to him. "But, I don't know, I might just have to stay for the amazing tea." This made Bruce smile, chuckling lightly. He took the cases, and set them down on a table. "I don't know what these are for, but it sure isn't spelunking." He opened his mouth to protest, but I held up a hand to stop him. "You don't have to tell me, but I'm not stupid." I reassured, smiling slightly. "Just don't make up weak excuses, please." I put my hand down, smirking. Bruce sighed, from relief, or happiness, I couldn't tell.
"Please, sit." He invited graciously. Not one to decline such a generous offer, I accepted graciously, and we both moved over to the couch and sat down. We talked for a little while, and then I just happened to glance down at my watch and found that it was 7:30 already.
"Oh, Dammit! I should probably be heading home, my roommate is most likely about ready to call the police by now." I gave him an apologetic look, one that he returned with a sympathetic (and… dare i say… disappointed?) one.
"No worries." He turned and called for Alfred, then turned back to me. "Alfred can give you a ride home, it's not safe at this time of night to go by yourself." I opened my mouth to politely decline, when Bruce stopped me. "I insist." Damn that phrase.
"Fine, but only this once" I glared playfully at him. We continued our conversation (now somehow on the topic of Alpacas?) while Alfred brought out the car. When the car rolled around I turned to Bruce.
"Thank you, for the tea, and wonderful conversation."
"Thank you for the cases and for actually talking to me." I got in the car, and Bruce, (like a gentleman,) closed the door for me. I waved and turned to face forward in my seat. Alfred adjusted the mirror so that he could see me.
"Where to Miss. Price?" I gave him my address, and sat back in my seat, thinking. We made small talk on the way to my place. Before I knew it, we were in front of my apartment. I turned to Alfred.
"Thank you, Alfred. I hope we see each other again." Alfred smiled slightly before answering.
"I think we will, Miss. Price." I got out of the car, waved as Alfred drove away, and walked up to my apartment. When I got there, I opened the door, and a mass of purple flying at me.
"Where HAVE you been?! I was worried sick! You're never out this late! What happened?" Ah, there's the freak out I was expecting from her. She was shaking as she clutched onto me like a lifeline.
"Ellie, Ellie, I'm fine. I just...worked late, is all. Nothing to worry about. I've done it plenty of times before." I consoled as I patted her back. She pulled back from me and held me at arm's length, her forest green eyes boring into my ocean blue ones.
"You're sure you're alright?" She interrogated, looking unconvinced.
"Yes. I'm completely fine." I reassured her. "Not a scratch." After a lot of reassuring, and worrying, we both got ready for bed. Usually, before bed, I pull out the project I took home that day. But seeing as I don't have anything today, I just sat there, thinking about today for a while, until I fell asleep at last, completely content.
Hello! Please Read and Review! Also, I am going to try and update this story as much as I can, but I plan on updating at least once a week. I will establish a finalised schedule once I get further in the story.
Thank you to those of you who are following this story! I will do my best to not let you down!
Until next time,
Luv u all!
-Katie
