A/N: Here's chapter four, and we get to meet Ted Kord! How exciting. Anyways, never know when I'll next update, but keep checkin'! Please?
: Wayne Manor, Outskirts of Gotham – 5:47 PM :
When he walked through the front doors, Alfred was waiting, anxiously.
"Master Bruce, it's quarter to-"
"I know, Alfred." Bruce brushed past the exasperated butler and started up the grand staircase.
Alfred followed him. "I've pressed and put out your tuxedo, along with your new cuff links." Alfred quickly saw that Bruce was not listening and he gently touched his arm, stopping him. "Master Bruce?"
The billionaire stiffened, but did not look at Alfred.
"Are you alright, sir?" The older man inquired, his eyes and voice full of concern.
Bruce still was not meeting his eyes. "I'm fine, Alfred," he answered tersely.
Alfred did not try to press the matter further. "Then I presume you will still attend the benefit this evening?"
Bruce suddenly gripped the banister tightly, but his voice remained steady. "Yes."
He continued on speedily up the stairs and into his bedroom, leaving Alfred to his other business. In the adjoining master bathroom, Bruce quickly shaved, combed his dark hair, and lastly applied some cover-up to mask the numerous scars that were scattered about his neck and jaw line. Walking back into his bedroom he noticed his black suit lain out on the bed and his freshly polished shoes on the floor below. He smiled, Good ol' Alfred. He glanced at the clock and wasn't surprised to see that it read six-fifteen.
He dressed and adorned his new gold cuff links, a gift from Alfred. When Bruce had asked him what the occasion was, Alfred simply smiled and said, "I just wanted to, Master Bruce. It just so happens that you, sir, are very dear to me." Bruce was touched, knowing that Alfred loved him as his very own son and was just as proud of him, he was happy to wear them. He grabbed one of his wallets on his way out of the room and met Alfred in the foyer.
First, the faithful butler adjusted Bruce's black bow tie. "Would you like me to drive you, sir?"
Bruce shook his head, "No, Alfred, I'll drive myself."
"Will you be taking the Mercedes again tonight?" Alfred asked, placing a folded, platinum coloured hankerchief in his front left pocket.
"Actually, I think I'll take the Aston."
Alfred nodded. "Of course, I shall bring the car around," he brushed a piece of lint, invisible to the naked eye, from Bruce's shoulder.
"Nevermind that, Alfred, it's fine. I've got the key with me."
"Very well, sir," Alfred stepped back finally and took one last check.
After receiving the nod of approval, Bruce attempted to smile, though it came out looking more like a grimace, and strode outside towards the oversized garage that stood opposite the house, across the circular gravel drive-way. Inside, he moved past the Audi, the Jaguar, and the Mercedes Benz on one side, the Lotus, the BMW convertible, and two Lamborghinis on the opposite side, until he found himself in front of the glossy black Aston Martin. Sleek, shiny and curvy, he'd picked this one for a reason, but he would never admit that he actually had a sports car that reminded him of her. He climbed in, hurriedly, as he now had less than ten minutes before he'd be late again. That's alright, he would have sped even if he wasn't late, he was in that kind of mood tonight.
: Hotel Ballroom, Ritz Gotham – 6:35 :
Walking through the large, double doors manned my two well-uniformed doormen, she barely noticed the glossy marble floor, or the grand staircase with a matching polished marble banister, or the long, hanging tapestries that began at the top of the ten-foot ceiling above everyone's heads and fell, nearly touching the beautiful floor below. While she did acknowledge the luxurious furnishings, her eyes and mind did not rest on them. She was busy searching the huge room for something, someone else that would make her both elated and anxious at the same time. The sight of him would bring butterflies to her stomach in more than one way.
She desperately wanted to see him and yet she was also terrified. She craned her neck, making several three hundred and sixty degree turns about the room, eyeing every tall, dark and disturbed man present. She couldn't spot him anywhere. Perhaps he was only late. But maybe he wouldn't come. Maybe he –
"Well, well, well...." A familiar voice from behind her made Selina jump. She spun around and came face to face with Ted Kord, another billionaire son with an alter ego to go, the Blue Beetle. "If it isn't Miss Selina Kyle." He emphasized her name melodramatically.
"Theodore," she greeted him with a sultry smile.
He grinned sheepishly at her use of his full name and tapped a passing waiter on the shoulder. He swiped two tall glasses of sparkling champagne from the tray and handed one to Selina.
"Thanks," she delicately sipped her drink. "So tell me, Ted, what are you doing in Gotham?"
"Oh, you know," he took a swig of his champagne.
Selina took the opportunity while he was busy to scan the increasingly larger crowd. Still no sign of him. Ted was talking again, but Selina wasn't really paying attention.
"Business, as usual. Kord Industries has some unfinished deal to close with WayneTech." Her eyes flashed up at the mention of Bruce's company. Now he had her attention. Ted must have noticed her reaction. "Speaking of WayneTech, where is ol' Bruce anyway? Thought he'd be here." He rotated his head side to side in search of the man in question. "I know how he much loves to play the philanthropist," his use of sarcasm surprised Selina, until she remembered that Ted knew who Bruce was...with the mask on, after the whole O.M.A.C. incident.
She made an effort to smile without it appearing too fake and stole another superficial-looking glance at the front doors. "I...I haven't seen him. He's probably just running late."
Ted's blue eyes twinkled as he watched her practically reassuring herself. He touched her arm lightly and she gave him a confused look. "Don't worry, Selina. He has at least one reason for coming, and a beautiful one at that," he smiled wide and warmly, making the corners of his eyes crinkle.
She opened her mouth to ask him what he thought he was talking about, but he spoke first.
"I'll be back in a few. Stick around," he winked and turned on his heel before walking away.
As soon as he was out of sight she turned around herself and began to slink her way through a very wealthy throng.