J'onn knew that Bruce could feel him in the cave as he tinkered around with one of his gadgets. But Bruce was steadily ignoring him and had been doing so for the past hour. One would think that eventually he'd grow tired of ignoring him and speak but apparently his patience knew no boundaries when it meant it annoyed the crap out of the Martian...

He narrowed his eyes at Bruce's back, willing the man to notice him.

Bruce started whistling.

Whistling.

It was enough to make his eye twitch as he finally caved. "Bruce--"

"It speaks."

He scowled, not liking being called an 'it', but forced himself to calm down. Bruce had every right to be angry with him. The human had come up to the Tower, trying to be nice and J'onn had thrown it right back in his face, calling him heartless and insulting Gotham. J'onn was trying to make amends if his mate would stop.being.so.STUBBORN.

Took in a deep breath, saying calmly, "Will you...come with me?"

That made Bruce put down the wires he'd been fiddling with, raising an eyebrow. "Sure my heartless presence won't bother you?"

The challenging tone almost had J'onn phasing out of the room and back towards the tower. He didn't need to deal with this right now. Another deep breath. "I am certain."

It probably would have been better if he had denied Bruce's being heartless, seeing how he was given a snort and a "Better not chance it," as a reply.

Temper nearly reaching it's boiling point, J'onn phased out, towards the kitchen. There was a plate of cookies on the counter and J'onn grabbed one, moodily crunching on it. Chocolate chip wasn't as good as his Chocos but a cookie was a cookie...mmm...Alfred sure did...mmmm...Alfred...

As if on cue, the butler appeared, dust rag in hand. "Ah, Master J'onn. I wasn't aware you had arrived." Alfred was probably being polite. J'onn knew that he could probably tell him exactly when he had arrived...but he also knew that saying no to Alfred was impossible.

"I tried to apologize to Bruce," He explained, sighing pitifully. A part of J'onn felt dirty for using Alfred but a bigger part didn't care. He wanted to talk to Bruce and Alfred was going to make Bruce listen!

Alfred's lips twitched. "I ah, take it things didn't go so well?"

His shoulders slumped ever so slightly. "He hates me."

Maybe that was laying it on a bit thick but Alfred didn't seem to notice, only patting him lightly on the shoulder. "Why don't you go wait in the gardens, Master J'onn?"

The alien blinked, feigning obliviousness, before nodding and moving outside as instructed. A faint rarely-seen smirk played on his lips, knowing that Bruce would eventually show up in the garden as well. That'll teach the human to be so stubborn...

Sat down on one of the stone benches, leaning close to examine a rose bush. It was really beautiful, glistening lightly with rain from earlier...smelled good too...

You know Alfred totally knows what you're doing.

He blinked, surprised to hear her talking to him again so soon. "Ah..." Took in her statement and chuckled, nodding. "Yes, probably so."

So how long do you think it'll take?

She was...joking with him? This was...unexpected... "It is...uncertain."

Two minutes. Five tops.

J'onn's lips twitched. "Surely Bruce is more strong than that?"

...you're right. Two and a half tops.

()

o.o You know why.