Selina studied Bruce from across the kitchenette as she poured herself a glass of milk. He sat munching on a piece of toast she'd made for him , his gaze transfixed on the window across the hotel room. He'd been quiet and his walls fully up for the last two days. Ever since the Opera. She was getting frustrated with him; she had thought she was comfortable in silence until this. Until he was silent.

"How long is this going to continue?" She asked with a tender tone, her hands sliding over his tenses shoulders.

"How long will what continue?" He asked, his hands wrapping over hers.

"The silence."

"I've just been thinking."

Selina pulled away from his touch, "I realize that. You leave at nine and come back at five. You walk around Paris looking like a lost soul. You come back empty and silent."

"You've been following me?" Bruce's eyebrows rose as she watched her move to the other side of the table.

"I've been worried that you'll be careless in this haze." Selina admitted, distancing herself. She hadn't meant to say how worried she was about him.

"So you care now?" Bruce snapped, his dark eyes fixing on hers. He knew she said that she loved him, but did she care about him or worry about her meal ticket.

"Yes." She swallowed, "You have no idea how much I care." She quickly rose to her feet, making her way out of the kitchen, to hide from what she'd said.

"Selina-"

"No. Stop." She turned, holding her hands out to keep him away. "I don't want to hear it."

"Just listen to me." Bruce caught her arm, pulling her back as she tried to escape his grip.

"Let. Me. Go." She hissed, grabbing his hand and digging her nails in to get him to release her. "I'm not getting into this. This is about you being quiet not me caring."

"This is about you feeling left out." Bruce rubbed his hand, little half crescent moons appearing where her nails had been. "A taste of your own medicine."

"Oh fuck off." Selina rolled her eyes.

"If that's what you want then," Bruce shrugged his shoulders, meeting her eyes briefly before turning his back on her, walking towards the sofa and snatching up his coat.

"Where are you going?" Selina watched him, her heart hammering in her ears.

"What you told me to do. I was listening." He muttered as he headed towards the door.

"Don't-" She started but stopped herself. If he wanted to leave, then he would. She wasn't going to stop him.

"Why are you doing this?" Bruce asked, opening the door and looking back at her. "I'm not ignoring you to piss you off."

"This whole thing is new to me." Selina admitted. "Worrying about someone else. Thinking about your feelings instead of mine first. I hate it. I hate wondering, caring, thinking about you." She wrapped her arms around her waist.

Bruce studied her, silent, patient. He walked forward, resting his hands on either of her shoulders. "That's what comes with love Selina." He squeezed her gently, pressing a kiss to her forehead. Selina nodded slowly, tracing her finger over his bottom lip, her eyes flickering up to meet his gaze.

"I didn't sign on for all this angst for love." Her brows furrowed together. "All I've ever known is shouting, hitting, and slamming doors. That's what I thought a relationship was, for so long. But then I realized that love was a lie."

"I'm not going to hurt you Selina." Bruce pulled her close, arms wrapping around her slim frame.

"There's a lot in our pasts against us." Selina muttered, pressing her face against his chest. She loved him. She knew it even if she rarely said it. Her heart felt like it swelled with emotions when his arms were around her. She didn't know how to do this, to manage being in love with him. She enjoyed their connection, their travels, and their evenings together. But learning to be comfortable with all of it, it was a trial and she feared she was too stubborn to give in.

"You deserve someone who will love you like you deserve to be loved. Someone to bake you your favorite sweets, who holds your hand in new cities, and is content to sit at home while you're out and about." Selina's bottom lip trembled as she spoke, unable to meet his dark eyes. "After everything you've done, everything you've sacrificed, you deserve someone who's wholly yours."

"But I want you." His voice was clear and warm, unaffected by what she said.

"I know you do." She smoothed her hands over his chest, pressing out the wrinkles out of his shirt. "But we're too different. It won't work."

"Opposites attract," He countered, brushing strand of hair behind her ear. "We'll bring the best out of one another."

Her teeth clamped onto her bottom lip, making it stop its insistent trembling. "Stop being the voice of reason Bruce. Stop making sense. Stop saying we'll make it. We're not going to be some cute little old couple, sitting on rockers, on a porch facing the sea."

"I was hoping we'd be that slightly disturbing old couple that you see entering the hotel room next to you. You expect them to be in bed at five and silent all night. But they're the ones with the bed banging against your wall."

Selina's frown shattered into a grin, "That is a disgusting image."

"It made you smile," He dipped his head down to kiss her, surprised when she responded to it quickly. He smiled against her lips, enjoying the sensation of her fingers sliding through his hair. He slid his arms around her, holding her tenderly. She was worth compromising for. She made him smile, made him laugh, and made him stop twice and think. After what had happened, her thievery, betrayal – most would call him a fool for loving her – but nevertheless the love was there. Warming his body, making his heart beat fast, and his blood rush through his body.

"I need a nap." Selina whispered, pulling away from him.

"We just got up." He gave her that charming Bruce Wayne smile, adoringly staring at her.

"I need to think." She stroked his cheeks. "Napping and thinking go together."

"I love you Selina." He licked his lips, his eyes scanning her features.

"I love you too." Selina gave him a relieved smile before moving past him. "You can join me if you'd like. But I do mean only sleeping. No sex."

"I can live with that," He followed her into the bedroom. He was slowly finding he could live with quite a bit as long as she was there with him.

~o~

"Three times." Bruce whispered into her ear, holding her closer. She was sitting so gingerly on his lap, afraid to lean on his bad leg or put pressure on his back.

"What?" She tilted her head to the side to look at him. Her brows were furrowed together.

"Nothing." He smirked at her, kissing her cheek. She'd said those three little words three times. Not that he was counting.

Selina laughed, "Oh, look at you being clever. Nothing is so mysterious." She teased him, that sultry smile curving her lips upwards. "Your grey hair is showing."

"It's been showing."

"I thought it was bringing up the random statements time?" She batted her eyes, ghosting her fingers through his hair. "It makes you distinguished."

"You mean old?" He laughed, shaking his head.

"Now that you mention it…" She stuck her tongue out at him.

Bruce pulled her closer, rubbing his hand over her knees. "I have a gift for you."

"For me?" She grinned at him, pressing a kiss to his lips. "What is it?" She watched as he reached behind that patio chair. It was a small black box, the size that necklaces came in. She opened, fondling the pearls. "You're giving me your mother's pearls?"

"For real this time, they're yours." He kissed her, picking the pearls up and placing them on her neck. "I let you wear them to the opera and such, but I'd like you to keep them."

"That's a lot of trust-"

"I trust you with my life." He breathed.

"You saw how that went for you." She flinched away from him, remembering what she had let happen. Every day she was plagued by that guilt. Even after all of this. Even after his acceptance, forgiveness.

"That's water under the bridge. It would have happened one way or the other." He replied, stroking his fingers through her hair. "I still trust you with my life."

She blinked, taking in the words. "I trust you too." Walls were crumbling down around them. He was under her skin, beneath her palms, tainting her breath, and filling her mind. She knew there was something between them the moment she saw him walk over the bridge during the liberation. When he'd survived what she'd caused. She'd never been so happy to see someone in her life.

A/N: So I'd love to hear feedback! I nearly 10,000 views on this and I'm basically exploding with joy. I love you all! Thanks for reading :)