10.
~ Selena tried to relax. The dress Tip had picked out for her hugged her waist, hips and chest in a way she wasn't used to. She didn't have much experience with dressing up in fancy anything. Not since prom at least. At least then she had bought her little dress at a cool thrift shop downtown with Ivy. It was nothing compared to this dress that had its own special designer from Paris.
"I think it looks lovely." Tip was saying as the older woman secured a long red sash around Selena's waist for the 'pop of color' it needed.
Selena tried not to fidget while Tip worked her magic. She had already put on makeup and had her hair done for the evening. Instead of feeling pretty, she felt increasingly out of place. As if it were all a costume instead of something normal.
When the beautician expert came to Wayne Manor to do her hair and makeup, Selena was made to feel terribly flawed with all the work she had to do to get ready.
She had always washed her face with whatever was in the bathroom of wherever she was staying. Same went with shampooing. But that had all been a mistake, according to the expert.
Now she was to start a regiment of eucalyptus cleanser and a special shampoo meant to relax some of the frizz in her hair. Suddenly, Selena felt every imperfection was too noticeable and she would never measure up. She didn't feel pretty at all, she felt like a joke.
How could some women find this relaxing and fun?
Then came the dress. Tip and the expert had brought in several dresses. Some were pink with sparkly stones. Others were dark shades of blue. The expert took Selena's measurements, and quickly said she was too wide to wear the pink or the blue. That black would be more slimming.
Now, Selena felt ugly and fat. When she looked in the mirror now, her face made up, her hair done, her black dress reaching to the floor with a red sash to add color, she couldn't help but feel slightly queazy.
~ It was easier for Bruce to get dressed. He had a few formal tuxedos to choose from. Alfred selected a simple black jacket and tie for him to wear. It was dinner with the mayor, after all and Bruce had to maintain a certain look. He hadn't been stingy with the guest list either. He had invited several other guests from the elite of Gotham. One guest would be a business man that Bruce was very eager to introduce Selena to.
"I think, sir." Said Alfred. "That this will be the first time Selena is meeting the Mayor."
Bruce looked back at his own reflection coldly. He never thought of himself like this these days. Not dressed in a suit, hair slicked back and looking so… normal. When he thought of himself, he pictured something darker.
He took in his own face for a moment. How unlike his parents he was. They smiled so easily and they never looked sad. Maybe that was only in pictures that he could really remember them. Everyone smiled and looked happy in pictures. Even Bruce Wayne.
"The mayor is just an elected official. He's a dinner guest. So is Gordon and several other people." he said darkly. "Selena has no reason to be nervous."
"I'm not worried about her being nervous, sir." Alfred said quickly. "I'm just concerned that she may… well, speak her mind a little too freely."
Bruce grinned.
"I hope she does, Alfred." he said and finished his tie. "Is the photographer here, Alfred?"
"From the paper?" Alfred asked in surprise. "Yes, sir."
"Good. Make sure he's gets pictures of all our guests tonight." Bruce told him. Take out a full page ad in the Gotham Harold if you have to. I want everyone photographed and everyone's picture seen."
"Certainly, sir." Alfred said. With a little bow, he left.
~ "How about this, Gordon?" the Mayor laughed. "I'm sure it's really something for you to be invited to a party like this. You must feel like a big shot now."
Gordon winced, gave the mayor a phony smile and went back to talking to Harvey Dent.
"Maybe you should run for mayor, not just settle for the District Attorney." Gordon said through gritted teeth.
"One step at a time." Harvey told him. "Things will be better once you're appointed commissioner."
Gordon smirked. Harvey was always throwing around the idea of Gordon taking over Lowe's place as commissioner of the GCPD.
"Name one man in this city who is more qualified." Dent challenged.
"The mayor will never go for it." Gordon said sulkily.
"Like you said, mayor's change." Dent told him in a hushed whisper.
Gordon noticed Dent's attention was pulled away from their conversation. It was like the mood of the entire room had shifted. All the men had stopped talking, and for a room with so many self righteous men in it, that was really something.
"Who is that?" Dent asked with a long breath.
Gordon turned to see a slim, athletic young woman in her very early twenties timidly entering the room.
Her long black dress with a red sash tied around her was it made her look like a delightful throwback to when women really knew how to dress. Her make-up and hair was stunning but not overly done. Nothing to hide her natural beauty.
"Selena." Gordon said when he saw her.
To Gordon, this goddess was nothing. He still remembered the kid who left him in a sewer. Who outsmarted him at every turn and who refused to be placed in a foster home or stop wearing that grey hoodie.
She smiled at him. Obviously relived to see someone she knew.
"Bruce said you'd be here." Gordon said and took her arm in his.
"Is that all he said?" Selena asked nervously.
"Let me introduce you to the mayor." Gordon told her and guided her to the large group of well dressed people. The mayor grinned at Selena as if it were Christmas. She was easily the most beautiful woman in the room and that fact did not go unnoticed by anyone.
"Mister Mayor, this is one of Bruce Wayne's good friends, Miss Selena Kyle." Gordon said proudly.
"Oh, so we finally meet one of Bruce's lady friends." the Mayor said with a sleazy chuckle.
Gordon felt the bile rise up in his throat at seeing the older man lust after Selena like this.
"He has good taste in women." the mayor said. "Of course, when you're a billionaire, the women come to meet you."
"I think we've meet before, Mister Mayor." Selena said casually. Her tone was the same level of sarcasm Gordon expected from her.
"I would remember you." The mayor laughed.
"Well, it was a few years ago." Selena told him. "I was with a bunch of street kids that were being rounded up like stray dogs and shipped to substandard institutions. I'm sure you remember. You made a big speech about it in the papers. Then those lunatics kidnapped the bus I was on and were going to sell us off to the highest bidder. Your administration did nothing to find us. Thank God, Detective Gordon stepped in and rescued us. After that, those same kids were allowed to rot in a juvenile homes until they aged out. Then, they were thrown out on the streets."
The Mayor went pale at her little speech. He jaw slacked and he was beginning to look angry.
"I know all this because I still talk to some of them. Tell me, when are you going to start helping them? Next re-election campaign? You failed them as children, are you planning to fail them as adults?" she said smartly.
The mayor looked like he was ready to shout at her when Gordon pulled her away.
"Selena, let me introduce you to Harvey Dent. I've know him for years. He's running for District Attorney." Gordon said with a smirk. He couldn't remember being so happy. He had never seen the mayor dressed down so badly. It was long overdue.
"Fine." Selena sighed. "I'll be back, Mister Mayor and we can discuss what you're plans are for the narrows. It's the most crime ridden part of the city and I am eager to hear your plan."
"Our plans for the narrows is very complicated. Too much to explain to someone like you." the Mayor growled.
"I'm sure Miss Kyle can understand any plan, sir." a dark voice interrupted the conversation.
Gordon turned to see Bruce Wayne, Gotham's son, standing in the doorframe. The young man, was impressive looking these days. Nothing at all like the scared little boy he first met all those years ago.
"I think it would be best to leave politics out of our party tonight." Bruce said. "Tomorrow is our carnival and we're all here to lend our support to a good cause."
"Yes!" said the mayor happily. "It was very gracious of you to lend us your property and pay for the attractions. That will mean a lot more money for the children."
The mayor raised his glass to Bruce who refused to accept the praise.
"It is a tax write off." Bruce said with a smile.
Gordon's breath caught when he saw another man enter the sitting room. He was better dressed than even Bruce Wayne. Complete with gold cufflinks and a a matching tie pin. He was Gordon's age but looked older and meaner.
"Ladies and gentlemen, let me introduce you to Francis Lambisie." Bruce said effortlessly. "He's a business contact of mine and will be jointing us for dinner.
Gordon felt his blood pressure rise sharply and he gripped Selena's arm harder.
"What is it?" she whispered while Bruce was introducing Mr. Lambisie around to his other guests. The mayor especially seemed pleased to meet the new arrival.
Because Gordon still thought of her as a child, he shook his head. He didn't say how Frank "the lamb" Lambisie was making his way up the criminal ladder and would soon have a monopoly over sections of Gotham crime. Hell, even Penguin was concerned. What was he doing here? Why was Bruce associated with such a man? Was it possible that Wayne Enterprises wasn't as clean as Bruce would have them believe?"