MORNING AFTER
In all her life in all her secret fantasies she had had about Batman, (and she had had many), Helena never thought that it could have been so good.
Bruce Wayne had to be without a doubt the best lover she had ever had in her entire life. Who would ever have thought that a man who could be so cold and arrogant? He had spent ages caressing and stroking every inch of her body. He had worshiped her body as if she were a goddess. Murmuring terms of endearments all the while. And when they finally came together he had never rushed his pleasure but had made sure to be mindful of hers. It was everything she had imagined and more. He was so strong and virile and tender. His body was magnificent.
But as delightful as the lovemaking itself had been. It was nothing compared to lying in his arms afterwards. And it was then that she realized that for the first time since her Uncle and Cousin had been arrested that she felt completely safe. Helena thought back to Vic's words about Batman being a father figure to her. And she realized that Vic had not been too far off the mark. The thing is she did see Batman as a father figure but not in terms of as someone to live up to.
She saw him as a father figure in terms of a provider protector. As someone who would look after her and see that she never got hurt. So she could drop the 'tough girl' façade she always wore. It was one reason she clung to Catholicism. Not out of any sense of piety but because it had always provided her comfort, especially in the tough lonely years of growing up all-alone. First on her uncles farm without peers then at a private Catholic school surrounded by snotty rich girls. Who never failed to make digs at her whether it be for her Sicilian heritage, association with the mob or height. She then thought back briefly to her one night stand with Nightwing and how after he had fallen asleep she lay in bed wondering what the hell she had just done. It had just felt so hollow and so wrong. It wasn't what she wanted.
He wasn't Batman.
This was what she had always wanted. Batman. A man whom she imagined would protect her and keep her safe. In her heart of hearts she had always wished and imagined that this would happen one day. That she would get her man. And now that she had she felt as if she were in heaven.
"You know.." he said bending his head to lick the edge of her navel, "I have wanted to do this ever since I saw you in that new costume."
Helena snorted and let out a peel of laughter.
"God you with a sense of humour! What is the world coming to?"
"I'm about to show you," he said as his mouth began moving lower towards her pelvis.
Helena laughed again stroking his thick black hair.
"So, Bruce, what about this… Is it a one-time thing or are we going to be permanent bed partners, lovers? Sweethearts? What?"
"What would you like it to be?" he asked.
She cupped his chin in her hand forcing him to look up at her, "You know very well what I want."
"Yes I do. You want in," he replied," And I want you to be my partner."
Helena looked at Bruce for a momment..she felt as if she were burning in his dark blue gaze.
"You don't just mean….out there on the streets as Huntress do you?" she asked.
"No…"he replied running finger along her sculpted abdominals, "I want you to be my partner in every sense of the word."
"You want us to be a couple?" she asked breathlessly.
"That is if you are interested," he said slowly.
"Bruce..I…I hardly know you…"
"Oh you know me alright," he said.
"Only as a vigilante who's been hostile towards me from day one! Or as a rich spoilt jet setting playboy."
"I'm partly that. But much more. I'd like for this to be an opportunity for us to discover each other."
She reached up and touched his jaw.
"This is going to be so complicated," she said smiling.
"We're complicated," he said kissing her, "But we're also…fantastic. This is has proved it. Our past interactions have proved it. It's time to drop the wall between us Helena. And let each other inside."
He leaned in and kissed her deeply in a way that said everything.
"How long?" she asked him softly,
"How long what?" He asked.
"How long have you wanted to be with me?"
"What makes you think that I've wanted you a long time?"
"Well you said so earlier."
"True," he admitted.
"And...Everything with you is planned. I just can't believe that last night was spontaneous."
"No you're right, last night wasn't spontaneous. But it wasn't planned either. I've wanted to approach you for a long time," He looked up at her holding her is his sapphire blue eyes and added, "I've wanted you since No Man's Land."
Helena let out a small laugh and rested her head back on the pillow.
"What?" Bruce asked, "What's so funny?"
"Bruce why the hell didn't you say something?" she asked looking back at him."
"When Helena?" He asked, "Between the myriads of messages you've sent that you hate me?"
"Don't be mellow dramatic. You know that I don't hate you. Actually if there was anyone giving off messages about dislike—"
"I didn't dislike you Helena. I disapproved of your methods," Bruce said, "If I was a bit harsh…"
"Sometimes," she admitted, "But I know that I'm not always the easiest person to get along with."
"Tell me about it."
"Ugh!' she replied swatting at his shoulder. But he grabbed her arm and pinned her down on the bed. He raised himself up and kissed her deeply.
"But what was it that made you come to me now after all this time?" she asked.
"Helena. I think I think that deep down I have always been attracted to you. And I mean more than just physically. I love your honesty and your openness. And even though it bugged me at first I loved the way you at least had the courage to stand up to me. I liked that from the very beginning. But you and I just could never seem to get along."
"Because we're so different," she smiled stroking his jaw.
"No because we're the same. After the accident. After you saved my life and I almost died. I figured that there were some relationships that I wanted to make right. And my relationship with you was the most important one that I wanted to set right."
"Oh My God!" she exclaimed and he kissed her again.
"How about you?" he asked after they had parted How long have you wanted me?"
"I've wanted you since I was a teenager."
"What?" he asked surprised looking up at her.
"Ever since you rolled into that Christmas party at the Galante's ten years ago. You were so large and mythical. And so damn sexy."
"Sexy?" Bruce asked amused, "I never thought of myself as being sexy."
"Well you should," she began, "There's a lot of women both in and out of the super hero community who would love to bed you"
"Are there?" he asked amused, "In the superhero community?"
"Yes she replied, "I can't believe you've never picked up the vibes before."
"Well no—"
"And you're supposed to be the worlds greatest detective," she replied kissing him, "Actually the coldness you gave off made a lot of us think that you had some sort of…sexual problem."
"What?" Bruce began flabbergasted.
"Hey relax," she admonished gently, "Hey it's just dumb gossip-"
"I normally make it a point to never listen to gossip," he snapped.
"I know," she said kissing him, "And…I guess we had to come up with some reason why you didn't had to be a reason why you ignored most of the too obvious come ons from other women in the super hero community."
"The fact of the matter Helena is that I try not to mix business with pleasure….besides none of them really appealed to me."
"Except for me?" she asked tracing his jaw.
"Yes. Or so I tried to tell myself," he replied, "God knows I tried for years to avoid you. It was part of the reason I kept you out of the group. Because I knew that any how I let you in…you would end up in my bed."
"And was that really such a bad thing?"
"At the time it was," he replied kissing her mid section, "I wasn't sure how I felt about you. The things I admired you for your courage, your boldness and your pride. Were the same things I disliked you for. I couldn't stand the fact that you wouldn't do what I said."
"It must have burned you up big time."
"Yes it did."
"And it burned me big time that you wouldn't accept me. Especially when I admired you so much. I couldn't figure out why you were always nasty and cruel towards me. I had enough of that in my life and I vowed to never kow tow to anyone who treated me badly ever again."
"Helena..I'm glad that you didn't."
"Why is that?"
"Because if you did I wouldn't have come to you. It's what I like about you. That you respect yourself. I wouldn't have approached you like this…I couldn't be with a woman who had no respect for herself."
"So I'm a keeper then?" she asked.
"Yes you're a keeper," he replied nuzzling her nose.
He covered her mouth with his and they stayed several lip locked for several minutes.
Helena pulled away stroking his jaw.
"Bruce…I need to ask you a question."
"What is it?"
"I'm aware of your…affairs with other women. I mean while I am sure that it's a lot of talk. I find it hard to believe that you're celibate…"
"Are you asking me if I'm involved with anyone else?"
Helena was afraid to look into his eyes in case she saw an answer she did not want to see. But she forced herself to do so anyway."
"Yes I am."
"No Helena. I am not involved with anyone else."
"What about Catwoman?"
Bruce gave a short laugh.
"No there's nothing there."
"Nothing?" she asked, "I mean rumours about you and she…."
"No there's nothing there at all. There hasn't been for some time. We used to be an item years ago. But it just never worked out," he emphasized, "There is only you. And that's why I'm here. I want to see if we're a go."
"We are," she said firmly.
He kissed her long and deep and she knew what he said was true.
"And what about me?" Bruce asked, "Do I have you all to myself?"
"I'm not involved with anyone right now if that's what you're asking."
"The last time I was in this apartment the Question was with you. I got the impression that you both were more than just friends."
"Yes we were," Helena admitted, "But that's over Bruce."
"And you and Nightwing?"
She looked at him startled.
"There is a little bit of gossip that I do listen to," he said seriously.
"That was a mistake. I've regretted it ever since. It's something we both regret," she replied firmly, "I did it for the wrong reasons. I thought that it would get me closer to you. I thought that he would be a great substitute for you. But I was wrong, there is only one you. There is no substitute."
"I just want to make sure that there isn't anything between us," Bruce said.
"There's just you," she said softly, "There's only ever been you. No matter who I've been involved with it's always been you who's been in the back of my mind. I've wondered if it would better—if we were together."
"Come here," he said gathering her into his arms and kissing her.
"I can't believe that this is happening," Helena said softly when they had finished, "That it's real."
"Oh it's real alright," he murmured kissing her, "It's real and it's what was meant to be."
And they were making love again.
