It's still 18th somewhere, right?
As I'm posting this it's already past midnight here in Warsaw, but I tried to meet the deadline for posting the next chapter on the 18th.
Hope it will be a pleasant gift, Birthday Girl! ;)
My job is honestly killing me, but I hope the overtime will be over by Friday. And then I will finish this story, I swear.
"What are you doing?"
The question wasn't angry. Victoria's voice carried a good deal of amusement mixed with exasperation.
"Kitten, I don't have time for chit-chat," Selina grunted, rising on her tiptoes to reach well above her head.
"You should be in bed, not cleaning windows," Vic laughed and gently took her cousins' hands in her palms. "Go lay down, I'll take care of it."
As always, Selina looked beautiful, even if a little haunting due to the exhaustion brought on by the illness. She smiled tiredly for a brief while.
"You don't understand. I need the house to be spotless for Alfred. He has very exacting standards."
"I'm pretty sure he wouldn't mind some dust here and there if that meant you got a good rest. But we don't have to compromise. I'll clean the house with Bane, and you can inspect our work in the evening. Deal?"
"No, you don't get it, it needs really deep cleaning, and…"
"Sel. Chill. I can clean. You should rest. Go away." Victoria folded her arms on her chest and looked at the older woman expectantly.
Her stare was met with an equally annoyed expression, punctuated by a slight snarl.
Just when Vic thought she'd lose the battle, Selina doubled down coughing.
"I told you so," Victoria murmured, helping her up the stairs.
"I'm surrounded by smart-asses…" Selina complained weakly, but let herself be led two flights of stairs to master bedroom.
Vic helped her to bed and smoothed the comforter when Selina settled.
"Don't you worry your pretty head," she said. "I promise everything will be sparkling clean by Thursday. "
oOo
"Sonofabitch!"
The word was hissed out just in time to cover the thud made by the falling bottle of cleaning solution.
Victoria sighed deeply and stepped down the ladder to get her spray from the floor. Waynes house had way too many windows to her liking. And they were pointlessly divided into six or even eight parts. And there was so much soot from the fireplace, both on living and dining room windows… It was insane. Who would want to spend their day inside of an antique like that?
After scrubbing down the windows in the kitchen she thought the rest would be a breeze, but it was soon proving to be exhausting and infuriating. To think that Selina wanted to do it on her own. While sick.
Madness.
Victoria really didn't have any inclination towards housework and homemaking. She got the job done, as quickly and efficiently as possible. But she was a perfectionist, and that meant that she wouldn't let a single smudge mar the crystal clear expanse of glass she was working on.
"Need help with that?"
"God, yes!" She exclaimed and turned around on the ladder.
The movement was too abrupt - she lost her balance and tipped sideways.
At that moment, Victoria found that all of the stories about time slowing down during disastrous events were true. She was able to note every little thing that happened, from the tiny second she thought she could retain a stable position of the ladder, through sickening vertigo of falling, down to the impact.
She landed with a clatter of her teeth and a strained moan… right into Bane's arms.
Before she had a chance to blink he shifted, and she heard a thunk of metal to her side.
Bane caught the ladder with one hand while holding her with the other.
The pressure of his arm keeping her close to his body was just strong enough to make her short of breath. One of her arms dangled uselessly, so she braced herself on Bane's immense chest, while the other was conveniently already hooked in support over his shoulders.
"That was fast " she breathed somewhere around his ear.
Bane grunted and moved to straighten the ladder. He didn't release her yet.
"Thank you for saving me," Vic continued.
"Don't mention it," Bane replied looking forward almost without blinking.
"I think I might be a little fearful of high places now," she confessed breathlessly.
"That's understandable, " Bane said and gently lowered her down to the floor. "you should sit down for a while."
"I'll be fine. Have to finish cleaning. So Selina can rest easy."
"I'll assist you if that's acceptable."
"I was actually going to ask for your help. Since you're offering, go get the tools then," she said and but her lip, mimicking Bane's expression.
The man nodded and started towards the back of the house.
"If you don't cut it out, I'm going to jump you," she murmured.
"What was that?" Bane turned over the corner and looked at her inquiringly.
"I said we're running out of Windex."
He looked at her a second too long before he answered.
"I'll get some from the storage."
Vic moaned to herself when she was sure he was gone. What deities should she pray to, to get this stupid infatuation out of her head?
It was all the fault of that deranged moment when she watched Bane exercise. Seeing him like that - half-naked, powerful, graceful - did irreparable damage to her head. Maybe she contracted a bug from Selina?
oOo
The cleaning took all day and stretched well into the evening. But at the end of it, the house did look amazing.
Tim and Cassie were delighted when Vic ordered pizza for dinner. Even Bane didn't mind.
Both Selina and Bruce had their sinuses clogged, so they didn't much care for food anyway.
In the evening Vic offered to take care of the kids in their room, to leave some breathing room for the rest of the adults.
Selina, of course, went straight to bed to sleep. The men decided to relax in the living room.
The couch groaned simultaneously with Bruce, his heavy fall powerful enough to move it a fraction.
Bane looked up at him from across the coffee table. He was sitting cross-legged on the floor, setting up the chessboard.
"You look well tonight," he mocked.
Wayne's only reply was a huff of air when he tiredly rubbed his eyes.
The fire crackled to their side, and the air was filled with the singing of Frank Sinatra.
"Did Oracle contact you?" Bruce asked.
The pieces were ready, waiting in neat rows on the checkered battlefield.
"Yes, she wants me at the HQ the day after tomorrow," Bane said moving a pawn.
"So, another week to pick up the details of the assignment, and then you'll be gone?"
Bruce's tone was indescribable. He moved his knight in a classical opening.
Bane didn't look up from the board when he answered, but a slight smile crept on his lips.
"Just in time to leave you all in peace for New Years."
"Something tells me you'll be back sooner rather than later. This doesn't seem like a complicated job."
"It's pretty straightforward, but the hunt always requires patience. However menial the task, I'll endure until the satisfying conclusion can be reached… Brother."
Bruce coughed and moved his bishop, then he excused himself to noisily blow his nose.
When he returned, the music has been turned off. There was an uncharacteristically whimsy expression on Bane's face.
"If the results won't be mailed by the time you're gone, should I send them to you?" Bruce asked.
Bane shook his head.
The only thing disrupting the silence for the rest of the night was crackling of the fire.
oOo
Bane didn't exactly dread being on his own with Victoria, but he did feel a tad uneasy.
Her interest unsettled him. At first, she was nearly hostile, which was familiar ground to him. Then she turned more friendly, but it was forced, which he also knew how to deal with. Since Sunday evening she was openly flirting with him, and that was inconvenient.
Not at all unwelcome, though.
The distinction between rival, colleague and a guest blurred and Bane wasn't exactly sure of the protocol he should adhere to. He had done a lot of research, but there wasn't much valuable info on 'How to fuck your friends' sister without alienating everyone on Christmas?'
But Bane did like challenges.
She vexed him. This morning, for example, she insisted to drive. He let her, curious about how she behaved behind the wheel.
Short drive to school went without a hitch. The kids safely entrusted into the capable hands of their teachers, Bane was looking forward to another trip which he could spend secretly observing and evaluating Victoria.
But then she did something that changed everything.