JUST BUSINESS

Facets

The instant the elevator doors slid shut, Bruce moved to changing his appearance. He took the jacket off in a rush and shoved it in Dick's hands.

„What's on fire?" The youth chuckled at his fast, clumsy tie removal.

Nothing if I can help it. Bruce thought unbuttoning the dress shirt. He traded the garment for the jacket, now sporting a black muscle shirt and dark blue pants. "I'm late." As the elevator pinged he shrugged the jacket back on .

Dick followed him out into the garage "Where to?"

"Dinner." He strode to Alfred, waiting by the black Murcielago, "Everything ready?"

The old man offered Bruce the keys. "To the last detail."

"Thanks." He snatched them and took the driver's seat, the door closing behind him.

"Feeding the tabloids again, eh?" Dick teased.

Bruce took a few items from the glove compartment. "Panem et circenses." He reminded, gelling his hair back with use of the rearview mirror. Slipping on a pair of sleek shades he completed the fop look.

As the engine roared the two men lifted their hands in farewell. Returning the gesture, Bruce drove off. Within minutes he was approaching the aforementioned crossroad, and noticed a familiar beauty walk round the corner.

"Hello, princess." He pulled to a stop next to her. "Care for a ride." At the press of a button, the door rose like a spreading wing.

Diana walked over. "Where to, knight?"

"Tonight?" He quipped. "Just dinner." Bruce watched her take the seat next to him, than kissed her hand. "Tomorrow…"

For a split second Diana thought she saw his eyes flash dangerously. "You always expect success?" She teased.

"A man has to hope." Shrugging nonchalantly, Bruce turned the key and the engine purred to life.

Diana shook her head at his indirect cockiness, but still blushed a shade.

They drove long enough for her to notice he chose the scenic route. Eventually the car stopped in front of a little Japanese place between downtown and the East End. Through the half-closed blinds, the staff could be seen preparing to close shop.

"One moment, please." He stepped out, coming to stand at the doorstep, waiting patiently.

Diana watched him attain permission to enter from the owner, acting uncharacteristically humbly. From the rhythm of it, Diana recognized the language as Japanese, but could not make out individual words, let alone understand them.

After a deep bow, Bruce returned in a confident gait. "Akashi-san was kind enough to give us a few more hours." He helped her out.

"Are you always this demanding on your subjects, sir Wayne." She used his 'knighthood' against him.

"We agreed on a satisfactory compensation." He took the jab in stride, ushering her in.

"Money isn't everything." Diana let him take her jacket.

"I should know." Bruce looked at her affectionately, lending her a hand with the bar stool. In a little more Japanese, he arranged a full five-course dinner of whatever the chef suggests.

Waiting for the meal, Brice popped a rice cookie in his mouth. Diana in turn held the warm cup of sake to her face, sniffing it suspiciously. She took a small testing sip.

"What do you think?" He asked in genuine interest.

Diana looked at the drink warming her hands. "I think it should be colder and bubbly."

Bruce chuckled. "Fair enough."

The chef paced two bowls of thick miso soup in front of them. Bruce used the chop-sticks expertly while Diana chose to sip. As she looked about the place, eyes shifting from one strange decorative object to another, her face was a question. She noticed his moved over those same items with recognition and perhaps nostalgia.

The radio whispered late-night news from the kitchen, dropping a bombshell on their date in the form of one name: Luthor.

"I wonder what's his problem." Diana mumbled angrily.

"He's jealous." Bruce spoke between mouthfuls. "Wants to be a cape."

"A non-powered one? Like those Bat clan guys?" She was careful in her wording. "I wonder what creature he'd pick…?"

"Apparently a bald eagle."

Soup squirt out her nose. "You want me to choke?" she giggled.

He looked at her caringly. "I want you to not worry."

Plates of tuna sushi replaced their empty bowls. Diana reached for the chopsticks this time, fumbled a while and gave up on the traditional method. Using one stick as extra-long, dull toothpick, she plucked the bite-sized bits of tender meat. Her innocent straightforwardness coaxed a smile to his lips.

"Chameleon." She took another bite.

"Sorry?"

„You're not...that." Her pinky pointed at his signet ring. The bold 'W' resembled a stylized bat. „Maybe on the streets, but you change with the environment. Appearance, behavior, even language. A peacock at the parties, a monkey in the board room…"

"Dose Vixen know she has competition?" His eyes laughed with amusement.

Diana chuckled.

Bruce sobered. "What if I'm more like Q?" He looked at her dead serious. "Anything in appearance is in essence nothing."

She studied him carefully, especially the eyes, windows to the soul. He was definitely not nothing. "A face can have a million expressions but it's still the same face."

In reply, Bruce offered Diana his hand and she took it, squeezing slightly.

Suddenly he froze, hand raised in a demand for silence. "Footsteps." He glanced in the direction of the back alley, sniffed. "Kerosene."

To be continued…