Okay.. I tried my hand at funny... My fiance referred to me as the 'roaming angst stick' and I DO believe that is an adequate description.. My sense of humor is dark, but I think the bats humor is dark to.. so you can't expect 'slipped on a banana peel' humor from Bruce. Again, I tried.. and I hope I make atleast a few of you chuckle..
CHAPTER 36
"If you're not ready in the next five minutes we're leaving without you!" Bruce called up the stairs of the manor while fussing with the tie, trying to get it just right. He gave up, allowing Alfred to take over, creating the perfect knot with no effort at all. Dick was leaning against one of the tables in the foyer, sighing with his eyes close, arms crossed and shaking his head.
"Beauty takes time, even I know that Bruce. No wonder you're still single." Came a voice from the top of the stairs with the click click of heels.
Dick tilted his head to open one eye at her. Said eye went wide and he turned to face her fully. The girl who preferred to parade around the house in jeans with useless zippers and chains with short sleeved t-shirt with hoods, not a single thing fluffy in her closet, was in a long evening gown.
Sweetheart neckline with off the shoulder sleeves. The purple chiffon crisscrossed over the body as if it was wrapped perfectly for her small body, gathering a few inches below her left hip where it was pinned with a diamond accent broach. From there it fell, freely falling down her slender legs, one of which poked out through the slit that started at the junction of the broach, disappearing again when she stood, the folds of fabric falling into place. Her hair was pulled back into a french twist, a lavender hibiscus placed into it on her right side, strands falling just perfectly to frame her face, her wild bangs groomed and swept to the side. Her eyes were shadowed, with the perfect cat eye liner, per lip a deep pink.
Dicks head tilted further, eyebrow raised. Well... this was a new side of her..
Bruce wore just as stunned an expression as Dick, if not more so. Every instinct he had referred to as 'fatherly' since he'd taken in Dick, was telling him to send her back upstairs, that it was far to provocative for her. The more logical part of his brain pointed out it was his own fault for sending her out alone with the card to go shopping, and that even if there was a secondary dress up there for her to change into, they'd be REALLY late. He was hoping to get there with enough time left of the party to brush it off on being 'fashionably late'. That margin of time was quickly fading.
He shook off his shock, replacing it instead with narrowed eyes. "Single by choice. Now get in the car." He said in his 'Bruce' voice. Might as well get into the swing of things
"If that's what you need to tell yourself." Danielle said as she walked past Bruce out the door, a large grin on her face. Dick followed after her with a chuckled he tried to stifle. Bruce took up after Dick, shaking his head
"Can I help you?" Danielle asked, raising her eyebrows at Dick. He'd been staring since they'd started off to the gala. She tried to ignore it at first, tried finding something interesting outside to stare at but as time passed, it became more annoying.
"I was just wondering if you had anything. You know.." Before he could finish the sentence her pointed stilettos were thrown up in the seat, barely giving him enough time to spread his legs so they didn't hit anything.. vital... The yelp that came from his mouth at the close call was so unmanly...
The purple fabric was gathered and pulled up her leg. Just below where the fabric went from clinging to loose and free, she had the 'utility belt' she kept strapped to her leg when in full suit, collapsible bostaff slipped into place along with a few stocked pockets. "Not much, just basics. It's not the first event I've been to and if it so happens it wouldn't be the first one, Dent, Crane, Cobblepot or Joker have crashed. I doubt it would be the last."
Dick gently pushed her foot away from him. "You scare me some times.. you know that...?" A large grin broke apart her face. "What..?" He asked hesitantly.
"The you from my time says the same thing." She chuckled.
Bruce was worried to let Danielle step out. The lights were already flashing the moment their limo drove up, the paparazzi going crazy for their chance at a picture of the newest addition to the Wayne manor. Though Danielle had been here for some time under the guise of Bruces distant cousin he would be caring for until her mother was well, he'd not brought her into public much and this would be her first event. Every photographer was hoping to make a name for themselves by getting that perfect shot of the new girl. He didn't know how she'd react, how the public would reacts to her. He was scared to allow her out where he couldn't keep a strict eye on her at all times.. just in case.
She was posing.. like it was some red carpet affair. She had all the poise and graze that a high bred upper class teen should have, right down to the strut. Bruce gave an honest smile, rare to come by. This girl was just one surprise after another.
"What are we doing here again?" Clark asked. He really rather not be in Gotham. He never wanted to be in Gotham. Being in Gotham always meant bad things...
"I told you already, that new girl's supposed to be here and I wanna be the first to get her!" Lois said, pen ever ready. "From what I hear he's kept her hidden away better than that first kid he took in! Can you imagine it if we got a scoop on her? Where she's from, all the stuff no one else knows?" She asked.
An image of domino clad eyes glaring at him with all the hatred that could be contained within a mortal shell came to his mind. "Yeah..."
"Is that her?" Lois exclaimed, using Clarks shoulder to push herself up a bit further, attempting to see over the sea of heads. Several yards away was Danielle, cup in hand and surrounded by eager reporters. "Damnit! They're already after her. C'mon! Move it!" She said she she pushed the man forward.
Clark saw the slight shift in her eyes towards them, he knew she saw them long before she pretended to. The change in stance, the way she shifted more to them, squaring her shoulders and facing him full on, body reading aggression even though the smile never faded from her painted lips.
"Danielle? Danielle Fischer?" Lois shouted out above the others.
"Yes?" Danielle asked politely to the brunette, faking as though this was her first encounter.
"Lois Lane and Clark Kent from The Daily Planet. I was wondering if I might have a word."
"Sorry miss lane. I do believe you've the same goal as every person in this room." Danielle chuckled.
"Just a moment." Lois pressed.
Danielle wanted to laugh, instead she tried to push back the grin. She knew this Lois, she knew that look. It was the 'I won't leave till I get my story' look. "Certainly." She said politely, like a proper girl should. "If you'll excuse me.." She said to the few reporters and others that had gathered to question her. They all gave Lois dirty looks. She pushed from the angry journalists. When the small group, Clark having tried to trail behind Lois and keeping his distance from the baby bat, reach smaller, less crowded stretch of room Danielle question. "I believe you had some questions for me Miss Lane?" She played up the rich girl act, taking a look around as if disinterested in the whole act of being interviewed, smiling and saying hello to a few people that would pass.
"Well, everyone wants to know more about you!" Lois began. "It must all be so new! How are you feeling, how has Gotham been treating you? How about your home life?"
"Lois.." Clark put a hand on her shoulder. Of course he knew the truth and regardless of the fact that he didn't trust this girl to keep a straight face when under fire from some one like Lois, they were awfully personal questions for anyone.
"Bold Miss Lane. I like that." Danielle gave a gleaming smile. "In all truth, I could not thank Bruce enough for taking me in." She began. "He's made sure I'm quite comfortable and well taken care of." Lois began scribbling away at her note pad. "When my mother became ill, I didn't know what I was going to do. It was like I was just.. dropped out of the sky..." Clark caught her eye over Lois. She grinned, giving him a pointed look. "Bruce was there to catch me. He took me in when I had nobody. I can't thank him enough for his generosity. You might say, he's a real hero." At this Danielle caught Clarks eye. Her eyes held the perfect dark intent, that perfect 'batglare' regardless of the fact that her lips held a grin the entire time.
"Bruce!" Danielle called as the playboy approached. Bruce placed his hand on Danielles shoulder. "I see you've already sunk your claws into Danielle here Miss Lane. I do hope you're not going to hard on her." he said in his 'rich dumb billionaire voice.
"I don't mind Bruce. We were just talking about you."
"Oh? Well perhaps you should go get yourself a drink so you can talk a little longer." Bruce motioned to Danielles mostly empty cup
Danielle nodded. "Would you like to accompany me Miss Lane? I'm sure that you've got more questions."
"Oh.. sure! Clark, why don't you try talking to Mr. Wayne."
Danielle turned around to look at Bruce, gesturing with a nod of her head to the champagne glass in his hand. "Go easy on the empty calories there Bruce. We wouldn't wanna have to let out any of your suits now would we?" She said with a smirk. Bruce narrowed his eyes and she turned with a soft laugh, Lois in tow.
"Do you teach them that?" Clark asked softly. At Bruces raised eyebrow he elaborated. "The glare thing.. It's like she's looking into my soul.. trying to pull out emotions..."
"Did you ever think, maybe the reason you're feeling this way is because deep down inside.. you know she's right?"
Clark raised an eyebrow at Bruce, not letting on that he felt like he'd just gotten scolded by a parent. Bruce began to walk off. "AH! Wait! What am I supposed to write?"
"I'm sure you'll come up with something Mr. Kent." Bruce called, raising his glass up as he disappeared into the crowd, pulling a Bat out in the open.
"I hate when he does that..."
Dick found himself honestly surprised when Dani threw her back against the balcony he'd been leaning forward on, looking out over the city, tossing her head back with a sigh and tilting to see his face.
"They never get any more entertaining." She confirmed for him without the question. "They're always just a boring.. Though once you're old enough to drink, I guess it get a bit better..."
"Just the idea I live to the legal drinking age is entertaining enough" Dick laughed, seeing that they were alone. "Where's your entourage?"
"I managed to ditch them on Bruce for now. They got my side of the story, let them get his.. Maybe after that they'll come after you." She joked, nudging him with her elbow.
"I'll point them in your direction without hesitation."
"Way to take one for the team!" Dani punched him in the shoulder with a laugh. They chuckled, glad to have someone to talk to at the stuffy event. When there was a clearing of a throat they looked up to see Bruce standing on the balcony. Immediately Danielle straightened, Dick slowly pulling out of his slouch next to her.
"I've asked Alfred to take you home." He said.
"But.." Dick Began.
"It's a slow night. I know neither of you want to be here." Bruce began. "I've told Alfred it's okay if you visit some friends. Just stay close." They both brightened instantly. 'Friends'. Code for mount Justice. It was another night off, a night to just chill. Both teens began to eye the edge of the balcony, Dick even went so far as placing his hand on it before Bruce spoke out with annoyance. "Front door." He said grimly. Their shoulders slumped. "And no running."
"Yes sir" They grumbled.
AN- Yay.. appearance of Clark again! Why would they come to Gotham? uh... Plot device? Sorry if I got Lois' expressions and stuff wrong. I was never a Superman fan. He was too OP for me, no struggle. It was just a 'let me figure out where I should punch' type show. Again.. I thrive on agnst. Bruces 'my parents are dead,, I had no childhood, I can't trust anybody, I'll never be happy!' type life appeals to me... o.o; Yes, I know.. I'm a sad little individual.. I'm trying to do some happy stuff.. too bad I don't know what sort of 'happy, fun stuff' to have the team do.. as a team.. that won't turn to angst.. I had an idea.. but everyones emotions.. would make it angsty... X.X The angst stick just won't leave me alone! some one help me!