A/N: And I'm back!
So I promised you a scene from Bruce's POV and I have (hopefully) delivered!
Enjoy folks!
Bruce's Double Life
What do you think of Harvey Dent and Rachel Dawes?
Grace's text made Bruce pause mid stitch. Wincing, he picked up his phone to respond.
Only know Dent through what I hear. Grew up with Rachel. Trust her completely. Why do you ask?
Did it sound accusatory? True, it was shorter than most texts he sent but this recent wound needed to be cleaned up first.
The lift whirred as it lowered. He looked up and saw the old retainer arriving.
"Be nice when Wayne Manor is rebuilt." Alfred said, crossing the bunker. "Can swap not sleeping in a penthouse for not sleeping in a mansion." Bruce kept stitching his wound, wanting to finish before this meeting. "Whenever you stitch yourself up, you do make a bloody mess."
"Teaches me to learn from my mistakes." Bruce said. Even though he was used to Alfred's "I told you so" speeches, he wasn't in the mood to hear about it.
"You ought to be pretty knowledgeable then. Did you get mauled by a tiger?" Alfred asked, continuing the stitching. Bruce had to admit that he did a much better job cleaning up.
"It was a dog…a big dog." Bruce said, wincing before hearing the chime from his phone.
They just paid me a visit, wanting to ask about Lau.
Lau. That's who he was meeting that day…what about Lau?
He's probably an embezzler, wanting to steal money. They wanted to warn me. Don't you have dealings with him?
Today I do. Bruce texted back, deciding then and there to check Lau's accounts once he got to Wayne Tower. I'll keep my eyes and ears open. Thanks for the warning and I'll make up for Saturday.
Alfred looked at the text exchange and smiled. "She sounds loyal."
"Maybe too loyal." Bruce said, taking off his black t-shirt and replacing it with the white shirt for the board meeting. "Anything involving Corte Maltese comes first."
"Are you suggesting she might turn you in?" Alfred asked.
"If it means getting the enclave or municipality she needs for the refugees? Absolutely." Bruce said. He remembered watching the footage of her swearing in ceremony. Even though she still looked like the same young woman he remembered…there was a determination in her green eyes.
One that was as determined as Ducard's…
He pushed the thought away. He needed her help and she needed his. She was reasonable and could be trusted.
Someday.
But not now. They may as well be strangers.
"Know your limits, Master Wayne." Alfred said, closing the conversation.
XXXXXXXX
While they were driving to the meeting, Bruce got a phone call from Rebecca.
"Rebecca? What's going on?" He asked.
"Hey Bruce! I was wondering if Grace told you about the Pelican Ball that's coming up."
He paused. "They're still hosting it this year?" He asked, the surprise in his voice making Alfred's eyebrows cock in curiosity.
"Cicero suggested it. Says that it'll be a nice reminder of home. I don't know if you know this or not…but he's been trying to get Grace to consider men other than you as a potential consort." Rebecca said.
Bruce smirked. Alfred's suggestion was working too well. "I'm not surprised in the slightest. Not like I have the best reputation."
Rebecca took in a hissing breath. "Well…he's so determined to keep you away from her that he made a point to exclude you from Grace's invitation list."
Bruce shook his head, even though he knew Rebecca couldn't see it. "Didn't Victor call him a cunning snake once?"
"That he did…but I have a solution. I need to take someone with me and because I'm the Dowager, nobody is going to refuse my choices." Rebecca said. "So I'll arrange to get you an invitation and say you're my 'date'. I'll keep the other suitors away and you keep Grace occupied."
"Will it work?" Bruce asked.
He could hear Rebecca's smirk growing. "You forget how much of a persuasive person I can be. But don't worry about that. You just need to worry about helping Grace have fun."
Well…it might be fun. Even if it was by accident…and he would like to spend time with Grace.
"When is the ball?"