"Haven't we been dancing around it for long enough, Bruce?", Zatanna says, her eyes very serious.
Bruce stared at her from his computer chair in the Batcave. The two had just gotten back from a mission that involved Klarion The Witch Boy, therefore he was still in his costume and so was she, as she had just pulled down her hood. It had been a difficult battle that had been physically and mentally taxing, so Bruce knew he really wasn't in the right frame of mind to deal with that kind of question.
"Zee, you know I can't….listen, part of me wants to open every door for you. And the other part, cares enough about you to keep those doors closed", Bruce says.
Zatanna closes the distance between them as Bruce stands up from his chair. She placed her hands on his chest, suddenly acting very self-conscious. She looked up at him, her bangs hiding her eyes slightly. He hadn't seen her hair styled with bangs since back when they were in London all those years ago, and to say it was affecting him a bit would be an understatement.
"You've been telling me some form of that since I was twenty-seven, Bruce. But we aren't getting any younger, are we? And I…"
She took a moment, biting her lip. Bruce was giving her whatever time she needed. He wasn't going to impose on whatever confession she was about to make. He just stared at her with interest.
"I love you, Bruce Wayne. I always have and I always will. You know I tried to move on a few times, but I never could. And I'm done trying", Zatanna says, her intentions very clear.
Sher continued to be hide her eyes under her bangs, which meant he couldn't get as much of a feel for the emotion in them. Although, her voice was enough indicator for how this confession was affecting her, which meant Bruce had to tread lightly.
And how do you answer that? She was so sincere, and her tone was so vulnerable. She wouldn't even look at him, as she was staring at his chest. At his symbol. Bruce felt his heart tighten. He couldn't let her in, could he?
Deep down, he couldn't deny how much he did want to let her in. Maybe it was the feeling of her hands on his chest, but this wasn't a new desire. This was a desire he had been denying himself since he had gone to train with her father.
He loved her. He had for over twenty years and now pushing fifty-five, maybe it was time to give into that decades-long desire. Maybe he could give it a chance. Truthfully, he'd never know unless he gave it a chance.
"Okay", Bruce says evenly.
Zatanna meets his eyes, "Okay?", she asked in confusion.
"Let's give it a try", Bruce says in a very serious and sincere tone, a small smile reaching his lips.
Bruce sees her eyes wet with tears, but her beaming smile shows that those are tears of happiness not sorrow. She just stares at him for a moment in disbelief, before softly taking her hands from his chest up to his face. She pulls him to her for a kiss, as their lips softly collide. Bruce wrapped his arm around her waist, bringing her closer to him.
At this moment, Bruce had no idea what the future held. He did however know one thing…this kiss had been a long time coming.