Part 6
by Darklady
Location: DC Universe... 'Bird' AU.
Rated: G (Also W for Wishful Thinking )
PS: Standard Disclaimer. I do not own the characters and am therefore not responsible for any self delusional behavior they may exhibit..
(Dinah's POV)
^^V^^ ^BC^ ^^V^^ ^BC^ ^^V^^ ^BC^
I look at the mirror and check my makeup and ask:
When did I start to fall in love?
It wasn't the flowers waiting for me when I finally got back to my hotel room. Those I frankly expected. I've had flowers before. It wasn't finding my dress cleaned and bagged and hanging in my closet. That's just good manners. It wasn't the hot breakfast at 5 am, although that *was* perceptive of him. Which he is. Perceptive, I mean. He may not be an Einstein, but he is truly sweet and caring, and it comes through when he notices things like that. Most civilians wouldn't even think about the combat-munchies, must less figure out what to do about it. It wasn't even the call from the spa, although the massage was wonderfully welcome on overstrained muscles. Those things are just *things*, and I have been offered *things* before.
The note with the card said 'How about a late lunch?' Nothing new there. When Bruce Wayne called, I accepted impulsively, even though I was busy. But I was *not* in love.
Perhaps I fell a little in love when I picked Bruce up at his office.
He had offered to send a car, but I refused. It was only five blocks, and I *can* walk. I had my bike to restock and my uniform to repair, and frankly no time to sit around a hotel. When I told him that he didn't question me about what I had to do. He said " I'll be in my office when you get here."
Perhaps when that brunette bitch who calls herself a bodyguard damn near invited herself along. He didn't bluster. He didn't fold. He didn't say 'I can take care of myself." Men say those things all the time, and they are usually being idiots. No, Bruce said "I think I can trust Miss Lance to protect me."
Was that it?
Or on our next date? The Gotham Athletic Club. We played handball. I won, naturally, but Bruce gave me a good match. Didn't clown around or slack off because he was playing a women. He made me sweat for every point. And afterwards he said "Great game. Thanks". Thing is, Bruce meant it. Most guys would be in a snit if you knocked them on their ass with a rebound. He saw it as a good shot. And he said so.
Perhaps then.
Or was it at the restaurant? Over dinner, when the topic of the Moth came up, he said: "I saw the fight. Good kick." Turns out we have something else in common. We both are into the martial arts. Which explains his build. Bruce has even been a student of Sensi Ikano. Not in *our* classes, of course. Still, even Ikano's 'casual' students are pretty serious. When I said that, Bruce got all modest. He insisted Lee merely offered him a few classes out of 'obligation'. Family connection there. Seems the Wayne's knew the Reed's back when, so when Ikano surfaced Bruce sponsored him in to the Cincinattus club. "Britt's heir and all that." That made me smile. For all his heartless playboy reputation, when Bruce spoke of Ikano and Britt .... well, that's when I knew he had a romantic side.
Perhaps that was it?
Or was it later, at the dance club, when my beeper went off? It was Alan calling the whole Society back on duty. When I told him I had to go.... Bruce didn't argue. He didn't sulk. He didn't ask 'Will you miss me?' or 'When will you be back?'. He handed me the keys to his Porsche and said "I have a ride." Just like that. No 'here's where to park.' No 'let me drive'. Just "Here".
Perhaps when I got back?
After fighting every Grimm character from every bedtime story Mom *didn't* bother to read me. After being outnumbered and out Generaled and damn-near ass-whipped. When I finally got back to Gotham and I took my ego in both hands and risked a call...Bruce said "Hi. Staying in town?" He didn't preen. He didn't smirk. He didn't pretend that he owned me. He didn't demand to know where I'd been or what I'd been doing. He just said. "It's been a busy two days." and then "Dinner tonight?"
He trusts me.
He is not threatened by my strength.
He is not embarrassed by my talent.
I know it's early. We've just met, and we have so much more to learn about each other. But ... sometimes.. doesn't it happen that way? Don't two people just 'click', and don't they *know*?
The phone is ringing. He must be downstairs now.