(Naturally, Batman is a product of DC Comics, Warner Bros and created by Bob Cane... you know, all the good disclaimer stuff. THANKS FOR READING!
Apologies for the brevity of this chapter... I will continue next week!)
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CHAPTER FOUR - Realizations
Catherine lay awake, her eyes open and focused on the ceiling; she listened to Bruce so quietly open the door to the master bedroom and take careful steps toward the bed. She waited in silence, as was the ritual between them, until he had also put his head to the pillow before speaking.
She could hear the slightest rustle of fabric as he dropped his robe onto the corner at the foot of the bed, then felt him slide in beside her. Bruce's hand slipped into hers that waited for him and gave it a soft squeeze.
"You okay?" Catherine asked in the darkness.
"No physical injuries," he replied.
She caught the distance in his voice immediately. That was unlike Bruce... when he returned from a night of patrols, at least. In fact, his entire demeanor was off. Throughout their marriage, when either of them returned from patrolling the city, the rest of the night was passionate - consciously or unconsciously celebrating that they'd once again survived.
"Bruce? What is it, hon?"
He sighed. "Surveillance of the temple was successful. The Obiken's and others live there as well as..." he hesitated, choosing the best word, "worship... there."
"Like how nuns live in the convent at a church," she suggested.
Bruce started at the mention of Catholicism. He sat up and peered at Catherine in the gloom of the bedroom. They had never talked much about religion in their relationship; it had been a taboo subject between them. Catherine had quickly learned to avoid any topic that brought up religion or spirituality around Bruce or Batman for that matter.
+++++
They had been dating and had begun a tentative relationship as vigilante partners with Catherine -as Shadow of the Bat- providing him mainly surveillance and technical assistance. Her experience in computers and research for work had become a valuable resource and time-saver for his crusades. Initially, he'd been adamant about her staying uninvolved in the process but her independent work had earned her the role.
On a particular case early on in the partnership, Batman had returned to the cave battered, bleeding and exhausted. Having maintained audio communication with him the entire night, Catherine expected the worst when he hobbled back to safety. While Alfred and she tended to his physical wounds expertly, Catherine had exclaimed, "Thank God you're alright!"
Bruce's glare could have turned her to stone. He'd not said a word to Catherine again that night, neither to embrace her nor explain the furious look in his eyes.
When he'd left the cave, Catherine had turned to Alfred.
"It goes back to his parents, I'm afraid, Miss," he had explained. "Master Bruce handles the question of religion with difficulty, given all that has happened to him at such a tender age."
"They were religious?"
"Oh yes, ma'am. And Master Bruce disavowed what beliefs he had then the very night that he was inspired to take up the mask of Batman."
Catherine stared. "He has a lot of wounds from that night..."
"Indeed, Miss."
+++++
"Like nuns in a convent," Bruce muttered. "Yes."
"Bruce, what about this is troubling you?" she asked. Catherine reached out and lay her hand on his chest. Her fingers began to toy with the hair she found there, almost teasingly.
He rested his hand over hers to still the movement. "I had a run in with Ben Obiken out there," he said finally.
"In the temple?"
"No - I never went inside," Bruce explained. "I was on the building adjacent, observing. He was behind me and I never heard him!"
Catherine seldom heard Bruce raise his voice; he normally maintained a steady timber, regardless of what was going on. She flinched at the inflection. "He was watching you?"
"Obviously."
"What did he say?"
Bruce sighed again. "He started in on what memories I was going through while standing there, staring at his... church."
Catherine remembered his discomfort with all matters religious and realized that that was a part of what had her husband so bothered by the Obiken's: their spiritual prowess.
"What did you say to him? Was that what was on your mind?"
"I said nothing. And yes... that was what was on my mind."
She leaned closer to kiss him softly on the lips. Bruce wrapped his arms around her, drawing in her warmth, her scent.
"Baby, just let it go with these Obiken's. They have their ways... we have ours. Don't let 'em get to you."
Apologies for the brevity of this chapter... I will continue next week!)
.
.
.
.
.
CHAPTER FOUR - Realizations
Catherine lay awake, her eyes open and focused on the ceiling; she listened to Bruce so quietly open the door to the master bedroom and take careful steps toward the bed. She waited in silence, as was the ritual between them, until he had also put his head to the pillow before speaking.
She could hear the slightest rustle of fabric as he dropped his robe onto the corner at the foot of the bed, then felt him slide in beside her. Bruce's hand slipped into hers that waited for him and gave it a soft squeeze.
"You okay?" Catherine asked in the darkness.
"No physical injuries," he replied.
She caught the distance in his voice immediately. That was unlike Bruce... when he returned from a night of patrols, at least. In fact, his entire demeanor was off. Throughout their marriage, when either of them returned from patrolling the city, the rest of the night was passionate - consciously or unconsciously celebrating that they'd once again survived.
"Bruce? What is it, hon?"
He sighed. "Surveillance of the temple was successful. The Obiken's and others live there as well as..." he hesitated, choosing the best word, "worship... there."
"Like how nuns live in the convent at a church," she suggested.
Bruce started at the mention of Catholicism. He sat up and peered at Catherine in the gloom of the bedroom. They had never talked much about religion in their relationship; it had been a taboo subject between them. Catherine had quickly learned to avoid any topic that brought up religion or spirituality around Bruce or Batman for that matter.
+++++
They had been dating and had begun a tentative relationship as vigilante partners with Catherine -as Shadow of the Bat- providing him mainly surveillance and technical assistance. Her experience in computers and research for work had become a valuable resource and time-saver for his crusades. Initially, he'd been adamant about her staying uninvolved in the process but her independent work had earned her the role.
On a particular case early on in the partnership, Batman had returned to the cave battered, bleeding and exhausted. Having maintained audio communication with him the entire night, Catherine expected the worst when he hobbled back to safety. While Alfred and she tended to his physical wounds expertly, Catherine had exclaimed, "Thank God you're alright!"
Bruce's glare could have turned her to stone. He'd not said a word to Catherine again that night, neither to embrace her nor explain the furious look in his eyes.
When he'd left the cave, Catherine had turned to Alfred.
"It goes back to his parents, I'm afraid, Miss," he had explained. "Master Bruce handles the question of religion with difficulty, given all that has happened to him at such a tender age."
"They were religious?"
"Oh yes, ma'am. And Master Bruce disavowed what beliefs he had then the very night that he was inspired to take up the mask of Batman."
Catherine stared. "He has a lot of wounds from that night..."
"Indeed, Miss."
+++++
"Like nuns in a convent," Bruce muttered. "Yes."
"Bruce, what about this is troubling you?" she asked. Catherine reached out and lay her hand on his chest. Her fingers began to toy with the hair she found there, almost teasingly.
He rested his hand over hers to still the movement. "I had a run in with Ben Obiken out there," he said finally.
"In the temple?"
"No - I never went inside," Bruce explained. "I was on the building adjacent, observing. He was behind me and I never heard him!"
Catherine seldom heard Bruce raise his voice; he normally maintained a steady timber, regardless of what was going on. She flinched at the inflection. "He was watching you?"
"Obviously."
"What did he say?"
Bruce sighed again. "He started in on what memories I was going through while standing there, staring at his... church."
Catherine remembered his discomfort with all matters religious and realized that that was a part of what had her husband so bothered by the Obiken's: their spiritual prowess.
"What did you say to him? Was that what was on your mind?"
"I said nothing. And yes... that was what was on my mind."
She leaned closer to kiss him softly on the lips. Bruce wrapped his arms around her, drawing in her warmth, her scent.
"Baby, just let it go with these Obiken's. They have their ways... we have ours. Don't let 'em get to you."