Bruce fidgeted in his seat. He brought his fingers to his necktie, itching to loosen it slightly, but curled his fingers back into his palm and instead drummed them against the table.
It was bad enough he had to sit here and listen to some dignitary come in, jabber on the economy, their money, their estates, their power, bla bla bla…but to force him to sit there in an uncomfortable suit and tie…he hated doing nothing. The person Wayne Enterprises was interested in keeping their stock safe was already late, and he could be out there now trying to track down the Joker, who had eluded him for long enough.
Bruce blew an irritated breath from his nose and leaned over. "Lucius, are you sure we can't handle this without my being here?"
The older man looked over, his drink poised to his lips and a smirk on his face. "What? Not having fun?"
"Guys like me don't have fun in monkey suits," Bruce hissed.
"That's right," Lucius Fox took a pull on his drink before setting it down with the same smile he had on before. "Guys like you like…spelunking, right?" Bruce allowed a small grin to settle on his face and leaned back into his seat.
"Right…spelunking."
"Well, I'm afraid your extracurricular activities have to wait, Mr. Wayne," Lucius's tired gray eyes drifted upwards as the doors to the banquet room of the restaurant opened. "Our guest has arrived."
Bruce's eyes drifted lazily to the direction of the door. The first to enter were two men, no less than six feet tall, dressed in black suits and ties. They resembled the secret service more than anything, complete with little headsets shoved in their ears.
Authentic, mused the young man as he gave a chuckle to himself, lifting his glass up to his lips. Old guy likes his security. He's probably worth millions.
Bruce watched, expecting a balding little man to enter next, dressed in his finest.
Bruce's eyes grew wide ever so slightly and he nearly choked on his drink when a young woman, not old man, entered behind the bodyguards.
Tall and lean, fit; she was quite unlike many of the women he was used to. The woman loped past her security with a lazy gait not unlike a panther or other big cat. She had a confident walk, with long, draw out steps. Bruce knew he shouldn't gawk. Batman doesn't gawk.
But billionaire playboys do.
Her dress added all the more uneasiness to Bruce's demeanor. It was short, quite short, with a plunging neckline, a halter-dress of sorts. At least she came prepared, with a short, white fur jacket, made of some creature Bruce knew was expensive, slung over her shoulder. Apparently she knew about the cold, rainy fall weather of Gotham.
The dress sparkled and twinkled under the faded lights of the dining hall; gold and brown glittering as she made her way up to the table…she looked like she belonged on a runway somewhere spending her money, not here talking about how she'd like to invest it.
"Ah," Lucius rose first, breaking Bruce from his transfixed gaze. He reached out and offered her his hand. "We were worried you wouldn't make it."
Her caramel colored hand accepted Lucius's and she gave a laugh, gentle yet, it seemed, a bit forced. "No, Mr. Fox. No need to worry. It was a nightmare with the traffic, you know how it is." Bruce could hear the hint of an accent, so soft and barely noticeable, yet it added a bit of class to her.
The woman's hazel eyes, bright and clear, slowly drifted down to Bruce. He blinked a moment before remembering his manners and standing to his feet. "Sorry, how rude of me. I'm Bruce Wayne," she took his hand, her perfectly manicured nails clicking together and a grin crossing her face.
"Talia. Talia Head. Nice to meet you Mr. Wayne," she murmured, taking back her hand and glancing around the room. The board of director's sat at a round table, for it would be much easier to make negotiations if they could see everyone easily. Plus a long rectangular table might just seem a bit too…business like. Since Lucius took over as head of the board, his ideas and thoughts were focused on those he did business with. He wished to make them as comfortable as possible.
Talia eyed the seat by Bruce and motioned to it slowly.
"Do you mind, Mr. Wayne?"
The young man shook his head and pulled out her chair. "Not at all."
She sat, brushing a strand of auburn hair away from her eyes, and placed her coat on the back of her chair. "I've forgotten how cold this city is…"
Bruce smirked and nodded, taking a sip of his champagne. "I can't argue there. Weather is unusually chilly…"
Talia watched him for a moment before picking up her water glass. "It's not just the weather. People are just as unwelcoming."
Bruce quirked an eyebrow as she placed the glass to her lips, careful not to smudge her lipstick. "Oh, I'm sure we're not all like this…right? There must be a nice few Gothamites around…"
"Are you trying to redeem yourself, Mr. Wayne?"
"Bruce."
Talia placed her drink back down, staring at him with her sparkling hazel eyes. "Excuse me?"
"Bruce. Call me Bruce." He cleared his throat as the waiter approached, topping off his champagne again. "You say we're cold. Well, perhaps the formalities add to that problem."
She gave a smile and leaned her elbow on the table, resting her chin on the back of her hand. "Perhaps they do. If that is the case, I insist you call me Talia."
He gave a slight nod. "Fine, Talia it is."
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Dinner was done, and as the plates were picked up off the table, the plans for how Talia's money would be invested went as smoothly as things could go.
"Well, Ms. Head, we are very pleased that you have decided to merge your finances with Wayne Enterprises," Lucius smiled, folding his arms and turning to face her in his chair.
"From what I hear, your company has been soaring. My close associates have told me it's a wise choice to put my father's money in the company."
Talia was now in business mode, sitting upright with perfect posture, her eyes fiery and strong as she eyed each man at the table.
Bruce could see she wasn't just a daddy's girl sticking her hand in the money jar. She wanted to care for her father's business.
"And I'm sure my father would agree as well if he were still with us."
Lucius bowed his head apologetically. "I'm sorry for your loss. But believe me Ms. Head, we will keep your father's money in great care."
Talia smiled and laced her fingers together on the table before her. "Then, I believe business is done here. I will have those handling the money contact you soon. And thank you for your hospitality Mr. Fox."
The older men at the table all stood as Talia did, all save for Bruce, who rose to his feet once she had already taken her coat off from the back of the chair and was halfway to her body guards.
Bruce cast a glance at Lucius, who was busy speaking to one of his colleagues. He knew the older gentleman would disapprove of him taking interest in Talia, especially now that she was a possible business opportunity, but he was only human.
Even Bruce Wayne had his weaknesses.
"Talia," He caught her attention as she spoke in hushed tones with one of the body guards. Her long silky hair flowed over her shoulders as she turned to face him, a bit taken aback that he was talking to her.
"Oh, yes, Mr. Wa…er…Bruce?" She said with a slight laugh. "Sorry, it's a habit."
Bruce waved her off with his million-dollar smile. "No, don't worry." He shoved one of his hands in his coat pocket and brought the other in a fist up to his lips, giving a soft cough. "I was wondering where you were going in such a hurry."
She watched him, her fingers playing with the expensive-looking brown and gold chandelier earrings dangling delicately from her ears. "I promised to meet a friend."
"Oh…" Bruce glanced down at his shoes and gave a nod. "I understand."
"Why do you ask, Bruce?"
The younger man smiled and shook his head. "No reason. Just…wondering."
She gave a laugh, though this one seemed lighter and easier than the one from before. "You're a terrible liar, Bruce. I thought we were trying to establish that not all Gothamites, as you call them, are cold people."
"W-well…I―"
"Then, lying certainly doesn't help your cause," she added before murmuring something in another language to the body guard. He nodded and strode out the door. "Well, if that is the case, Mr. Wayne, I believe I need to go now."
Bruce's jaw stiffened as she grinned wider and turned her back on him. "Perhaps some other time then?"
She paused and glanced back over her shoulder as Bruce rocked on his heels, bringing his free hand into his other pocket. "Perhaps you could join me for dinner or lunch when you aren't so busy."
Talia looked over at the door, then back at Bruce. "Oh I don't know, Mr. Wayne…I'm a very busy person."
He smiled and gave a slight shrug. "Well, I thought maybe you'd like a tour of the town. I mean, after all, it is your first time here, isn't it?"
Talia gave a smile and glanced over as one of the body guards called her name again. She snapped something in that same foreign language. Bruce could have sworn he heard his name mentioned. The guard looked over at him, snorting, and left once more. Talia returned her hazel eyes to Bruce, biting her lower lip in thought. "Hmm, well, it would be nice to have a tour guide."
"And who better to tour you around than a local?"
She paused, her eyes sparkling, and gave another gentle laugh. "Alright Mr. Wayne. I suppose I can take you up on your deal. I'll be staying at the Ritz-Carlton Suite down on Grand Avenue…" She adjusted her purse over her shoulder and smirked. "Do call ahead, though. I'm not particular with uninvited guests. I may have one of my guards shoot."
Bruce blinked, tensing up slightly, but her laugh made him relax. "Calm down, Mr. Wayne, it's only a joke. I look forward to our meal together." She turned gracefully on her heels and walked off, disappearing out the door.
Bruce raised his eyebrows, an amused look on his face. He had a date with Talia. Bruce glanced over an looked back at Lucius, who watched him before shaking his head. Bruce gave a laugh, shrugging, and strode out the same door Talia had exited from.
Yes, Bruce Wayne and Batman had their weaknesses.
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"You're father wouldn't be pleased with this rendezvous," one of Talia's bodyguards muttered, pulling the headset from his ear and tossing it on the other man's lap as they sat in the front seats.
Talia looked up from the rear of the limo, flipping her hair back with a flick of her hand. "You don't know my father well enough then. He'd want me to do what is necessary."
"To have his daughter making dinner dates when she should be working?"
"Who is to say I am not working?" Talia snapped, her eyes blazing with a new intensity, something she kept only when dealing with her father's men. "I regret to inform you that here you are under my authority. Therefore keep your tongue in check, or you lose it." The man fell silent and Talia leaned back into her seat. "You know where we are going, correct?"
"Yes, Ms. Al Ghul."
"Good," She murmured, drawing her attention from the back of their heads to the window. The massive, pricey buildings melted away, shrinking and shriveling into decrepit apartments, crumbling streets, people turning from suits and tuxedos to moth eaten shirts and dingy street clothes. Then there were no buildings, no people; just a long, lonely, narrow road lined with trees and vast expanses of space. No street lamps lit the way, only the moonlight streamed through Talia's window, casting an eerie pale glow to her features.
They reached their destination, and as Talia was led by her guards, she stopped and cast a glance at the huge building before her. "Hmph…" was all she said before stepping into the doorway, consumed by inky black shadows.
Talia entered a reception area, where a man in uniform sat, half asleep as he stared at monitors before him.
"Excuse me?"
The man looked up, startled by the female voice, and swiped at the drool leaking from the side of his lips. "Oh…er…I'm sorry, ma'am. You need something?"
"Yes, I need to speak with someone. A patient here."
"I'm afraid that's impossible. Visiting hours are over."
Talia gave a sigh and reached into her purse. She slammed a wad of money on the desk and frowned. "How much time does this give me?"
The guard stared at the money…more than he made in a week. "Uh…plenty. Who you wanna see?"
"Bring me to Jonathan Crane."
A.N.: Hope the addition of Ms. Talia wasn't too far of a throw. I know that she and Bruce share romantic-y feelings in the comics, plus she would definitely fit in the direction the story is going. (another thanks to my friend Cherryhobbit, who is very helpful in my mental ruts)
Thanks for reading, don't forget to review!
