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It was another busy day at the station. The difference being that everyone in the newsroom kept teasing me about Bruce Wayne.
Gotham's most wanted bachelor... Of course they were just loving this.

When I walked into the office my desk was covered with cut-outs of Bruce and hearts.
"Ha ha - very funny." I said, rolling my eyes as I was starting to remove the images from my desk.
Even when I looked at pictures of him I felt butterflies. Each time remembering every moment when he looked at me, touched me, said my name. I was hopelessly lost and it annoyed the hell out of me.

I had warned Peter that the interview might be on a different date, since our pre-interview was cut short.
I was sitting down to start my day when my phone rang. Number - unknown.

"Hello?" I picked up.
"Good morning Miss Hunter." It was Bruce.
"Good morning."
"I still feel bad about last night. Can I make it up to you with a coffee?"
"Um...sure... Would that qualify as our pre-interview then?"
"Yes. That way we're still on track for the interview tonight."
Perfect! Peter is going to love me.
"Sounds good. When and where should I meet you?"
"Alfred is already waiting for you downstairs."

The drive seemed longer than last time and it looked like we were going outside of Gotham.
"Alfred, are we going to Mr. Wayne's mansion?"
"Not quite miss."
"Where are we going?"
Alfred just smiled at me.
Great. A secret location was the last thing I needed for my nerves.
A few minutes later we pulled up to a private airport. And then I saw Bruce, in his perfectly white shirt, hands in his pockets, waiting in front of his airplane.
I was beyond confused. And beyond nervous.
I walked towards him.
"Morning." He greeted me.
"I thought we were going for coffee?" I asked puzzled.
"Oh we are."

What's with all the mystery?

"You know, when normal people say they want to go for coffee... They tend to mean the coffee shop down the road." I said.
He laughed. "True. But normal people also don't create tabloids."
"Tabloids?"
"Paparazzi are following me everywhere in Gotham. If they saw us, just us, having coffee together..." he smirked at me.
"So we're headed for Cuba then?"
He laughed again. "After you." He said while placing his hand on my lower back again. Lingering longer than last time. I walked into his private jet. He sat down in front of me, our knees touching.
I started to get irritated by this.

"You don't need to impress me with your wealth, Mr Wayne. I know how much you're worth. I know where you are on the Forbes 100 list. I know..."
"Don't worry..." he interrupted, a smirk on his lips. "I would never assume that someone like you could be impressed with superficial things like money and airplanes.
"Someone like me?" I repeated.
"If I'd thought you were an ordinary reporter I surely wouldn't have picked you to do the story with. I looked into your impressive resumé... I know you're not interested in this." He said while gesturing around him.
"Huh, sounds like you have me all figured out Mr Wayne. What am I interested then?"
"Quite to the contrary Miss Hunter." He said while looking deep into my eyes again. "But I want to find out." He smiled at me.
Could he hear my heartbeat? It sounded like it was about to come out of my chest.
"Buckle up." He said. "It's going to be a short ride."

Half an hour later we landed on a secluded island with one big house on it. "Your summer residence." I said. I had seen pictures of all his mansions in and around Gotham.
"That's where the best coffee is."

God this felt like a date and I really didn't want it to. He had messed with my head enough. I was seriously concerned about how I could portray him objectively after all this?
"What is it like never having to worry about making rent, how to pay for the bills...?" I asked him.
"I never knew anything else." He responded. "What is it like to worry about money?"
"It sucks." I smiled.
He laughed. "I think I could find relief in the fact that I'm not responsible anymore."
"Responsible?" "With power comes responsibility. Money is power. How can you watch your city burn while you're drinking champagne?" He asked while looking out the window as we we're approaching his summer residence.
"Pardon my candor, but isn't that exactly what you're doing?"
He looked at me like I trapped him in a corner. And just like that his facial expression changed again. Back to the mask.
"Am I? I guess I am. I just love buying toys too much, Miss Hunter." He grinned at me. But his words sounded hallow, like a line that had prepared. What was he hiding?


This was a mistake.
Alfred had him convinced that this was the right decision. He wanted to believe it. But as she was sitting across from him, looking at him with interrogating eyes - he was all too aware of the fact that she might have figured out well before he has a chance to get to know her.
He had slipped. Letting his guard down. Telling her too much about himself instead of the fake Bruce. But what was he thinking would happen? He can't be with someone trying to get to know them, while he remains fake and distant. He might have to figure out a quick exit strategy for this.

The drive from to the house was short but it felt forever because Wayne was staring out the window in silence. I must have offended him with my comment. It was a hurtful thing to say, but the image of him chucking one glass of champagne after the other at the party... He hadn't done much with his wealth for this city. Did he not see the irony in his statement? I felt bad about the comment and was trying to engage him in a conversation again. With little success. He was far away in thoughts.

We arrived at the mansion. This time he didn't put his hand on my back, just walking into the door after Alfred opened it. The tension was so thick, you could have cut it with a knife.

"I'm sorry if I offended you." I said. "Sometimes I just spout out things without thinking before speaking... I shouldn't have said it."
It seemed like he was barely listening to me. He looked at me confused, as if I just woke him up.
"Nothing to be sorry for Miss Hunter. I was just thinking about a business plan of mine."

Lie.

"Ready for that coffee now?" He asked with a fake smile on his lips.
We sat in the living room with views of the ocean. "This is a beautiful home Mr Wayne."
"Thank you. It belonged to my mother's family." He said still deep in thought.
"Please." He said while pointing at the couch.

I took a seat. He sat down, this time far away from me. I never felt this uncomfortable in my life.
Alfred brought us coffees.
"So," I asked with a smile, trying to lighten the mood. "What's so special about this coffee?"
"The machine is imported from Sicily in Italy. There are only five in the world. They're said to make the best espresso." He said while watching me take a sip. "So I bought two." He said.
"Wow this is excellent. Where is the other one?"
"At my mansion in Gotham."
His answers were short. How was I able to get him out of his shell again?

I grabbed my notepad.
"You've spoken negatively about Batman before. As someone very invested in Gotham's safety, what do you think about him?"
"He is a masked vigilantly. Nothing more and nothing less. No one in this city should be above the law."
I scribbled down "masked vigilantly" on my notebook.
"And you Miss Hunter?"
I looked up. "I feel safer with Batman around, Mr Wayne."
His eyes flared up to me, holding my gaze.
"He might be thinking he's above the law, but if that what it takes to get justice and get those behind bars that belong bars..." I continued. There he was again, his face returned to the warm and open eyes.
"Not many share your opinion Miss Hunter." He said. His words didn't match his expression. He seemed to be relieved by my statement.
"No one ever is." I smiled.
He laughed. I felt myself relaxing in my seat. He was finally snapping out of it.
"So, I don't want to step on your toes tonight." Granted I already had. "I usually don't give out pre-prepared questions but I know this is your first nation-wide televised interview. I don't want you to feel uncomfortable." I handed him a sheet with questions.
He didn't take the paper and smiled.
"I'm not worried about that, Miss Hunter."
"What are you worried about?"
"Making you uncomfortable."
Oh God... Did he notice? Was it that obvious that he was making me nervous?
"More coffee?" He asked. I nodded.


"I feel safer around Batman." The words echoed in his mind as he walked into the kitchen. He wanted to protect her. He wanted to shield her from any harm that could come to her.
"More coffee Master Wayne?" Alfred asked. He nodded in thought.
"Sometimes when we open our hearts to someone, the whole world opens up to us." He said while making coffee.
Bruce didn't say anything and returned to the living room. She was standing by the glass doors, looking out to the ocean. Her dark brown hair loosely lying on her shoulders.
She was petite, maybe 5"4 and everything about her seemed so delicate. He knew she was able to look out for herself but that didn't make him want to wrap her in his arms any less.


I heard his steps approaching again. His presence made me very self aware. How I was holding myself. My movements. I felt like he was watching my every step.
He stood right next to me looking out to the waves breaching shore, his arms touching mine. I was very aware of the contact. Would he be able to feel my heart beat through my arm? Probably not.

"What a breathtaking spot." I said quietly.
"I've never brought anyone here." He said while still looking at the waves.
It felt like an electric shock went through my body. I looked at him in utter confusion. He didn't move. Didn't clarify.
"More coffee?" Alfred said while walking in.
"Actually, let's make that to go, Alfred. Miss Hunter is a busy woman, we don't want to keep her all day."
"Very well sir."
He walked me to the door.
"I will see you tonight then." He said.
"You're not flying back?"
"I'm going to enjoy the water while I can."
An image of him in the water flickered through my mind. I quickly tried to shake it off.


He felt like he was playing with fire. Being around her was all he wanted to do. But he knew it was not a good idea. Maybe he would just have to make due with giving her interviews every once in a while. How many interviews could he give before it seemed obvious though?


When I got back to the station I felt like I came back from a different planet. Did that really just happen? Did I just have coffee with Bruce Wayne on a private island that he had "never taken anyone" else to? It seemed so much like a date but I was positive that it couldn't be.

"A WCX 8 exclusive - Bruce Wayne opens up in his first ever interview..." I heard the promo in the background.
"I hope you're not planning to run that before I have even done the interview. He can be flaky."
"Of course not." Peter said. "We're just getting ready. How was it?"
There are so many answers to that question.
"Good."
He looked at me. He clearly needed a more detailed answer.
"I wanna play the Batman vs Greenwood angle. He's anti-Batman and pro-Greenwood. Meaning he believes Gotham needs to be cleaned up with law and order."
"Nice one. What about his parents?"
"Don't want to go to deep on that one. He shut down completely after I tried that angle."