Philia IV

'Nice to meet you, Mr. Wayne.'

He touches her for the first time in ten years. It's just her hand that he takes to his lips and he wants to pretend that the time stops, that the whole world is made of just the two of them. But the time doesn't stop, she takes her hand back so fast it is almost rude, and they are far from being alone. There is noise of conversation, obnoxious rich people laughter, clinking of Champaign glasses and Selina's arm in hooked to another man's. A new money fellow, Bruce already forgot his name despite him being the one "introducing" Selina to Bruce.

'Darling, I need to powder my nose.'

Bruce chokes with the Champaign he was pretending to drink. So that was Selina's bimbo persona. A lady from an old timey movie.

'Of course, sweetheart, but don't lose yourself in the way.'

Selina laughs but Bruce can see the murderous intention in her eyes. He tries to record her laugh in his memory even if it's fake.

'She is very pretty. Where have you met?' Brucie Wayne, billionaire playboy asks.

The guy, he really should have payed attention to the name, gives Bruce a cocky smile.

'From a friend, he was interested in her, of course, who wouldn't? I mean, look at her! But I stole her from him, took too long to make his move.'

'Oh really? How clever of you.'

That would have sounded passive-aggressive from anyone, but Brucie Wayne with his dumb expressions and too many teeth smiles somehow made it sound genuinely impressed.

Selina didn't come back, another man joined the conversation, Bruce pretended someone else called him and left looking for her.

He finds her with her on the balcony, her backless satin dress shimmers under the moonlight. Selina is facing the city outside with her noisy cars and cold hallowing wind, her hair is so long now, still curly, it's blonder now too, she wears expensive perfume. She shivers when he gets closer, he wants to hold her.

'Why did you come back?'

'I told you I would.'

She lets out a mirthless dry laugh, Bruce gets even closer, he wants do touch her. He doesn't. He wants her to look at him. She won't.

'Do you have any idea what you did...' She finally says. '...just leaving?' She takes a shaking breath. 'You were all I had. And I know you wanted to protect me. But I didn't want to be protected. I wanted you.'

Bruce holds his breath, he feels like the whole world is so fragile that is he moves everything will crumble.

'Say something.'

But he suddenly forgot how to form words. He has so much to say to her, it could full all the world's libraries, and now all those words choke him, it's impossible to say anything.

'Say something.' She pleads softly. And she sounds so raw, so desperate, he for the first time ponders if he made a mistake. That's why he couldn't say goodbye personally, because all his seeming unbreakable resolve could have never been Selina Kyle proof.

'There was no other way, Selina. I had to go.' He finally manages. And when she sobers up, straitening her back and holding her head up high, he knows he said the wrong thing, even though it's the truth.

'So what happens now?' She asks, her voice hard and cold.

'I don't know. But I'll never leave Gotham again.' He adds the last lamely.

'Selina? What are you doing here?' Bruce and Selina puts distance between themselves. And Bruce can't stop the feelings stirring in the pit of his stomach by seen her transform her entire demeanour. The real Selina, his Selina, is gone, and before him there is a complete stranger. She smiles, her whole posture changes, she starts blinking a little too much fanning her eyelashes, and swings her hips when she walks to her beau, putting her hand on his bicep. Bruce haven't felt that in a very long time it takes him a while to identify it as jealousy.

'Hi, honey.' Her voice drips with sugar, Bruce feels ill. 'I needed a little bit of air, I think I had one too many. Mr. Wayne here was just…'

'I was just telling her about my last polo match.'

'Really? I didn't know you cared about polo, Selina.'

She laughs, and know Bruce feels betrayed by how fake it sounds.

'Darling, I really don't know a thing about polo, but I didn't want to be rude.'

He wonders who taught her to act like that, through those many years he had so many masters, he now question if the same might happened to Selina in some level. That the distance between then is now too great like she had promised to him it was so many years ago.

'Bruce, were you boring my Selina?'

Brucie Wayne would have laughed, he might even tripped and dripped his drink a little. But Bruce didn't want to be Brucie Wayne anymore that night. He excuses himself and leaves.

ooo

That Wednesday Selina is doing some work – the lawful one – in her kitchen table as she always does, when Alfred appears to take Helena out for brunch, as he always does.

'How are you doing, Miss Kyle?'

'I'm fine, thank you for asking. You are doing fine, too, I guess no broken hips or other old people accidents?' But she sounds more hopeful than concerned.

Alfred ignores the fight bait.

'Oh, I am doing terrific, Miss.'

'I thought as much.'

'Where is the little lady?' She frees the way for him to get in, by this time a small bundle of dark curls hugging him and asking five hundred questions by minute should already have tackled him. But the apartment is silent.

'She is at Barbara Lee's they are doing a project for school, I heard.'

Deception changes his whole expression.

'Oh, well. I came here for nothing, then.'

Selina crosses her arms leaning to the table.

'I could've called you, but why, oh why would I give you that courtesy when you couldn't do the same for me?'

Alfred takes a deep breath.

'I told Master Bruce you would be upset.' He mutters.

'And can you blame, me? Jesus, Alfred I thought we were past this!'

'I am the most sorry, Miss. Master Bruce wanted to give you the good news himself.'

She snorts.

'Why now? He didn't bother the last time.' She says bitterly.

'You will have to ask him that yourself.' Says Alfred. Selina's and Bruce's relationship is a bloody huge wasp nest and he really doesn't want to have anything to do with it. 'And concerning Miss Helena...'

'There is nothing to Helena that concerns Bruce.' She cuts him.

'He is her father.'

'No he isn't. He is a complete stranger with no relations to her whatsoever. I am her father. The only one she ever had.'

'I agree that you made a stellar job raising Miss Helena, I would never dispute that. Nevertheless, she has the right to meet her father. If you deny her that you would be unreasonable and selfish.'

He mouth falls, as she stands flabbergasted.

'Selfish? That's what you still think of me after all I sacrificed to raise Helena and Holly? You know what, Alfred? Get out.' She points to the door.

'Pardon?'

'You've heard me, get the fuck out. I can't stand even looking at you right now.'

'Well, if you are going to be like that, I will go. I really meant no rudeness, Miss. I just think the child have the right to know where she comes from. Take care.'

'Oh she knows where she comes from, me!'

When Selina closes the door she notices her hand shaking. For the first time in her life she was happy, everything was working out, and now he was back and she felt like was about to lose everything. She once had loved Bruce Wayne, now she is pretty sue she hates him.

Still not Helena, but be patient, all in its time. And Alfred and Selina are fighting once again. I feel that, in this universe, that will always happen in some way or another.

The first scene was based in the old jazz song: You Don't Know Me. Bruce and Selina dance a lot of jazz in my head because I listen far too much of it XDD. Maybe I'll make a playlist sometime, with Misty, Cry Me a River and Chances Are (this song is soooooo Selina), and that version of If I Didn't Care with Amy Adams and Lee Pace.

I also want to thank everyone for the feedback, you are all amazing and all make me feel so wonderful when you take the time to tell me what you are thinking of this story. But I also want to give a special thanks to brvceselina on tumblr for the post they made about this story, you are the best!

Keep social distancing, washing your hands and taking care of yourselves. I see you soon.