Philia part VIII

To his surprise, she got there early, so he was able to watch, from the shadows, the golden and pink twilight bounce from the black shiny catsuit she was wearing. Her taste had clearly not changed much in that aspect, but as much child Selina used black leather to look dangerous and bigger to keep people away, the formfitting wet looking spandex invited in like a venus flytrap. Bruce took his time just watching her, memorizing her, getting acquainted with the picture she formed now, how her face had changed over the years. His memories didn't make justice to how clear her green eyes were, and although she still enjoyed the heavy eye makeup, it was toned down from what she would have chosen as a teenager and she paired it now with red lipstick. Her face lost the softness of youth, her jaw lines and cheekbones sharper. The curls he knew from earlier would cascade to her shoulders and back, were now pined safe on the top of her head, hidden behind her cat ears cowl. She also wore googles, like the ones she wore when he first met her, a lifetime ago, but they were pushed to the top of her forehead as she watched the night fall on Gotham all around her.

When it was dark enough for the constellations of electric lights to glow all over the city, Bruce moved. His long cape followed this movements in silence when he reached the top of the cathedral.

'Selina.'

She jumped startled.

'You asshole! No need to scare me like that.'

'Thank you for coming.'

'Yeah, don't let me regret it. So, what you want to know?'

He wanted to know everything. He wanted to know how to undo that mess. He wanted to know how to travel back in time.

'When did you found out?'

She sighed. Those were painful memories.

'A few days after you left. I was sick and tired all the time. I thought it was just because I was miserable, but Barbara made me take a pregnancy test and voila. Who could imagine that horny teenagers and no condoms would result in baby?'

He didn't say anything for a while, Selina was tapping her heel nervously.

'And you decided to keep her…'

'Obviously.' She snapped.

'Look Selina…'

'No, you look. Do you think I didn't think of getting an abortion? Even Lee told me to. But I wanted her. She was all I had that moment, I wasn't losing her too. And I don't regret it. I love my daughter. I don't want anything from you. I don't care about your money or anything. I don't need any of that. Neither does Helena.'

'Why did you ask me to meet you then?' Why give him that chance? He didn't say. He knew de didn't deserve it.

'Because no matter how I feel about it, you still are her father. I didn't meet mine. I have no idea of who he was and why he never wanted to anything to do with me and I know she asks herself the same. So, if you want to be her father maybe you should have the chance… But only if you really want it, and you have to think deep and hard about it because if you leave again and break my daughter's heart I swear I'll find you this time and I will make you regret it.'

He stepped forward.

'I'll never leave again, Selina. I promise.'

Bruce noticed her body tense, he wanted to get closer, but he stopped where he was.

'Yeah, whatever.'

'And I wasn't judging you. I asked because I think it was brave of you to keep her.'

Selina said nothing just shrugged her shoulders.

'I would like to meet with her, properly.'

'I said you should think about it first.' She snapped.

'I know.' He assured her calmly. 'I won't tell her yet. But I think we should try to get to know each other, don't you agree?'

Selina took a deep controlling breath.

'Okay. Fine.'

But then she didn't say a thing for a while.

'Selina?'

'We have breakfast at the Waffle House on Robinson Park every Saturday. You can come.'

'Thank you, I will.'

'That is all?'

Not even a bit.

'I missed you.' He blurted. She closed her eyes in a pained expression. 'In all these years… There was no one else.'

Selina let out something that was half a choke half a laugh.

'Liar.'

She used her bullwhip to jump to another building, leaving him alone with Gotham.

ooo

When the bell rang and Helena walked out of school with Barbara Lee that afternoon instead of her mom or Holly the person waiting her was no other than Alfred.

'Alfie!' She shouted and run to the old man's arms almost knocking him down.

'Goodbye, then.' Snorted Barbara Lee amused before meeting one of her mother's female bodyguards.

'Oof! Miss Helena, nice to see you too.' Said the old man struggling to hold the child and keep standing at the same time.

She parted from the hug and put her hands on her hips.

'Where have you been?' Helena demanded to know.

'I was busy visiting a friend in England. I apologise for not saying goodbye before leaving, but I couldn't imagine the lengths you would go to see me.'

She blushed.

'So you know…'

'Yes, Master Bruce told me everything. I know you both already met.'

'Already? More like finally!'

Alfred couldn't agree more.

'So, is your mum giving you a hard time?'

'Not really. She made me apologise do Holly but I already planned to do that and oh, she burned my toast today, but she always does.'

ooo

Bruce got there way earlier that he should.

The waitress had served him coffee four times and asked him if he was ready to order at least seven when he tipped her a hundred dollars to not ask him anymore. After that she avoided him and looked afraid. Dressed in a three-piece suit all alone in a diner at seven a.m. she must be thinking he was with the mob of something, he kicked himself internally.

It was almost eleven when they finally entered the restaurant. Helena came first talking excitedly with a young blond woman, Holly, he thought, that came behind her, then Selina followed. Much like himself she was clearly overdressed for a the occasion in her large white designer sunglasses, black summer dress and her high heels. She was the first to see him. She took her glasses off, hooked them on the heart-shaped cleavage of her dress, and held his gaze for a fleeting moment before calling her daughters and pointing at his table.

Helena came running in his direction her pigtails swinging madly.

'Lena! Don't run, you might hit Kiffany. Hey Kiffany, how are you today?'

'I'm fine, miss Holly, how is work?'

'Same old, same old.'

'Hi!' Sais Helena with a big smile sitting across Bruce. 'Mom said you're coming. Did you wait for us for a long time? Mom took foreeeeever to get ready. I am so hungry. Have you eaten yet? What will you order?'

'Helena, breathe.' Said Selina sitting on the booth next to the little girl. 'How can he answer if you ask five questions in a row? Hi. This is Holly.'

'Hi. Nice to meet you.'

But her expression didn't seem so pleased as she sat next to him.

'Nice to meet you too, Holly.'

'Girls, this is Bruce Wayne.'

'So…' Helena asked. 'How did you meet each other?'

'That is a long story.' Said Bruce.

'Please, I want to know!'

He looked at Selina, silently asking for permission. She rolled her eyes nonchalantly.

'Tell them. Just keep the gory stuff out of it. I don't wanna anybody having nightmares.'

The scene with Alfred wasn't on the scrip but I felt it was missing an explanation for his absence. I imagine Holly and Kiffany singing 'Who's the New Guy' from Crazy Ex-Girlfriend in this scene "Who's the new guy?/I don't trust him/He's suspiciously good-looking in ways that normal people are not" XDDD

Also Kiffany is from Dead Like Me, I show that I love so much, for some reason I wanted a Waffle House scene.

Next chapter there's also a new guy. Well, not new, he's technically 80 already. A cookie if you can guess whom.