Philia part XI

Bruce didn't visit the next day, he called twice though, an hour after Helena came back from school and around her bedtime. Yet, Selina knew her daughter was pretty affected by her father's absence in such a fragile moment. But if on one hand she was angry in regards of her daughter on the other she also could stop the warm feelings when Bruce explained what was keeping him away.

'His name is Dick, he is just twelve. Like me when…' He said over the phone so Selina after talking to Helena.

'Yeah… I know. But Dick? Really?'

'He said that's how everybody called him at the circus.'

'Circus people are weird.'

'Selina…'

'Sorry. So, what you're going to do?'

'I'm applying for foster care.'

'What? Can you do that?'

'I'm trying… Called my lawyers from Metropolis. And Gordon is helping me too. I wanted to bring him home last night but they took him to the hospital, said he was in shock.'

'Poor thing.'

'Yeah… Selina, do you think I'm crazy for doing this? I have no experience with kids, it has only been a few weeks with Helena. But I just couldn't let him there.'

'Oh I think you're crazy. But I also think that boy needs all the help you can give.'

'Thank you.'

Helena didn't take the news as nicely when Bruce came to tell her, but she tried really hard to not show it, it made Selina's heart fill with pride, but also break a little. When Bruce left, Helena locked herself inside her room to cry, and Selina wanted to go in and comfort her daughter but she also knew that it would only make things worse, all her efforts to look tough would be void if Selina just mothered her.

ooo

Helena had the chance to meet Dick a week after the circus. Bruce came to take her to spend the Sunday at the Mansion, and although she put up a huge smile, Selina had a tight chest when she saw her daughter wave goodbye before entering Bruce's black sedan.

'Dick, this is my daughter, Helena.'

Although he was two years senior, he was only one inch taller than Helena. He had curly dark hair and his skin was a warm caramel, when he smiled to her and offered his hand to shake, dimples appeared in his cheeks. Like Helena's father's his blue eyes were sad. But unlike her father who was a very quiet person and most of the time was happy to just listen Helena talk about whatever she wanted as long as she wanted, offering a comment or so to explain something and show he was paying attention, Dick liked to talk. He told her about the circus, the people that worked in there, the routines he used to participate, he talked a lot about acrobatics and used terms Helena never heard before, he also told her he used to have a pet elephant but she didn't believe in him.

Helena wanted to like him instantly, she really did, but it was hard to ignore the knot in her throat when she saw that he was finishing the puzzle she and her father had brought on their last trip to the mall.

'I'm bad, Alfie, I'm really bad.'

'What is this nonsense you are talking about, Miss Helena?' Askes Alfred without turning himself to look at her he was washing dishes.

'Dick just lost his mom and dad, saw them dying and I'm jealous of him because he gets to live here and see dad everyday.'

Alfred didn't say a thing for a while, and Helena felt even worse, his silence an agreement, an acknowledgement of all the horrible things she was thinking about herself. She wept, putting her hand on her mouth to suffocate her sobs. If even her Alfie believed she was bad, she surely was. Helena jumped when the oven timer bell ringed. Alfred pulled a tray of chocolate and almond cookies, her favourite, and put it on the marble counter top too cool.

Then he took off his gloves, hanged his apron and sat on the stool next to her, and handed her his handkerchief. Helena cleaned her face and blew her nose, but she was still crying.

'Miss Helena, I have no idea of how you got to this ludicrous idea that you are bad. Being jealous when you only had your father for a few weeks is natural, it would be awfully surprising if you did not feel that way.'

'Really?'

'Really. Felling guilty about it just prove that you are not bad at all. You are a wonderful young lady, I have never met anyone better.'

'Oh Alfie!' She threw her arms around him. Alfred patted her head awkwardly.

'Helena? Won't you help us with the puzzle?' Bruce frowned when he saw his daughter attached to his butler. 'Is everything okay?'

'Master Bruce. Everything is perfectly fine, tickety-boo. Miss Helena just told about a sad movie she watched with her mum, I keep telling Miss Kyle to watch films that are more light-headed. Go wash your face, Miss. A lady should always be put together.'

'Okay.' She said sniffling.

'Then go to the study, the biscuits will be cooler, and we all can have proper tea.'

He gave her a last pat on the head and Helena left, hiding her face from her father.

'Sad movie?' Asked Bruce sceptical when Helena was out of hearing range.

ooo

'Hey princess.' Said Bruce entering his daughter's room. It wasn't previously planned but he called Selina and she agreed to let Helena spend the night if Bruce took her to school in time the next day.

'Hi daddy.' Her eyes were still a little puffy but she was wearing her trademark smile. She was already tucked in bed, Bruce closed the door behind him. Helena's room in the Wayne Mansion was bigger than her little purple room at her mother's flat, but it had a lot less of personality. It was clear that Alfred decorated the room himself. Instead of Disney movie posters and drawings taped to the walls, there was a watercolour painting of an English garden. And instead of plastic toys there was stuffed animals and ancient looking porcelain dolls. Those were kind of creepy. Bruce would have to make something about them.

Bruce sat on the edge of Helena's four-poster bed that looked ridiculously enormous around her tiny body.

'Alfred told me the reason why you were crying earlier. The real one.'

'Oh…' Her lower lip started to quiver.

'Helena… I could never think you're bad. Never. Got it?'

She sniffled.

'Got it.'

'Good. And Dick is not here to replace you. You are my daughter. Nothing in the world can change that. But I understand why you felt that way, and think I should tell you something too… About me… And why I left.'

She said nothing, but nodded.

'When I was Dick's age, I also saw my parents die. Did you know that?'

'Yeah. Everybody heard about the Wayne's murder.' Bruce winced at how trivial it sounded, like people have been gossiping about his personal tragedy for so many years it became popular couture. 'But when I first heard it I didn't know you were my dad yet.'

'Okay… I won't tell you exactly how it happened, only that it was very traumatic and changed me forever. But I was also very lucky, because even if I didn't have my parents I still had Alfred, and then I met your uncle Jim, and your mother. They became like family to me.' He made a small pause. 'Dick didn't have anyone else.'

'I know.' She sighed. 'I hope we can help him, like Alfie, uncle Jim and mom helped you.'

He patted her hair with affection.

'I also hope so, princess.'

'But you said you'd tell why did leave too, daddy.'

'Well, that. The death of my parents and the Wayne name put me in a vulnerable position, and people started to try to hurt me and the people around me. Have Alfred told you that this is not the original Wayne Mansion?'

'What?'

'Yes. The original one that I grew up in was destroyed by those evil people. Alfred almost died that day. Your mother too.'

'Mom?' Asked her with huge eyes, Bruce supressed the information that she also almost died before she could even be born that night. When he thought about that he felt pure terror.

'Yes. And that scared me. So much. I left to try to find a way to keep her, Alfred and everyone else safe.'

'And have you?'

'I think so.'

Helena sighed again.

'Your mother also only found out she was having you after I left, and as she had no way to contact me she couldn't tell me either. I didn't left because I didn't want you, Helena.'

'I'm glad you're here now, daddy.'

'Me too, princess.'

That made the cloud of melancholy that was hanging over her otherwise sunny nature lift and Bruce felt relieved at the change.

'What is that you're holding?'

'It was my favourite book, my mother used to read to me in bed. But maybe you're too old…'

She grabbed his hand quite urgently.

'I want you to read to me, please.'

He gave her a small smile.

'This book is the first of a series. It's called Arsène Lupin, Gentleman Burglar.'

'Burglar? Like a thief?'

'Yes, like a thief. And even though it doesn't make stealing any less wrong, but he only stole from rich people.'

'Ohhh like Catwoman!'

Bruce made a suspicious face.

'What do you know about Catwoman, Helena?'

'She is super cool, nobody can catch her!' And she smiled.

Bruce narrowed his eyes, but she just fanned her eyelashes at him innocently.

He cracked the book open and started to read.

What did you expected, Bruce dear? XD I know! I know! I still didn't make Helena and Dick interact properly, but I promise they will in the next chapter. Actually, the children took control of the next chapter and I have no idea of how put the other stuff that should be there too.

Wash your hands, sleep well, eat your veggies. I see you on Thursday!