Bruce received a cryptic message from Alfred in the morning to urgently get back to Wayne Manor as soon as possible. With no other explanation Bruce and Selina looked at each other wearily, their anxiety spiking, this didn't sound good. They quickly redressed and left the safe house, making sure the door was properly sealed before hastily making their way to the Manor. As they made their way through the city Bruce reflected on what happened the night before, already feeling heat creep up the back of his neck. He side glanced at Selina, but she wasn't paying attention to him. He knew he should, he had promised to take it slow with her, but he didn't regret it. Selina made him feel more alive. It was always one of the things that always attracted him to her. When his parents died it was like the light left him and only the darkness was left, training with Alfred helped keep it under control. The day he first met Selina it was like he could breathe again, even laughing. Sure she tried keeping him from getting close to her, but he knew she felt just as drawn to him as he was to her. He thought back to the day they reunited in the city.
He had tried tracking her down in Gotham after Alfred told him she snuck back into the city. He went to the Sirens Club first. He only managed to keep his head still attached to his body because Tabitha intervened just in time. Apparently he only got one free pass for getting Selina out of the city in time after she had her surgery. He spent the rest of the day looking in all of her old squats and even checked the rooftop where she used to feed the pigeons. No luck. It wasn't until the next day when Selina was the one that found him. He had been up on a roof, hoping to cover more ground when he sensed someone watching him. Spinning around he saw someone standing in the shadows and called out to them.
"I see you! Come out into the light!" He crouched, ready for a fight.
He heard her laugh first. That tinkling laugh of hers that told him she was making fun of him. She sauntered forward into the light, a smirk still on her face. "Selina?" He whispered, slowly straightening. She was really here. She was walking! Alfred had told him months ago but he was still pleasantly surprised to actually see her on her feet. He remembered when the doctor told him she could be permanently paralyzed just before she got rolled into the ambulance.
"Well, aren't you going to say hello?" She said with some impatience, her hands on her hips. Bruce propelled forward, crashing into her hard, and wrapped his arms tightly around her. Selina stumbled back a few steps from the force of his hug, she didn't expect that. She gradually wrapped her arms around him, burying her face into his shoulder. She had missed him so much. While Alfred had kept her company all those months and supported her, she realized how lonely she felt. He was her best friend. But he had left her when she needed him the most, sending her away when he promised to stay by her side. Her anger returned, simmering again just below the surface. Clenching her teeth she shoved him away hard, "Don't touch me like that," She hissed at him, walking a few paces away and giving him her back. How dare he think everything was fine after all these months, after breaking his promise to her, knowing how much trust meant to her.
"Selina, i'm so sorry, you just came out of surgery and the doctor said.. I didn't know what else to do, the city was exploding all around, I thought you would be safer." Bruce rambled.
Whirling around, her hands clenched tight at her sides she yelled at him, "You promised, and I trusted you!" She was horrified when tears blurred her vision and angrily wiped them away with her fists.
"I needed you far away from Jeremiah," He continued but stopped abruptly. Shaking his head his shoulders sagged in defeat. He slowly made his way in front of her and took her hands in his cautiously, knowing full well that she could punch him in the face any second, and he'd deserve it. "I didn't just need you far away from Jeremiah... I needed you far away from me," He confessed with a low voice. She squinted at him, not sure what he meant but let him continue.
"You were shot because of me, Selina. You were used just to get a reaction out of me, I know that" He paused, not being able to look her in the eyes anymore and hung his head low, afraid even now what he might see, "I was afraid that when you would wake up and found out that you could never walk again that you would hate me. I was a coward," He murmured the last part.
Selina continued to glare at him but she could feel that white hot anger slowly dissolve and sighed. She lifted his head up by his chin and looked into his sorrowful eyes, recognizing the truth in his words. "Bruce I could never hate you. I mean you do piss me off a lot," She joked, watching his lips turn up in a small smile, "And for the record I never blamed you. But you hurt me," She said firmly.
He nodded, "I know. Is there any way you could ever forgive me?" He asked desperately.
Selina pretended to think about it, watching with amusement as he squirmed waiting for her answer, "Depends." He looked at her with hopeful eyes and she slowly smiled sweetly, "Got any food?" His look of surprise quickly melted into relief, smiling with her, "Does a smushed up granola bar count?"
"It will do for now."
Handing it over to her he watched as she ripped it open and took a bite, clearly hungry. When was the last time she ate, he wondered, he definitely needed to get her some real food. But first he needed to know what had happened all these months. Alfred had explained some, but he needed to hear it from her. They sat down against an air vent and shared stories until the rumblings of both their stomach's couldn't be ignored anymore. Standing up he reached out for her hand and pulled her up, a little too hard and she fell into him. They both sucked in their breath and stared into each other's eyes. Bruce's eyes darkened as he flicked them down to her lips. Selina closed her eyes and stepped back, "B we can't do this. I'm just not ready. Can we just..take this slow, for now?"
Bruce sighed but understood, nodding to her, "Yes. Of course we can." Smiling as her stomach grumbled again, he started leading her back to the precinct, effortlessly falling back into their banter.
He really didn't deserve her, he thinks to himself as they continue making their way to Wayne Manor. He screwed up so many times, and she forgave him for all of it. He was not going to ever let her down again. And this time he will keep that promise, he vows to himself. They finally make it, after many detours, and they eagerly run up the long driveway desperate to know what Alfred needed to tell them.
"Well the house is still standing, I guess that's a good thing," Selina offers him with small smile, "I'll meet you in the study," She tells him as she starts to climb up.
Bruce watches her for a moment, feeling protective before reluctantly looking away and heading through the door. He checks the kitchen first, but finds it empty. Alfred had spent the last week bringing the house back in order. With Bruce spending most of his time at the GCPD or his safe house, the Manor had accumulated a thick layer of dust over the months. Looking around the kitchen he could clearly see Alfred had worked hard to clean everything and make it look just as it had before the evacuation. Bruce felt a little guilty for not tending to the house while Alfred was looking after Selina, and that he hadn't been around to help with the cleanup afterward.
Hearing noise and people's voices coming from the study, he quickly went to the stairs.
Selina enters the study, pushing back the curtains spotting Alfred right away on the couch, "Alright Jeeves, what was with the urgent message, Bruce didn't even let me eat breakfast-" she stops abruptly when a man and a woman stands up opposite from Alfred and turns to look at her. She frowns at them before it sinks in. No. This couldn't be possible. They were dead. She saw them get murdered.
"Alfred?" She tears her eyes away from them and looks at Alfred with confusion.
"Where is Master Bruce?"
"He came in from downstairs," She explains haltingly, eyeing them with distrustful eyes. Oh God, Bruce! She thinks, running from the room only to collide with him in the hallway.
"Selina!" Bruce grabs her shoulders to steady them both. She was breathing hard, her eyes wide, "What happened, is Alfred hurt?!" Not waiting for an answer he dashes through the doorway to the study.
"Wait, Bruce-"
Selina walks back into the study slowly to find Bruce frozen on the spot, his face white and breathing hard. The man takes the woman's hand and they gingerly walk over in front of him, both smiling nervously.
"Hi Bruce," The woman says softly, "We've missed you so much."
"Mom? Dad?"
His parents rush forward and pull Bruce into a crushing hug, "My gosh Bruce, you've gotten so tall!" Martha says with tears in her voice, laughing in astonishment.
"You're actually here, this is really real. I don't understand," Bruce's voice is muffled in his parent's embrace, but Selina can hear the raw emotion in his voice.
"We'll explain everything," Thomas says with so much joy, as he holds on to his son tighter.
Selina stands to the side with her arms crossed, awkwardly observing the happy reunion. She tried to push back the slight feeling of jealousy creeping up. She's not sure if she's jealous over Bruce, having had his affection always to herself all these years, or if she's jealous that he had his parents back, and who clearly adored him. Her mother came back once only to use her for money.
Feeling overwhelmed and confused over her emotions, she moves to Alfred's side, who appeared to be in a frozen state of confusion. She wonders if he was feeling a bit jealous as well, having raised Bruce the last few years, would he be pushed aside now that Bruce's parents were back? Back to being just the butler? Or was he simply still in shock, trying to figure out how they really were here and alive? Whatever the reason may be, she needed to get out of here, she felt like she was intruding and family reunions were not her thing.
"Earth to Alfred," Selina snapped her fingers in front of his eyes, catching his attention, "Will you let Bruce know i've left?"
Alfred blinked before righting himself, the familiar affection that started to appear for her in his eyes after the past few months returning. "Not staying for tea then, Miss?" He asks, a hint of disapproval in his tone. She had been running around the city all week with Bruce, and he was afraid she was pushing herself too hard.
"Nah. I've got things to do in the city," She lies. She knows Alfred doesn't believe her but he doesn't say anything as she makes her way silently to the window. She almost makes it, but Bruce always seems to have a sixth sense about her presence. He pulls away gently from his parents hushed conversation, his eyes instantly landing on her attempt at escape.
"Selina wait-" Bruce rushes towards her, "Please don't go," He pleads to her taking one of her hands in his.
"Really Bruce, this is clearly a family thing, I should really get back to the city, i'm sure Barbara and Tabby could use my help." Selina mutters, not liking everyone's eyes on them.
"You are my family," Bruce states firmly. Selina feels a blissful warmth flood through her at his words. "Please stay, Selina," Bruce tries again.
"Bruce seriously, go be with your parents, i'll see you tomorrow?" Selina questions, suddenly unsure what this means now that his parents were back.
Bruce sighs, "Fine. I'll meet you at The Sirens." He pauses, looking at her intently for a second, "Selina don't you dare go after Jeremiah without me, you promised."
Selina rolls her eyes, " I said I wouldn't, and I keep my promises," She pokes him playfully with a smug smile. She turns then, walking over to the ledge of the balcony.
"Selina-"
Turning around again she's caught off guard as Bruce firmly presses his lips to hers deliciously. "Keep your stitches dry," Bruce instructs in a low voice as they pull apart.
Selina nods, feeling slightly dazed, knowing full well his parents and Alfred could see them clearly through the sheer curtains from inside. Bruce watches in satisfaction as her cheeks redden, letting her pull away and make her way over the balcony. Making sure she gets down okay first, he turns and walks back into the study. It was time his parents explained everything.