VICTOR
: I HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH IT
:: With WHAT exactly?
: YOU HAVEN'T SEEN THE TMZ SITE?
:: No.
: YOU SHOULD TAKE A LOOK
"Bruce Wayne seen cozying up to Wonder Woman over brunch. Could this be true love?"
There's a photo of them with their heads together, smiling, like he's keenly absorbed in her every word. He'd be lying if he said he wasn't.
:: Fuck. Really?
He can even see his hand curled around her ribs from over the edge of the table.
:: How did they even get this?
: KYLIE JENNER WAS SUPPOSED TO MEET SOMEONE AND NEVER SHOWED. YOU BECAME THE "I'M HERE. LET'S NOT WASTE THE DAY"
:: Great.
: LOOK AT IT THIS WAY. WHEN SNAPCHAT GOES BACK TO ITS OLD INTERFACE, ALL EYES WILL BE BACK ON KYLIE AND NOT YOU.
:: Make it happen.
: DON'T HAVE TO ASK ME TWICE. BARRY'S BEEN BITCHING ABOUT THE NEW INTERFACE FOR TWO WEEKS. FRANKLY, IT DOES SUCK.
:: Delete the article while you're at it.
: CAN'T. IT HAS 1.2K SHARES AND 40K LIKES.
:: It's fucking Monday morning!
: INTERNET BRO.
Bruce lets out a sharp hiss between his teeth. A steaming cup of coffee appears in his vision and he mutters a thanks.
"That kind morning already, Master Bruce?"
"Victor found a TMZ article about brunch."
"Ah. Then you won't want to look at Page 6 of the Gotham Gazette."
"Come on, really?"
"Oh, yes."
"Why does anyone give a shit anymore?" He sits down and thumbs to the society section. "I've been out the circuit for years now."
"You are still one of the richest men in the world and Miss Diana is, after all, Wonder Woman. Of course, the paparazzi would be all over that like, what's the phrase, flies to…"
"Shit?"
"I was going to say honey, but yes that works, as well. Though a tad more vulgar."
Bruce knows he's being petulant and he recognizes the reprimand for what it is. But this is supremely frustrating. Every time he actually tries to have a life, a real life, outside of the cave and his public prison of notoriety, something always manages to get in the way.
The headline and the photo are much the same as TMZ and he tosses the paper onto the table. He pinches the space between his eyes. "She managed to stay under the radar for a century, she meets me and…"
"It was Luthor who drew her out, not you."
"I asked her to stay."
"She's a grown woman who makes her own decisions."
Bruce lifts his eyes to his butler who stares back at him with thin patience. "I just don't want her subject to undue scrutiny," he justifies.
Alfred returns with a scoff accompanied with a smirk. "I think she knew perfectly well what she signed up for."
"I asked her to fight a war, Alfred, not this." He gestures toward the drivel in on the page.
"Don't be obtuse, you know what I mean."
Bruce huffs. He knows exactly what he means.
Diana emerges from the hall at that moment dressed in a pale blue wrap dress with a thick gold chain link necklace. She looks polished and radiant. When she leans over Bruce's shoulder she runs her hands down his chest and presses her cheek to his temple in a half-kiss so as to not get her deep red lipstick on him. But she wipes at his skin with her thumb anyway just to be sure. He squeezes her hand to let her know he appreciates the kindness of her gesture. She sits and Alfred deposits her Turkish coffee in front of her.
"What's wrong?" she asks, buttering her toast.
"Who says anything is wrong?" He takes a sip of coffee feigning innocence, and apparently failing miserably.
"Your face." She nails him with a look. "And I can hear better than you think."
He slides the folded paper toward her as she bites daintily on her toast. She hums and continues to chew. There's a complete swallow before she speaks. "That's a lovely photo of us, you should have Victor track down the photographer."
Bruce's eyebrows draw together. "You don't care?"
"I love the picture. I don't particular care for the headline."
Billionaire Playboy Finds Wonder in the Wonder Woman.
"It is a bit gauche, if I do say so." Alfred agrees setting down a bowl of fresh cut strawberries and a soft-boiled egg in front of her.
"It's derogatory."
"You don't like being called Wonder Woman."
She waves her hand at that then says, "They refer to you as a playboy. It's demeaning."
"Princess, you know that's a carefully cultivated cover to keep attention away from my nightly activities." He's explained that to her just yesterday to smooth over the fact that he has indeed brunched a few times in life.
"Oh yes," Alfred holds nothing back as the sarcasm drips from his words. "Judiciously promoted by gallivanting across the bedrooms of Gotham's wealthy socialites."
"Really?" Bruce shoots him a glare. "You're not helping."
"I don't care what your past is." Diana shakes her head. "Nor do I care who knows about us."
"Are you sure?" He looks into her eyes seriously. "They won't leave this alone."
"Our personal life is just that––ours. We cannot hide, nor can we give credence to reports such as these." She says this in all seriousness until a devilish smirk graces her lips. "Besides, it's not a entirely a lie. You have indeed found 'wonder' in me."
He not sure how this woman is able to reduce him to a blushing schoolboy, but she does. Repeatedly. His cheeks flame under her brilliant smile.
"And it warms my heart to no end." Alfred adds with a nearly tearful grin. "There may yet be hope for another generation of Waynes."
Bruce gives him a baleful frown and then rolls his eyes at Diana. "Don't encourage him."
She lets out an airy laugh then dabs at the corners of her mouth with her napkin before she stands. "Well, I'm off to meet Lois."
"I thought you were going back to Paris?" Bruce stands and takes her hand.
"I've decided to stay for a few more days. Lois wants to look at dresses and prepare some things for the wedding." She steps closer and fingers the buttons on his shirt before straightening his tie. "It's all right that I stay?"
"Of course, it's all right," He folds her in his arms and runs his hands over her back. She smells of spring flowers and something exotic and his insides warm just holding her.
"You can stay forever, if you like." Alfred chimes in from his current position in the kitchen.
Bruce can't help the bashful smile that turns up the corner of his lips. For as much of an old curmudgeon his butler could be, he could also be his greatest cheerleader. Frequently in his life, Alfred has been the voice to his inner most thoughts. These aren't far off the mark either.
"You can stay as long as you like," he says instead. The choice is always hers.
"Good." Her face lights up into a beautiful grin. She glows when she smiles like that.
Her cheek presses to his again in a half-kiss. She wipes of his skin once more, just in case, and she steps out of his embrace. Sometimes when she leaves it's like she steals all of the heat from his body. Sometimes she leaves a warm afterglow behind. Today, it's a little of both.
Both he and Alfred sigh audibly.
"Marry that woman."
"Can you actually marry a goddess?"
"I do not know. However, the fact that you didn't immediately say 'no' is extremely encouraging."
Bruce huffs and heads for his keys in the antique Japanese glass bowl near the door.
"Have a good day, Alfred."
"You as well, Master Wayne."