Disclaimer: Unless you don't recognize them, I don't own them. No money or other profits are being made from this attempt at entertainment.

Characters are slightly OOC. I apologize in advance, but they were quite insistent.

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Day Ten: Gaucherie

\goh-shuh-REE\, noun;

1. A socially awkward or tactless act.

2. Lack of tact; boorishness; awkwardness.

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Bruce surveyed the crowd disinterestedly, a flute of champagne in his hand. He was in the middle of a group of socialites, pretending to listen to Veronica Emerson detailing her month long excursion to the Hamptons.

A sudden commotion drew his attention to the doors, where Tony Stark was arriving, a blonde on each arm and five other women of various hair colors accompanying him as well.

A scoff at his side caused Bruce to look down at Veronica, who had an expression on disgust on her heavily made-up face. "What's he doing here?"

"One would imagine that, same as the rest of us," Bruce replied in a droll tone, "he's undoubtedly here to welcome you back from your trip."

"As if I would invite someone like him to one of my parties," she retorted, turning her nose up yet higher in the air, a feat which Bruce hadn't thought possible. "Brucie, be a dear and get rid of him."

Bruce didn't have to feign the incredulous look the appeared on his face at that. "Me? Why should I have to get rid of him? Don't you have security for such matters?"

"But that would cause such a scene!" Veronica cried, looking aghast. "I'd never live it down. You're business partners with him, surely you can get him to leave quietly."

"Veronica, darling," Bruce's voice lowered to a sultry purr, underhanded perhaps, but he was desperate, "you know Lucius handles all of those tedious details for me. I've only briefly met Mister Stark."

"Please Brucie? For me?" she fluttered her fake eyelashes at him in what he assumed she thought to be a beguiling manner, though to Bruce it just made her look as if she had a rather serious nervous tick.

Bruce sighed. At least this would give him an excuse to extricate himself from the group. "When you ask like that, how can I possibly even dream of refusing?"

A piercing squeal had him looking for a crime victim before he realized it was only Veronica. "Thank you, Brucie! I knew I could count on you."

"Of course," he smiled, then turned on a heel and made his way over to Tony, fighting to keep the vapid playboy expression on his face.

Arriving at Tony's side, he grasped the man by the upper arm. "Excuse me, ladies. I need to have a word with your date for a moment."

He pulled the other man as far away from the other revelers as possible, backing up into an interior corner of the room. "Tony," he mumbled under his breath, tightening his grip on the man's arm, "what the hell do you think you're doing here?"

"Why Brucie, whatever do you mean?" Tony asked, bringing his free hand up to his heart, "I'm here to give my best wishes to our dear Miss Emerson, of course."

Unfortunately for Tony, his innocent act hadn't worked against Bruce…ever…"Hmm. I thought you had office meetings back in Malibu this afternoon and all day tomorrow?"

"Ah, actually something came up," Tony replied, shrugging his shoulders and freeing himself from Bruce's hold. "I was in Metropolis on…other business…when I found out about this little soiree. How could I possibly pass up one of Veronica's famous parties? Particularly when they're always accompanied by such lively entertainment, or so I'm told."

"What are you talking about, Tony?" Looking at the other man in confusion.

"Why Bruce, hadn't you heard? It seems dear little Veronica has decided it's time for her to settle down. I have it from reliable sources that at the last four parties you have both attended, she's followed you around like a lost little puppy, determined to prove just how perfect she is for the position of Mrs. Bruce Wayne."

Bruce sighed, "Tony, you and I both know I'm not going to marry her…"

"Damn straight," Tony growled, emphasizing each word with a poke to Bruce's chest. "That doesn't mean I want to hear any more stories about her irritatingly determined pursuit of you, however."

"You know Tony, your jealousy would almost be cute, if it weren't for the fact that you brought your own harem."

"Brucie, Brucie, Brucie," Tony gave a put-upon sigh, "you have no appreciation for subtleties. These women are our interference…our distractions…our means of a scott-free getaway."

"What?" Bruce asked, not sure he really wanted to know what cockamamie plan his lover had concocted this time, but unable to resist.

"You really need to pay more attention to the interactions among our peers," Tony sniffed. "The women I brought are all from Metropolis."

Bruce just continued to give an unimpressed stare. "So?"

"So?! So…no Gotham woman worth her trust fund is going to admit to losing out to a woman from Metropolis, and vise versa. Old money stuck up bitches versus nuevo rich stuck up bitches…the end result being we win. If asked, not a one of them are going to admit to not spending a fabulous evening with one…or both…of us, for fear that it was really the other set of beauties we spent our time with. Which leaves us entirely free for the evening, and yet our sterling reputations remain intact."

Tony really did look far too smug at that moment…though Bruce had to admit it was a good look for him. Still…

"Excellent. I can start patrol early tonight. I got wind of trouble down on the docks, and could use the extra time to do a more thorough reconnaissance of the area."

Tony's smug look turned decidedly irritated. Success.

"Don't even think about it, Bruce. You and I are going back to your manor and we are going to spend the rest of the night having wild, crazy sex until I am absolutely positive you remember just who you belong to!"

Bruce was tempted to take exception to that statement, but the promise of sex…particularly sex that Tony Stark of all people would consider wild and crazy…was just too tempting. Without a word, he turned and headed for the nearest exit, doing his best to remain unnoticed. Tony followed close behind him as they left the room.

"Tony..."

"Yes, love?"

"Stop groping my ass."

"Yes, love."