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.

This takes place after Bruce has returned to Gotham and taken up as Batman, but before Tony becomes Ironman.

It's quite likely that this will eventually develop into a series of drabbles expounding on the 'burgeoning' relationship between Bruce and Tony, but we'll see how things go.

A large amount of credit for the inspiration for this goes to destinyawakened, who's working on an excellent first meetings story of her own, which can be found on her livejournal wayne_stark (see the friends' page on my livejournal, the link for which is on my profile page).

******

Day Sixteen: Burgeon

\BUR-juhn\,

Verb:

1. To grow or develop quickly; flourish.

2. To begin to grow or blossom.

Transitive Verb:

1. To put forth, as buds.

Noun:

1. A bud; sprout.

******

The first time Tony Stark met Bruce Wayne it was only Pepper's hand firmly grasping the back of his suit coat that kept him from leaping across the table to strangle the bastard.

******

"No."

Tony's mouth gaped open as he stared incredulously at the man sitting across the conference room table, dressed in an impeccably tailored charcoal gray suit with an indigo blue shirt underneath with a dark navy tie. Tony himself was wearing a black shirt with a patterned black-on-black tie and a terribly expensive dark burgundy suit.

"Are you cra…" A sharp elbow from Pepper into his side aborted Tony's initial reaction.

"Listen bas…" Another elbow had him covertly rubbing his side while sighing, "Mister Wayne. I'm not sure that you understand just how lucrative an offer Stark Industries is making Wayne Enterprises."

Tony had heard all the gossip about the flighty, naïve, dumb-as-a-rock…but drop-dead gorgeous…Prince of Gotham, but he hadn't actually believed it until that moment. Right. Speak slowly and try to use small words…

"We're talking about a government contract worth a guaranteed twelve billion for the development…" Was development too difficult a word? "Err…figuring out how to make the robots…alone. That doesn't include the actual sale of the robots themselves…"

"And Stark Industries, not having the resources or infrastructure required for such an endeavor, is so desperate to get Wayne Enterprises on board that you have practically offered us the opportunity to name our cut. I know, Mister Stark," Wayne told him, looking decided unimpressed. "Lucius has explained your offer to me. The answer is still no."

"How the hell can you turn down this offer?! It's a once in a lifetime opportunity!" Pepper's hand moved from Tony's back to his knee where she dug in with her nails.

"Tony!" she muttered out of the side of her mouth.

There was no reaction to Tony's outburst from Wayne, surprisingly, though Fox's face tightened up, as if he were fighting down a frown. Tony had no idea why he would be upset with him for stating the truth. Surely a man of Fox's intelligence could see the offer for the incredible opportunity it was. He could only imagine how difficult it must be for the man to work for someone as obviously dense as Wayne.

"The contract you presented to us," Wayne spoke, gesturing to, and no doubt reading from, the set of documents in front of him, "is an offer to assist with the development of robotic fighters with various armament fittings ranging up to and including nuclear devices." Looking back up from the papers, he met Tony's eyes with a hard stare, "Wayne Enterprises does not make weapons. Period."

Tony was honestly left speechless at that. How could this man not understand…didn't feel the rush of adrenaline from winning a contract like this, proving your company to be the best out of all the others that had tried for it? Did the prospect of this challenge, developing equipment that the world had never seen before, not excite him at all?

Snorting, Tony realized whom exactly he was thinking about. Wayne's biggest challenge in life was probably getting his shoes on the right feet in the morning.

Thoroughly disappointed and more than a little disgusted, Tony's erratic temper was lit. "I know what this is about. Tell me, Mister Wayne, are you really willing to let your company miss out on this offer just because you're still hung up on your parents' murder?"

"Tony!" There was nothing muttered about Pepper's reprimand this time.

Curiously, however, while Fox was obviously livid, Wayne showed almost no true reaction to his dig. Given what Tony had heard and surmised of the man, he was certain that that last crack would have had him foaming at the mouth. Sure, the guy was frowning at him evilly, but it was almost as if he was playing at being upset. None of the emotions on his face touched his eyes at all.

In fact, thinking back on it, the only genuine emotion Tony did remember seeing in them throughout this whole meeting was boredom and impatience. Not exactly what one would expect from an insipid playboy. Hmm…

"I assure you, that has nothing to do with my decision," Wayne spat out between clenched teeth. Though again, it was more like an actor reciting his lines than a guy who'd just had his dead parents thrown in his face.

"You do know that it wasn't actually the gun that killed them. It was the psycho behind the gun," Tony continued to push, intrigued by this new puzzle that had unexpectedly been presented to him. Twin gasps of outrage followed his shot.

"Mister Wayne, I am so sorry…"

"Mister Stark, I think it would be best if you…"

Pepper's apology and Fox's lecture were both interrupted by Wayne. "I would think I should know that better than you, Mister Stark, having been there." Now their spectators shifted their shocked gazes to Wayne, but he continued unperturbed, "As far as your offer goes, I'm sure that Lexcorp or any one of a number of other companies would be more than happy to deal with you. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a hair appointment in thirty minutes, so I'll be wishing you a good day."

With that Wayne rose from his chair, a pleasantly vapid smile on his face, holding his right hand towards Tony. Accepting the handshake, Tony met Wayne's eyes, trying to see any real emotion in them. As before, however, they were absolutely dead.

Releasing his hand, Wayne made his way around the table toward the door. As he neared Pepper's seat he paused. "Miss Potts, it was a pleasure to meet you," he purred in his deep voice, holding his hand out to her as well. When she placed her hand into his, he brought it up to his lips and kissed the back of it before releasing it again. "Perhaps we can meet again under less…tedious…circumstances."

Pepper blushed…actually blushed!…and replied, "It was nice to meet you as well, Mister Wayne. And I'm sorry for Tony…"

"Please, Miss Potts," Wayne smiled that meaningless smile again, though Pepper seemed impressed, "no apologies are needed, particularly not from you. Though, if you're that concerned about it, I'd be willing to accept dinner tonight in lieu of your apology…"

"Ah," Pepper fumbled, blush deepening, "I…that is…thank you for the offer, Mister Wayne. But we'll be leaving for Malibu as soon as this meeting is wrapped up."

"That's too bad," Wayne replied, straightening back up from leaning closer to Potts, "perhaps next time, then."

"Err…perhaps…"

"Excellent!" he cried, as if he actually expected her to look him up the next time she was in Gotham. "Lucius," he intoned, nodding to the other man, "I'll see you tomorrow."

"Good day, Mister Wayne," Fox answered, returning the nod from his seat.

With that Wayne swept from the room, and two gazes, irate and disbelieving respectively, were focused on Tony.

"Mister Stark, Miss Potts," Fox acknowledged, rising himself. He paused, seeming to consider what exactly he wanted to say as he made his way over to the door, finally settling for, "I hope you have a safe flight back to Malibu."

"Thank you, Mister Fox," Tony replied, echoed by Pepper. Fox just continued to look at them, clearly unimpressed.

Then he leaned out of the door slightly, calling to one of the receptionists, "Miss Weisman, could you come here for a moment please?"

Tony and Pepper stood up and started gathering their things. A short thirty-something brunette appeared in the doorway.

"Miss Weisman here will show you your way out. I'm afraid I have to run off to another meeting. Good day to you both." No sooner had Fox stopped talking than he was out of the room, briskly making his way down the hallway, deeper into the building.

As they walked towards the building's exit, Tony could feel Pepper vibrating from the aggravation of holding back the no doubt epic lecture she was dieing to give him. Still, he couldn't find it in him to regret his actions. Sure, Wayne refused the contract, but Tony had found a new puzzle to work on, which meant the trip wasn't completely wasted.

As they crossed the atrium to get to the front doors, Tony took one final look back at the building proper. A flash of blue on the third floor balcony that overlooked the atrium caught his eye. Shifting his gaze, he saw Wayne leaning against the railing, watching them leave. His entire face completely devoid of any sort of emotion save a look of intense thought which, from his reputation, should have looked completely foreign on his face.

Surprisingly, Tony found that instead, it was the most…natural…he had seen Wayne look.

How terribly intriguing…