Adrienn rolled over on the bed and stretched her arms above her head. The sun was beaming through the window, warming the covers. Adrienn kicked it over her tanned legs and heard someone groan from beside her. Bruce got covered in the warm covers and he didn't seem to be liking, especially just falling asleep in the jeans and shirt he was in. Adrienn chuckled, pulling the covers off him.
The happenings were still clear in Adrienn's head. Finally getting rid of Ra's al Ghul and also ridding the streets of Gotham from all the inmates that were too far gone from fixing. That was only a personal goal however. But there was something more important than that. The kiss that Bruce and Adrienn shared after his little apology speech. Her lips still tingled from where his lips touched hers. Her skin was burning where he touched her. Adrienn shivered at that kiss. It was perfect. Really could be the best first kiss she could've asked for. It was a simple kiss, but Adrienn could remember the need and he lust in his movements. It all made her tingle with joy. After the kiss they just laid in bed, talking and eventually falling asleep quickly.
"Good morning." Bruce grumbled, running a hand down his face. He really wasn't a morning person, unlike Adrienn. "We are really nocturnal."
"Not we Brucey. You."Adrienn poked her finger on his chest. He smiled, pulling her small frame closer to his body. Adrienn smiled. Snuggling closer to him and taking in his sweet scent. Adrienn let out a deep breath and arched her back so she could look at him. "How long did I wait for this to happen now?"
"I am not sure." Bruce smiled. Adrienn rolled her eyes.
"Quite a long time… took you some time to grow some balls." Adrienn chuckled. Bruce leaned back, showing a confused expression.
"What?" He laughed a little, still supporting the confused look. Adrienn rolled her eyes and shrugged…
"Well I guess they should say grow a vagina. I mean balls are all sensitive and shit. Vaginas are tough motherfuckers. Well tougher than balls anyway." Adrienn muttered. Bruce just looked at her in awe. "What?!"
"You are really…" Bruce paused for a bit, trying to find the right words to describe her. "…strange."
"Hey! You still want to date me." she teased, cocking her eyebrows at him. "Anyway. We need to get up. See what the shenanigans had caused in the media last night."
"That is why I am here." Alfred walked in, one of Adrienn's trays in his hand with two mugs on it and a glass filled with green goo. "Here is the newspapers and the telly." Alfred gave the newspaper to Adrienn and Bruce got up from the bed and down onto the floor, starting to do his pushups. Adrienn looked down at him, and saw that there was no wince or any show of pain from him. And adrienn knew for a fact that he had a bullet graze and many bruises coating his body. Bruce's pain resistance was shocking for Adrienn.
"Look there is you!" Alfred quickly paused the screen. Adrienn had a small heart attack as she snapped her gaze up at the television set. Throughout the night she has made sure that her mask was always on.
"Alfred!" Adrienn shrieked, clutching her chest trying to regain a normal heartbeat. Bruce was in mid pushup also staring at the television. "I thought you mean me as in me! Not the Tumbler with me in it."
"Still…" Alfred shrugged, hushing Adrienn with his hands. He kept his eyes on the television, soaking in everything the reported said. They mentioned Adrienn. Well her actions. A total of thirty four dead inmates were found. All of them met their end from a bullet wound. Adrienn felt the room go quiet. She was a bit disappointed. Thirty four seemed like a very low number and as she traced her thoughts, she would've betted a lot of money on killing more people. Adrienn shrugged, deciding that the police didn't find all the victims. The news lady was replaced by Gordon giving an interview to a pretty blonde reporter.
Alfred pressed mute on the remote and set it down on the dresser that was under the flat screen television. He looked at Adrienn who focused all her attention on the newspaper again. It was still hard to believe how such a girl can do so much … damage. Alfred blinked a few times, trying to imagine what her victim's thoughts were. They were also confused most probably. None of them would've expected to meet there end from her. It definitely hurt their ego, Alfred knew that for sure. Alfred looked over at Bruce who stood up and drowned his juice.
"Sir. The lines are hot about your party mishap last night… and then there are a few dozen questions about the Manor…" Alfred said his voice completely monotone. The fact that the mansion was gone hurt him as well, but he had to stay strong for the other two and he knew that.
"Ah…" Bruce sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Polo accident?" He asked in a joking manner. Adrienn chuckled from her seat in the bed and Alfred shook his head disapprovingly, but had a small smile playing on his pursed lips.
"How about you leave that task to us Bruce?" Adrienn suggested, smiling up at him. Bruce ginned, leaning over to peck her lips softly. Adrienn was a little shocked at the affection, but she was not going to be complaining. The affection was something she really liked.
"I am going to shower then… and pay Mr. Earle a visit…" Bruce chuckled straightening. He cupped Adrienn's chin and frowned as he turned her face a little. The bruise on her face got a deeper shade of purple and it started to swell quite badly. "You need to go to a hospital."
"Bruce I am fine." Adrienn huffed, "Really it is just a scratch."
"Adri it looks almost as big as your head." Bruce straightened, beginning to unbutton his shirt.
"Well that fuck- I mean SUCK-er got a good hit in okay?! I am quite rusty with my hand to hand combat." she rushed, trying to avoid the death glares Alfred was sending her. She could feel the anger radiating from him and he really was holding back in lashing out at her.
"Adrienn. Alfred is going to take you to the hospital. At least the two of you will have time to talk about why the Mansion is gone." Bruce grinned sweetly and took off his shirt as he walked out of the bedroom and to the bathroom. Adrienn leaned over on the bed, just to get a good look at him. She smiled seeing all his muscles tense up as he threw the shirt over his shoulder. As if he could sense they eyes on him, he looked over his shoulder and flashed a smile at her.
"So hospital it is then, Miss?" Alfred asked, collecting the mugs and picking up the socks from the floor Bruce had kicked off the previous night. "Any doctors you are familiar with?"
"Actually yes… Joel's boyfriend actually works at a small public clinic. I just went there when I had a few interesting injuries…" Adrienn explained, hoping that Alfred understood what she meant by that. She really did not want to explain the small things again.
"Of course." Alfred smiled. "I am happy for you by the way Princess." Alfred winked at her with a small smile. She didn't need to ask what he meant by that. It was obviously about Bruce and Adrienn couldn't help but blush at his statement. "I will have your car ready. I am going to be driving. Quite frankly I don't trust your driving… now that you have an injury I am more worried." Alfred muttered leaving the bedroom.
Adrienn yawned, pressing the off button on the television and getting out of bed slowly. The last thing she wanted was to worsen her head condition. Adrienn yawned, slowly walking over to the dresser and pulling out a pair of ripped jeans and black tank top. Her hair was washed and lay in its natural lose curls. Looking at her reflection in the mirror she saw that her arms had small cuts and gashes on it. A sigh left her lips. God forbid the paparazzi saw her; there would be a huge story about it. Pulling out a loosely knit pullover, she picked up her sneakers and headed down to meet Alfred already in a coat and ready to go.
"Let's go." Adrienn smiled, shrugging into the pullover. Alfred smiled, heading out the door. Adrienn was going to follow him but she felt a pair of hands on her wrists. Bruce pulled her back into the apartment and softly closed the door behind her, cutting off Alfred's view.
"You were not even going to say bye?" Bruce mimicked a hurt voice, but he had a smug grin on his face which Adrienn had picked up on.
"Mr. Cocky much?" Adrienn teased, pushing on his chest a little. "Bye Bruce."
"Bye," He smiled, leaning down and pecking her lips softly.
Bruce pulled back from Adrienn and opened the door from her. She waved at him and took the stairs to catch up to Alfred, who was already backing out in Adrienn's BMW. Hopping in beside him, he pulled out the garage and took way to the center of Gotham. That is where Joel's boyfriend worked, at a public clinic. Adrienn dialed his number, and waited for Rider to pick up. It took a few rings before his deep voice answered.
"Adrienn!" His voice seemed tired, but still happy to be hearing from her. "How has everything been?"
"It has been good! Listen, I know it is a little short notice but do you have free time for me?" Adrienn asked, really not wanting to talk much.
"Sure, I am just finishing up a patient. Just come in through the back." Rider reminded her before saying his goodbyes.
"So… what shall our excuse be Miss?" Alfred asked, parking the car into the alleyway where Adrienn had directed him.
"Hm… Polo should be believable for this no?" Adrienn asked, pulling on a ball cap and some chunky sun glasses.
"Fell of the horse and got hit in the head with the club. Sounds peachy…" Alfred mused, following Adrienn through the door.
Adrienn sighed, seeing the familiar surroundings. At one point in her life she used to be a very frequent visitor here. She was glad she hired Joel, she would never have found out about Rider then. It was during her first year at the bank. That point she was hopping from one hospital to another, making up the most ridiculous excuses on the way, but that was her only option in order to keep her tracks hidden. She needed fake names, birth certificates and most importantly she had to make sure not to alarm the hospitals from her… frequent and not so ordinary injuries.
Rider was a good man. He wanted to genuinely help people. That is why he accepted a job with a shitty pay and ridiculously long hours. He was against the crime rates in the city and this is how he helped. Rider wasn't the type of person that would ask questions, he didn't discriminate. He learnt the hard way. Coming from a family that lost all their fortune, Rider really had to grow up and help out. Some days he would stay in the hospital all day, just treating patients and running in and out of surgery rooms. He truly was a hero.
"Hello my dear!" He called, seeing Adrienn enter. She smiled, walking up to him and embracing him in a hug. "How have you been?"
"Not so good." Adrienn muttered, removing her cap and glasses, while doing so she stepped back so he could see Alfred. "This is also a good friend of mine. Alfred, Rider, Rider, Alfred."
"Pleasure." Alfred smiled shaking his head. Rider was beaming with joy.
"Joel has told me so much about you!" He said getting excited. Adrienn smiled, lying down on the medical bed. Rider and Alfred spoke a little as the examination went on. Rider checked everything on her and after the thorough examination he straightened happy with the results. "Well, you have no sign of anything bad. Just watch yourself and if anything out of the ordinary occurs come in immediately. Even if it is slight dizziness or nausea, all right? I trust you will have a close eye kept on you…" Rider smiled at Alfred with that. "As for the swelling, I guess ice it but it won't do much now."
"It will feel nice?" Adrienn laughed, getting of the bed.
"Yes."
"We should meet up sometime soon!" Adrienn suggested, "Like a double date!"
"You are still with Jake?" Rider asked a bit confused as he opened the fridge to get an ice pack for Adrienn. She imagined what would happen if she would tell him that he is dead and she was the one that killed him. It would've been a funny scene…
"I am not talking about Jake." Adrienn smiled.
"I thought so. I've heard rumors that he moved to China … or something like that." Rider explained, cleaning up after them. "I wouldn't have thought you to be a long distance type of girl."
"Nah. I am with someone else." Adrienn smiled. Rider arched his eyebrows at her, clearly interested in this new subject.
"Well who is it?"
"I am not telling you! Joel and yourself are going to join us one day for a nice dinner!" Adrienn smiled not leaving much room for argument. "Have a nice day don't work too hard!"
"Bye Adrienn!" He called with a small chuckle. Adrienn walked behind Alfred back to the car. The two of them both got into the car and buckled, pulling out of the alley and taking way to Adrienn's. A calm silence lapsed over them in the car. She stared out the car and looked at the scenery passing by.
"Alfred… can you do me a favor?" Adrienn asked, turning to face Alfred.
"Yes miss?"
"Take the longer route. I want to see what happened last night." Adrienn muttered, leaning back in her seat. She let her mind wonder, thinking about everything that had happened in these past short few months. Bruce returning was where everything changed. He was a different man, Adrienn had to admit that. He was not the same Bruce that left seven years ago. There was definitely no denying that, but Adrienn still had strong feelings towards him. She could always manage to see the real Bruce. No matter if he was Batman or the billionaire playboy.
Alfred pulled to a stop and Adrienn snapped out of her daze, looking out at the scenery in front of her. Police cars patrolled the entrance to the island. All the bridges were hoisted up or destroyed. The mayhem that took place the previous night was desperately trying to be covered up. Adrienn had to admit that they did a pretty good job, but she could tell that there was still more to do for them.
"So much chaos." Adrienn muttered. "They cleaned up pretty good."
"I agree Miss." Alfred nodded grimly, beginning to drive off again. "Miss, I need to meet Bruce at the tower…"
"You want me to get you there quickly?" Adrienn teased. Alfred shook his head frantically.
"That would be quite all right." Alfred muttered.
"I'll go to the Mansion… the guys are going to be there today no?" Adrienn asked, trying to be helpful.
"That would be greatly appreciated if it isn't a problem though Miss."
"Alfred, shush. It is fine, I have nothing to do at the bank today anyway. All my work is at home…" Adrienn mumbled.
They reached their destination after half an hour, which was very long but due to all the damage that Adrienn partially closed most the roads near Wayne tower were closed down. Alfred stopped the car a few blocks away and decided to walk the rest of the way since that was the easier option. Adrienn spun the car around and took way towards the Mansion. She knew that most the reporters have been taken care of and no one was really allowed near the premises. Alfred was very strict when it came to these type of things.
Adrienn stopped the car, stepping out onto the gravel. The gravel seemed to be the only thing which was the same about the place. It shocked her to see how much damage fire could do. Where the massive building once stood all she could find was rubble. Adrienn sighed, not knowing what to do think of this. All of his things were gone. It broke her heart.
"Well this is fucking great…" She grumbled, walking in a door way and looking around and the black pieces of the mansion. She kicked a few logs away and crouched down, trying to figure out what part of the mansion she would be in. Digging around some more, she found a picture frame. "The study…" She mumbled.
"Hello?" a male's voice called from the other end. Adrienn sighed and stood up, walking out to meet the people Alfred had spoke about.
They discussed how the cleaning up process would take place. Also, Adrienn made it clear to them that they will only remove the rubble and rebuilding will start once Bruce or Alfred gives them a green light. She also made sure that the legal papers were in check and that they wouldn't screw them over payment wise.
Adrienn watched the people move everything away and helped out here and there. She mainly focused on finding objects that weren't too severely burnt. So far, she found two photos and Bruce's old teddy bear which was somewhat burnt but fixable. Adrienn hugged the items close to her chest and walked back to her car. She just placed the items into the back of the car and looked up when she heard another call pull up behind her. Turning, she really wished she would sink into the ground and disappear. The thought of hiding under her car crossed her mind as Rachel pulled up beside her.
"Adrienn." The woman said bitterly, stepping out of her car.
"Hello Rachel, how have you been?" Adrienn asked, trying to be friendly. The fact that she saved her life the previous night was the only thing that was in her mind at this point. She seemed to be unfazed by the fact a bullet almost hit her. Almost. Adrienn doesn't make silly mistakes, especially when her friends are the ones held hostage. Rachel was a bitch, but Adrienn had to call her one of her friends at the end of the day. Just to make Bruce happy.
"I am fine. Where is Bruce?" She snapped. Adrienn sighed, pulling out her Blackberry from her pocket and checking the time.
"He should be here soon." Adrienn said, not really knowing how to take the conversation from there. It hurt that Rachel didn't even have the common courtesy to ask how she had received the clearly visible bruise. Adrienn knew she could see it, since the ball cap didn't do much to cover it up and wearing sunglasses would be pointless. The men she had just met asked her if everything was all right. She decided to just leave her there. Shoving her phone back into her pocket, Adrienn turned around and walked to the other people. Her angerwas flaring but she didn't care for it much. Rachel was not going to grow up any time soon, but she did not really care about that. At the end of the day Adrienn was a happy person. She had someone like Bruce and Rachel knew that very well.
Adrienn ventured out to the gardens. This part of the mansion was fairly unaffected by the fire. She took a deep breath and let the smokey scent run through her lungs. it was quiet and calming. Apart from Rachel's bickering behind her. She was arguing with someone but Adrienn didn't really care to pay much attention.
"This should be covered up…" Adrienn stateted the obvious after spotting the old well. She decided to be useful and actually get started on that. Going back up, she picked up a few supplies and headed down to the well. As she was placing the logs a pair of hands snaked around her waist, causing her to twist back and raise the log above her head.
"Poor choice of weapon." Bruce chuckled. Adrienn smiled, placing the log down.
"Everything settled?" Adrienn asked, placing her small hands on his shoulders.
"Yes. The company is safe. Mr. Fox is going to make sure of that." Bruce smiled. "People are also running scared from the masked vigilante..."
"So he is going to be a chaser?" Adrienn chuckled leaning closer to Bruce.
"Yeap he is." Bruce smiled, before closing the small gap and connecting their lips. "I am glad you are here…" He whispered, resting his forehead against hers, still keeping her body close to his.
"I am glad too." Adrienn smiled. "Did Rachel find you?"
"Yes… she did." Bruce grumbled, pulling back a bit from Adrienn and heading over to the well. He picked up the hammer and nails and started to set everything back into place. "I am sorry you had to go through all that…"
"It is all good. Makes you stronger I guess." Ardrienn shrugged, waiting patiently for Bruce to finish up. Once he was done, he straightened and wiped his hands on the beige colored trousers he was wearing. "Bruce. I just want you to know that your parents would've been proud of you. Just like I am…"
Bruce looked at Adrienn. He usually gets emotional at the mention of his parents. He did now as well but a small smile appeared on his lips as he pulled Adrienn into a tight hug. He rested his chin on top of her forehead, just memorizing this moment. It was so perfect. He would've stayed there forever but he knew that he had to leave her again that night. It killed him at times but the fact that she was willing to stick up with the situation just made him appreciate Adrienn that much more.
She pulled back a little, but his hand never left the small of her back. They walked back up towards the cars and smiled seeing Alfred watching the construction workers like a hawk. The butler smiled seeing them together. He truly was happy for them.
"So what are you going to do with the place?" Adrienn asked, crossing her arms over her chest as a breeze picked up.
"Rebuild it. Just the way it was. Brick for brick." Bruce explained. That made both Alfred and Adrienn look at him in a funny manner.
"Just the way it was, Sir?" Alfred asked, walking a bit closer to the couple.
"Brick for brick?" Adrienn asked as well looking up at Bruce.
"Yeah, why?" Bruce asked, not exactly sure what the two were thinking of.
"Well I thought this might be a good opportunity for improving the foundations." Alfred explained.
"In the south east corner?"
"Precisely, sir." Alfred smiled, turning quickly to watch the workers and make sure they weren't doing anything he wouldn't be.
"He is going to go crazy from your antics." Adrienn laughed watching Alfred. "I really have respect for him." Bruce simply nodded, understanding completely what she meant.
"That is why I have you as well." He teased, looking at a box on the ground. Leaning down he pinched the lid of and saw it was his father's old stethoscope. Memories rushed back to him, of his father showing how to use the medical device. Bruce sighed, placing it back in the box and picking it up.
"I think we can find some stuff if we dig around…" Adrienn said softly, seeing the box in his hand.
"What was the cover story again?" Bruce asked suddenly, remembering the article he had seen on page eight earlier in the day. "Drunken billionaire burns down mansion?"
"But of course!" Adrienn laughed, remembering the call she had made with one of the news agencies earlier in the day. "Drunken billionaire playboy who is secretly a giant bat who is dating a math geek bank manager who is secretly an ex hired assassin that is a bit loony with a serious case of pyromania! That is totally normal!"
-End of number one! Hope you all enjoyed, decided to make it a bit longer, reply to reviews will be in the next chapter! And the second part of this will be posted below… well i will edit this thing to put it up when i put that up if this makes sense.
THANK YOU FOR READING AND REVIEWING AND FOLLOWING AND FAVORITING AND RECOMMENDING AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE IS THERE! I really do appreciate it! Thank you! :)