Author's Note:
Thank you for all the reviews to the previous chapter. If I haven't PMed you personally, I apologize and will soon do so when I get the chance.
Hopefully, you'll continue to enjoy this story. This is my first time writing this kind of story, and it takes me a little bit of time to research character's past and figuring out how to keep them in character while still making it feel original and like an alternative universe.
For both character sets, I am blending different mediums to try to create rounded and full characters filled with life.
I've never written for Selina Kyle, and this would be my first time so that was fun. Hopefully, it isn't awful though. Lol.
On a side note, its hilarious that I parody AUs in one story and yet, I'm sort of doing one here.
Onto the story:
Albert Einstein once said: "Memory is deceptive because it is colored by today's events," and for what its worth, Bruce knew it to be true. Despite what their family psychologist said, he lived everyday in the past, and each emotion he felt in reliving those moments were dependent on how he was feeling that day.
However, he wondered, can one be deceived into believing something that never happened actually happened? His parents always talked about how drunk he got on his wedding night, and the way that he and his wife left before the cake was cut good; they said that the two of them worked so hard to make a beautiful wedding.
There were videos of he and his mother's dance at the wedding, and pictures of Usagi's crying face as he placed the ring on her finger. On the pictures, he always looked like he was sweating bullets, nervous. It was supposed to be an intimate affair, but his mother, loving the cameras as she always had, invited the world to see the celebration of the century through reality television.
However, try as he might, he couldn't remember the feelings he felt in the moment. Bruce knew it happened because the scenes were in his memory banks, and he assumed that the pictures and videos said it all.
One thing was for sure; he loved his wife with every fiber of his being, wanted to be by her side at all times, and when she cried, he wanted to be strong for her, to protect her.
Despite the critical times they've dealt with the past few years, Bruce knew he loved Usagi more today than the day that he married her. He felt it in the way that she sent shivers up and down his spine when she touched him and how her smile comforted him when nothing else would.
Early that morning, they talked in what seemed like forever since the last time. Usagi had the brightest smile; it was warm and kind and unlike the people around him in the office, it was genuine. Apparently, she had a dream the night before and in it, she said that 'they were able to see their children again.' It was a strange thought as both times, the children were stillborn and never had a chance to live in the outside world.
It didn't matter to Usagi. No, to her, they were still alive. She had said that the boy was rambunctious and smart like him; the child had a mouth on him. The girl, however, she started crying when talking about her, saying she felt like she met her before. Usagi said the other was named after her and was smart also, but she acted out and was insecure much like her mother.
The little girl, Usagi said was like a small lady, fearing that she couldn't bear the burdens she was born under.
Her dreams, though, were a bit ridiculous as she dreamed of a castle that protected the world and felt warm when she thought about it. It felt to Bruce that memories painted a castle as something great and beautiful. Clearly, their age difference was showing.
His dreams always ended with the ones he loves the most dying with him being unable to protect them.
Maybe because he dreamed it so often, that was why it felt more real to him than this happiness.
As he drove down the highway, he saw a billboard saying that the circus was in town and would be staying for what looked like a long time.
The bottom said in big, white, bold letters: "The love goddess and her robin are a duo to behold." He chuckled to himself. Usagi would love that.
He decided that he was in no rush to get into work and that he'd stop and get tickets first then head to work. It was going the opposite way, but he didn't get paid by the hour.
He was the CEO, and owner. His father probably wouldn't be happy with him coming in two hours later, but he also retired so that didn't really matter.
For the first time in awhile, he felt excited to go out.
-xx-xx- in another world, we don't belong -xx-xx-
Wayne Enterprises
Bruce didn't say a word, but he was plenty aware that he didn't need to. Selina Kyle made that obvious. When he walked into the office, her blue eyes lit up like a Christmas tree, those voluptuous lips curved into a snake like smirk, and with one hand, she tossed her black hair out of her face. He promised himself that he wouldn't talk to her today unless it was a business need.
His eyes followed her every movement, and it was obvious that she knew he was watching by the way she stood up. It was a strange thing to describe, but she moved like a cat in front of him as she pretended to stretch then straightening her back. Selina wore a tight pencil skirt that showed off every curve of her thick body, and while Bruce knew he needed to look away as a married man, she mesmerized him.
They were from the opposite side of the tracks. Coming from the broken streets of Metro City, a place that many didn't stop at any red lights or stop signs in fear that it would be their last stop, many applauded her for being able to get so far in life. A recently hired young man was talking with her, his hand movements evidently more exciting than the actual conversation, judging by her body language. He looked like a young Donald Trump with his fake tan sprayed on, making his skin orange like a carrot. Despite his young age, he looked older than Bruce with thin blonde hair.
If he hadn't done his own investigation on him, he wouldn't believe that Marcus was younger than Usagi who'd just turned twenty four only a few months ago.
She smiled at the young man and faked a laugh. It was the same false jovial sound she made when Bruce first told her a joke. It was probably what got her hired.
The young man's face turned slightly red then looked at Bruce and his expression turned to one of horror. "O-oh, Mr. Wayne! S-sorry." He apologized then looked back at Selina then at Bruce again with a sudden face of realization. What he realized was anybody's guess. "I didn't know."
Selina's smiled softened and her eyes became impish. "Marcus, don't worry." She chuckled as she looked up and her eyes caught Bruce's. Somehow, it seemed as if those dark mysterious blue orbs knew that she had him as clay in her clay making hands. "Despite his looks, Bruce won't hurt a fly."
"Miss Selina," Marcus chimed, sweating bullets. "You probably shouldn't call the owner by his first name so informally."
Selina's expression hardened almost immediately. "Why?"
Marcus most likely hadn't expected the sudden change in her facade. His orange skin looked like it was melting, and he was sure that if he didn't start wiping his face soon, that orange substance was going to burn his eyes. Involuntarily, Bruce smiled, reminded of something but unsure what.
"I mean... Yanno... He's kinda..."
Selina smiled almost twistedly at his expression. "Looks like a dark knight?" It was a strange thing to say, Bruce thought as he looked at Selina bewildered. She turned to her boss and sighed. "Can we talk, Bruce?"
He fidgeted for a moment, thinking about his conversation with his wife earlier that morning, looked at Marcus then at her then nodded in a mock managerial manner. "In my office, that would be fine." Before she could respond, he'd already walked away.
Marcus sighed. "How and why the hell does he disappear like that?"
Selina smiled, shrugged her shoulders, then walked in the direction of Bruce Wayne's office.
-xx-xx- in another world, we don't belong -xx-xx-
Bruce was already sitting at his desk when Selina walked in. She closed the door behind her and waited for a moment in the soundproof room to think about what it was that she wanted to say. "How's Mrs. Wayne?"
"She's fine." His answers were short and curt, but his answer was wrong. She'd never seen a married man not respond with We're... Not when they're in love and still in love. Selina involuntarily smiled.
"How are you, Bruce?"
His eyes widened as he rested his chin on his fist. "Miss Kyle, we can't do this." Bruce had electric blue eyes that felt like he owned the night and had the power to destroy the system around him if he felt it was needed.
They'd been drawn to one another since the day they met like moths to a flame. Neither needed to say it to know it, and if the last few months were any indication,their bodies knew it too.
"My wife and I are trying for another baby."
Selina bit her lip. Despite the fact that he'd never been her's to begin with, it felt like she was about to lose something important to her with those words. She hated this, hated everything about it. Her heart felt heavy, and there was a lump in her throat.
"Why?..." The words slipped out with much more passion than intended. "You said that you were unhappy... So why now?"
Bruce didn't say anything. Instead, he opened up his laptop and began typing.
He'd never cheated on Usagi, never once professed love to Selina, but their chemistry was raw and powerful. Their arguments were intense and felt like years of sexual aggression bottled up being released. Every time they looked each other in the eyes, she knew as well as he did that he wanted to kiss her.
Silence filled the room. The tension was thick enough to be cut by a knife.
After calming herself, finally, she said, "You can't deny there's something between us." Selina felt like she'd said this once before, as if they'd been on this ride before.
Papers were being printed out on Bruce's desk. Frowning, he responded, "You're right, and I'm afraid it's the business." He handed her the printed papers and sighed. "If you'd like to transfer departments, here's the paperwork. If working here is too hard, I'd be happy to write you a recommendation letter."
Selina paled at his words, felt herself become flushed. She thought about the kiss they almost shared, everything she felt since working with him and became angry with herself for forgetting her one greatest rule.
Her eyes steeled. Whisking the papers out of his hand, she ripped them up and threw it in the trash. "Idiot." Turning away from him, she practically growled. "Congratulations... And did you honestly think I was serious. What a joke!" She laughed heartily and smiled at him, her white teeth flashing. Never quit. Never let them see you're afraid. Above all - never let them see you're hurt. Never let them see you cry. Never.
With that, she walked out and hurried back to her seat.
Bruce sat back down, looked at his notepad and was reminded that he needed to call JV and Hino Associates, the law firm he'd been using for the past few years.
-xx-xx- in another world, we don't belong -xx-xx-
JV and Hino Associates
The moment she introduced herself, he knew she was special, different from everyone else. This girl, she awakened the beast that another had put to sleep. Her amethyst eyes, the grim line she made with her lips, and the sadness she represented was all he needed to awaken the monster he'd long forgotten.
Like his mother, she garnered attention from every male that laid eyes on her; unlike her, their advances were refuse in her eyes. When she spoke, the young woman couldn't hide that heiress quality about her.
In her eyes, he could see that she was just like him. Rei Hino didn't have to say it; she too loved the chaos.
"Your tweets, sir," Rei interrupted his thoughts, her tone sharp, reminiscent of his late mother. "They're becoming alarming worse than even Donald J. Trump. That's not exactly something to be proud of." Her arms crossed against her chest, he imagined a symbol that looked like an 'S' across her chest then laughed because a bat fit her so much better.
"She used to nag too."
Rei flipped her hair out of her face, her eyes fierce and just like him. "Who did?"
A smile planted on his face, eyes glinted with excitement, he looked as if he'd been waiting for her to ask. "My mother was a nagging whore."
Rei's eyes steeled. Yes, you look just like her and him. How he loved that expression. Suddenly, her expression softened. "I'm sure she loved you though even if she caused you some pain every once in awhile." She scratched the back of her head almost as if she were uncomfortable with the subject as if she knew something and wasn't saying anything.
The handsome red-headed male looked away, put his hand over his mouth, trying not to laugh. Using the mirror to see her, it must've appeared that he was crying. Sighing, he looked up and frowned. "Sorry... You just remind me of her sometimes."
"Mr. Valeska..." Her voice was soft.
"Call me Jerome... Or better yet, call me Mistah J."
Rei didn't seem impressed. Instead, she walked over to his phone and pointed at the blinking light. "Mr. Wayne is on line one for you."