Bruce fidgeted on one of the couches in his study. He folded his hands in front of them then placed them on his knees then shoved them in his pockets. He took them back out and grabbed the edge of the couch and looked down at the rug covering the hardware floor of his study. His keen ears picked up the soft padding coming down the stairs around the corner.
A few seconds later, Maisie came into the study. He noticed that she had changed into more casual clothes. He himself had also changed out of his wet clothes and into a pair of khakis and a sky-blue dress shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows. He honestly had not realized how wet he had been until Maisie had mentioned it. His focus had been on having a conversation longer than a couple sentences with his daughter.
Bruce stood and motioned towards the seat beside him. "Maisie…close the door and please come in…have a seat." She pulled the glass French doors closed and, instead of sitting next to him, sat on the couch across from him with a coffee table with a vase of flowers on top separating him and her. He couldn't help the way his heart sank a little at the small action. But he mentally braced himself. It's okay, he thought. We're at the beginning and will take it slow.
Maisie leaned back into the couch and crossed one leg over the other and her arms across her chest. He would dare say she almost had a carefree attitude. "What was it you were wanting to talk about? Oh, and before we continue, how am I supposed to address you?"
Bruce's bouncing knee halted, and he blinked at her. Did she really think he didn't know who she was? "I know who you are, Maisie." Her face remained impassive. "I know your mom is Ellen Yin, and that she's missing. I know that…I…am your father." He spoke the last part softly.
Her right pointer finger that had been tapping her left bicep stopped, and she blinked. "I'm not going to push for a relationship, and I'm not going to try to suddenly be your father after having been absent for almost all your life. But I am going to try my hardest to find your mother." He rested his elbows on his knees and leaned forward and stared directly into her eyes. He wanted to make sure she completely understood what he was about to say. Maybe not believe him. That would take time. But right now, he needed her to understand the importance she and Ellen still held in his pretty dark life.
"While we may be separated right now, she is still a very special woman to me." Maisie quirked an eyebrow but didn't say anything. He took that as a sign to continue.
"I know that you are already doing your own research into her disappearance." Her eyebrow went a hair higher, if that was even possible. Bruce gave her a look. "I know that you know who I am at night. And Felicity told me that someone had hacked into her network. I have to say that I was surprised that it took you such a short period of time. But I don't have to know you very well to know that you're smart like your mother." At that, Maisie looked down.
"I miss her," she said softly. Already seeing much of himself in her, he knew how hard it must have been for her to admit that to him.
Taking a risk, he stood up and walked around the table to sit next to her on the couch. He gently placed a hand on her knee and looked at her downcast expression. He would bet that she had forced all of her emotions deep down to focus completely on what was at hand and to not let it impair her judgement. It's what he did.
"I want you to tell me everything that has happened. How your mother disappeared, what information you have, and anything about the guys at city hall today."