Velma was not on her knees long, as soon she found herself enveloped by the strong arms of Bruce. Pulling her into him, he hugged her tight. But at the same time with the lightest pressure, since he felt she was so fragile right now and he didn't want to break her.

Placing his face into the fabric of her white lab coat that sat upon one shoulder, he was having trouble looking into her face... torn with emotion. And especially that he had made her cry. And Velma had grown over the past few months, to be the last person he wanted to get hurt.

Especially because of him.

Unaccustomed in her raw state, to being hugged suddenly, and by the man behind all the clashing emotions and thoughts running chaotically in her head and heart... She stiffed up in his grasp, unable to appreciate how it was to be hugged by him. Something that she had recently, allowed herself to occasionally day dream about how it might have been, during the last month or so.

Well, once she had ended up accepting the fact that she had fallen for him.

But she was not in a place where she would be able enjoy the reality, that he was legit hugging her right then.

Bruce was distracted when there was a small whooshing sound, picking up his face from the cloth of her shoulder and looking at Alfred. The butler having great timing as always, prepared with a bottle of water and some drink options in case she could use something to help her calm down and hydrate.

Placing her on one end of the couch, Bruce waved over Alfred to offer her something. Surprise flashing across her face before it made sense that Alfred knew. Of course the butler would know his Master's secrets. Looking through the selection, Velma considered some teas before she saw a hot chocolate. Claiming that for her own, and the water bottle to sit beside her for later. Hoping that thinking of the gang, would help her calm down. Ignoring for once, that the woman wished she had a stiff drink to chug down... maybe that would make the situation easier to handle. With the edges taken off.

Bruce on the other hand, was unsure where to put himself. He wanted to be nearby, but also wanted to give her space. Fluttering back and forth like a anxious hummingbird. But once Velma had taken her drinks, the older man moved to grab Bruce by the shoulders and forcefully sit him down on the other side of the seat with her.

An awkward silence falling between them.

Letting her sip the drink, Bruce was doing his own thinking. Since he had figured he had heard right... that she in fact, liked him. Well, not sure what she feels right now, in this moment. But that she had liked him before. So, he had a chance. She wasn't the only one struggling with emotions, but Bruce was just more used to internalizing them while saving face.

Lacing his fingers together, he pitched himself forward and leaned on his upper thighs. Elbows making some more wrinkles in his nice suit, as he pressed his weight into the top of his crossed hands. Trying to figure out the words he needed to say.

Velma didn't want to look at him, but she also did. Her detective mind trying to push it's way forward to take charge and calm the chaos that was her being at the moment. Sipping the hot chocolate and fiddling with the water bottle beside her, she fell back on her rational thoughts and tried to treat this like a mystery. The clues were there, and she had put them together to find out the truth... As she always did. But Bruce wasn't a criminal. He wasn't a bad guy to unmask... Though in a way, she had just unmasked one of the biggest secret identities that existed in this universe. Let along the puny world she existed in.

'Oh god... He is a galactic... Hero. And I just said I liked him...' Rang her self doubt, pushing past everything and bringing herself down. 'How could he ever fall for someone like me...'

Ignoring that he was having similar but opposite inner thoughts as well.

'She said she liked me... I didn't even get to fully apologize, and she has already figured it out. And she's still here... Sitting just on the other side of the couch.' His chest tightened, glancing over at her to notice that she seemed to be calming slightly down. And the tears had stopped.

'Am I allowed to be this lucky? But she needs to know more... She needs to know all of it, before she can really make a decision. I need to tell her everything.'

Closing his eyes, he knew that this was going to hurt. But, she needed to know things in order for them to move past this and have any chance. To equip her with everything she needed to know, that was beyond finding out his deepest, secret.

"I want you to just listen. You don't have to say anything yet, but I want you to know everything about me. Well, not everything right now, but enough to make a decision on how you want things to go from here..."

Looking up, Velma was unsure at what he meant, but was willing to listen. Giving him a slight nod, and waited to see what he had to say. Letting out a shaky breath, Bruce closed his eyes and focused on the back of his eyelids to be able to speak. Trying to find the right words.

"Have you ever heard of Park Row?"

"No. I have not."

"...Well, that was what it used to be called. Now it's more known as Crime Alley."

Velma's eyes grew wider at the name. It was something that had come up before, since she was staying at Gotham from time to time. The Blake's had warned her to not go through it at night, if she could help it. It was dangerous and attracted criminals. It was best for her to avoid if possible, to keep her safe from harm.

Bad things happened there...

"Sometimes I wish I could forget... But I can't. I play the scene over in my head, but there is no way to go back and change what had already happened. It is apart of me, and this is why you need to know moving forward." He cast a sorrowful look her way, breaking her heart to see a side she had never seen before. The most powerful man in all Gotham, standing head and shoulders over everyone... Was looking like a lost child about to break.

"... My parents... died on that street. In Park Row... for no other reason but greed and fear."

Slowly, it came back to her. Someone had told her the story, when she started to work for Wayne Enterprise, about the death of Bruce's parents. A stupid mugging, that had the worst kind of ending... Leaving Bruce alone in the world.

"... Batman was started for vengeance and outrage at what had happened to me. For those I lost, and to get back at the man who ended their lives that night. I hated myself for being so helpless... So, scared. I could only watch as my parents fell beside me. Their life cut down by a single bullet each. No one came to my aid, people nearby ignoring my cries for help..."

Velma had no clue that such a weight was laying across his shoulders like that. Let alone having to deal with such a traumatic death of his parents at such a young age, so brutally taken from him. Tears sprang from her eyes, not sure what to do in reaction to such things. And unable to understand why he revealing all of this to her.

"That is why Batman exists. I sore an oath to be the voice that answers back in from the darkness. When the police can not be there... Or the law has its hands bound up in legalities. I have no such bindings."

Reaching out, she placed her small hand upon his sleeve, having moved across the couch to sit beside him. Closing the gap between them. It seemed so tiny, against the tailored suit and the size of his arm. As well as Bruce being almost two heads taller then her in general. She had always known him for being athletic. But it made far more sense why he filled out his suits, with him being the intimidating figure of Batman.

But right now, he just looked like he was able to crumble.

Feeling her hand upon his arm, he looked over at saw her face. Sending a ping of regret into his chest as he yet again, having made her cry again. But he was touched that she would be crying for him at least. Bringing one hand over, he overlapped her hand with his own.

"...I am thankfully not a lost cause." Giving her hand a small pat, though he still looked vulnerable. "Alfred has been by my side. And over the years I have taken in others like me. Being there for them when they needed someone the most... I hope you'll get along. Dick is probably not going to be a problem, but Tim might butt heads. If you ever want to meet them, well, meet them again."

"Oh, Robin and Nightwing?" Velma didn't know the names specifically at his mentions, but with what he said and who he was. It makes sense that Bruce taking in someone, would end up bleeding over into his other world.

"Yeah. Dick Grayson, is Nightwing. And Tim Drake as the current Robin. Dick was a Robin in the past, but things... well, I can tell you later."

"You have told me a lot already..." Velma said giving his arm a squeeze. "But why are you telling me of all people... all of this?"

"You don't get it, do you... What you mean to me?" He said, as he picked up her hand and took it in his own. Turning to face her, he tried to get her to look him in the eyes.

"My life, is complicated. I know that and have accepted my lot in life. Both Bruce Wayne, and Batman. I am not one, without the other. So, out of everything, I needed to find someone special that would be able to stand on their own beside both. I have tried to be with women on both sides... with some bleed over." Catwoman and Talia came to mind, but it hadn't worked out. "... But for one thing or another. It wasn't what I needed. And with a bit of prodding, recently it was pointed out to me... You."

"...Me?" She was barely about to squeak out. Not seeing the connection.

"Yes, you. I mean, I guess if things had been different, Daphne might have been a possibility. But no, it is you that are what I need. On the one hand, you and the gang have on multiple occasions gone toe to toe with some of the worst that Arkham has to offer. And not just once or twice, either! And even being just a random group of teens..."

"... Don't you dare say meddling." She quickly muttered out, before she caught herself. Feeling slightly embarrassed for snapping. Looking away. Bruce just chuckled, letting go of her hand and putting his palms up in his defense.

"Hey, Dick was young once and so was I. But you guys have kinda made a profession in meddling. And darn good at it too." Bruce said with a laugh. "Had you guys not stepped in that one time, Justice League would have been in a lot more trouble then what happened with you guys there. And well on the other hand, Wayne Tech would be not as well off... Had you not come along."

"Which reminds me... We are a bit late for testing. But I don't want this to be the end of this. I want to spend all the time, and talk to you more. You said that you like me, right."

"..." He remembered, and heard her when she had said it earlier along with collapsing and crying. Not her proudest moment.

"Well, then that makes two of us." Which earned her attention. Snapping her head at him, staring in disbelief to hear those words out of his mouth.

"I like you Velma Dinkley. And I would like to get to know you better, if you would allow me. I never got to apologize fully for what I have done to you. But I would love the chance to work towards fixing that. We need to get back to the lab, before they send a rescue crew. But would you do me the honor, of going on a date with me? Not right now, but soon I hope...?"

"..."

What was she to say... No? Tell, THE Bruce Wayne... THE Batman... no? Ignoring that she couldn't deny that everything he had told her, didn't really make her feelings lessen. If not, she was falling for him even more. Especially with his flowery words that she was not sure she believed.

"...I would like that."