"Well, this proves to be a problem..."

Leaving the buffet restaurant with desserts in hand, it was causing some logistics issues for Bruce. Duel wielding ice-cream cones was nice and all. But his hands were currently occupied and left him very few options for what he had in mind. Something, he was going to have to think of a solution for.

"Hm?"

Looking up at him, Velma shot him a quizzical look. Distracting Bruce from his line of thought. Slightly occupied, he watched her as she lightly licked one of her cones to get it more under control. It seemed to be uneven, and gravity was pulling it to one side. Making the woman have to do some strategic eating before the cone could take a dive to the sidewalk. Not wanting to sacrifice the confection to the pavement.

Bruce found her actions utterly adorable, as she lapped like a cat at the ice-cream as a feline would bath their paw. She only gave him enough attention that she could spare, as the lopsided swirl wilted. Forcing her to look away from him to do a few more rounds to get it under control. The tall tower of ice-cream being besieged by Velma's actions to keep it at bay and ending up on the streets of Gotham. But doing it, in the most precious manner.

"Oh here, let me help."

Leaning over, she lifted her head to see what he meant for him to make his move. With her away from the cone, he opened his mouth and inhaled about an inch of the oversized ice-cream swirl. It had been his fault, after all. Bruce had been the one behind the massive height in the first place. Being new to the soft serve dispenser and went a bit heavy handed on the cones.

Though he had mastered the swirl with Velma's instructions. But her earlier suffering was his fault, as that had been the first cone he had made, that was not as expertly made compared to some of the others. So, it was less structurally sound. Making it his responsibility to fix it.

"!"

But removing the top of the leaning swirl, wasn't the smartest move from Bruce. And he had been so sudden, that Velma hadn't had time to stop the man. Not that she had the hands to halt his actions anyway. As well as having two cones in her own hands, limiting her movement and reaction to him eating the large chunk of frozen dessert in one breath.

"Gah!"

Bruce got his first Brain freeze in a long time... Well, one that was self inflicted anyway. Not due to an ice beam from Mr. Freeze himself, or something of that nature.

(Though it got Bruce thinking... how well the man might be with making such frozen treats on his downtime from running rampant for this reason or that. Almost snorting the ice cream out of his nose as he pictured the villain working hard to make snow cones or something soft serve with a Mr. Freeze logo on some side of a truck.)

"Are you ok!?" Came the squeak from Velma. Not realizing his plight was his own fault with the mental image.

Bruce found himself being supported by his tiny girlfriend. Tucking herself under his doubled over form to brace against him from falling over, as he flinched against the sudden head pain. Taking his weight on her shoulder, to help keep them both standing while both hands were occupied. But thankfully it was a temporary ailment, and it was slowly easing away. But it seemed that the little detective figured out what was wrong and moved to offer a solution to help stem the pain.

"Quick! Put your tongue to the roof of your mouth. It will help with the sphenopalatine ganglioneuralgia nerves. The warm tongue will normalize your temperature of your mouth and stop the cold-induced headache." Using her elbows, she helped him straighten up, keeping and eye on him and nudging him to the side. Keeping them from clogging the sidewalk as Bruce dealt with his minor issue.

Taking her advice, he felt the pain edge off. He also had gulped the ice cream too fast to cause the pain in the first place. So, his bright idea to help her out, had some minor consequences. But as temporarily painful as it was, Bruce loved it. The last time he had done that, was ages ago. And he had almost forgot that was a thing. But his body made sure to make him remember. As well as getting her attention for his trouble. He couldn't knock that.

But hey, at least her snack was stable!

As in all her motions, none of her dessert had met the pavement while he was suffering.

"Totally-cough, worth it." He said to her, once he could stand a bit better. Tossing her a thumbs up as best as he could around the ice cream. Shaking his head to try to dislodge the last remnants of the brain freeze.

She just grumbled in response. Shaking her head at his antics. But the smile she had one that she was trying to hide in her hoodie, betrayed her amusement. Taking a lick from her other hand, to give it some attention to try to eat some of that before it melted.

"Well, wise guy. What did you think of the Neapolitan you just inhaled?" She mused past the cone in front of her, wiggling the other, offending cone that he had his ailment from. "Or was it too much to tell?"

'Shoot, I have options... On the one hand... ' Bruce pondered to himself before speaking.

"It was hard to tell. I might just have to go back in, and try it a second time." He wiggled his dyed eyebrows at her, and lightly opened his mouth suggestively. Making a face that convey that he was more then willing to go back in for another sample. Like a bird asking to be fed.

"Ah Ah!"
"...You could just ask."
"But what is in the fun of that?"

"..." Snorting, Velma pressed her lips together, but it seemed to Bruce that she was struggling to be mad at him.

"May, I have some of your Chocolate? While you decide what you want to do with your self?" It seemed she wanted to distract him from his ideas of dancing another round of brain freeze to one of the deserts he had been carrying.

Looking down at his own cones, he had been carrying one in each hand as well. Though while she had the monster Neapolitan that he had cobbled together. Between the rest of their grips, was the individual cones that held the other three flavors. (The soft serve machine was actually two. One that had both Vanilla and Chocolate with the ability to mix that into one swirl third option, which they hadn't gotten. And another machine on the side that was just for strawberry. Which meant the monster cone that she had been messing with, and that he inhaled, was a frankencone between the two machines.) So, he himself carried the black and white pair, while Velma carried the others.

"Hm..."
"Hm?"
"Yes, Hmmm."

Looking down, he had the chocolate in his left, with the vanilla in his right. And she had pushed them to the side and had taken up a spot to his right, after her rescue. Which meant he had to swap positions for his idea. Which was something he had been considering earlier, but her cuteness had derailed his thoughts till now. And it just happened that the cone he might want to go in for seconds, was on her right side as well.

"So, is that a yes or a no?" Velma said with a tap of her foot, looking up at him and wiggling an occupied hand at his chocolate filled one. Less annoyed, but more trying to figure out where his brain was going. Detective mode probably active with his 'hmms' at her.

"One moment."

Sliding around to her right side of her body, Bruce brought up his arm with the chocolate flavor in it. But he then wiggled his proposed elbow at her. And watched as she processed the elbow being shaken at her, as well as what he was asking her to do. This wasn't new to her, at least he figured she had been lead by the elbow before. He knew that she had attended a few fancy things for Mystery Inc, and surely with the exposing to Daphne, Velma knew what he was offering. Similar to their first date, but not so much lightly leading her by the hand, but more locking elbows since both of their hands were occupied. Letting him lead her in that way, and she could still get access to the chocolate cone in his hand.

He could see the wheels turning in her head, as she took in his offer. Bringing her eyeline to look up at him, her brows knit in mild confusion, tilting slightly as it worked through her brain. But it seemed she got there well enough, as she leaned out her right arm for him to be able to sneak in the gap and wrap his larger arm around hers. Linking them as a pair.

"Oh-" Came a light word from her as she realized this was what he did want. Releasing the tension in her brows and lightly tugging on the arm to test the position. Bruce made sure to try to keep the lock comfortable with their height difference. Though he wasn't done yet, as his plan wasn't finished. Before she could lean in, Bruce leaned down and dig a long lick on the chocolate ice cream. Specifically on the side that she was facing.

Earning him a flat look in response. "Oh."

"Really, B?"

But her moment of annoyance at his actions was soon overshadowed as he watched as her eyes widened. Getting the same look as she did earlier in the buffet at him accepting her offering. Realizing just what sharing two cones meant. Even though they had spent the last bit sharing over the crab rangoons and the rice they had before they left. And the fact that she had been licking the frakencone without recalling he had just eaten some from that as well. But it still seemed to make her pause, taking in the ramifications that 'sharing' actually entailed. Completing his masterful plan.

'She is cute and all, but I feel bad that she might short circuit every time. So, want her to get used to this all in small bursts. Got to build up her tolerance against me. And well, her adorable reactions make me want to keep her all to myself.'

Tugging on her elbow, he pulled her into resuming their walk. They had to keep moving, if they were going to get to their next destination. But surprisingly, Velma not only moved with him, but leaned over and nipped off the top of his chocolate ice cream. No where near the large bite that he had done, but it was a decent amount. Making him chuckle.

"Now, don't have to copy me, let me keep the brain freezes to myself."

"Well, the sooner it's eaten, the less chance you will have to inhale more. Plus, we need to get going, right?"

Waving her other hands cone, it seemed that she wanted him to keep walking and eating. They still had a bunch of the day left, but best to start moving and working on their cones before they get to where they are going. Most stores weren't welcome to have food in hand. So, they needed to get these eaten.

"Yep yep. Though we have to catch the subway to get there. It's more downtown, in the market area where I want to take you too. So, It would be messy to try to travel down there with cones like this." He said, as he leaned over to try to take a bite on top of the one she had just taken a small chunk off of. Lightly raising up his cone, he was not prepared for her to suddenly jerk her own upwards at him. Cutting the distance between him and his own snack, sending the cold soft serve straight into his nose in revenge. A calculated boop of retaliation!

Which... Surprised him!

Though he wasn't against the cute giggle of her vengeance being achieved. Getting back for his cone taunting from the moment before. Two could play that game, apparently. And Bruce was loving it. Rather then her just meekly accepting his offering, which she also did do... It wasn't beyond her to get back at him. He could handle that! He was looking for an equal in her after all. So, for her to get right back at him, was perfect.

Though her giggling was intoxicatingly cute, the kind that makes you just want to join in. Since it was sincere and an honest laugh at her own action. Even with a few small adorable snorts in there that she didn't hide. Making it even more endearing to him. Her face lighting up with her success of her venture.

'I could drown in that laughter...'

But there was a slight 'downside' to their little date... Which was since Bruce wasn't having to be himself, it allowed him to enjoy the moment more. Not having to hold back to be the prime and proper man he normally had to uphold with others watching his every move and action. And so, there was nothing to stop him from exacting his own wrath to the delighted other half on his arm.

As her giggles died down, she went to eat more of her own cone. Still linked to his own elbow. He made his move, with her distracted he tried to get back at her. A nose boop for a nose boop, after all. But he didn't account for the fact that she was trained in dodging aerial assaults from all the various experiments that the 'Other' dynamic Duo performed in the kitchen at home. Giving her the unique talent for eluding his attempt to get back at her. Though, he did graze her cheek with the cone.

Snaking her hand out from the elbow lock, she took a step back and held the cone like a fencing saber. Taking up a defensive stance with the ice cream between them as her weapon. Looking down her arm and over her glasses at him. Her face half hidden by the hoodie she was wearing. Narrowing her eyes, she used the back of her other coned hand to wipe the ice cream from her face. Like you might see a fighter do with a fresh wound gotten from a tough opponent. He had done the move a few times himself. To psychologically effect his opposite that had managed to make him bleed.

Though, not wanting to waste the treat, Velma quickly lapped at what she rubbed off. Keeping her blurry eye lock on him, ready to react to his next move.

'God dang, she is so freaking cute...' Bruce mentally struggled against the emotional assault of his petite girl friend. Defying his expectations splendidly.

"If you want it that wa-"

"HEY~!"

As Bruce moved to bring his dessert to bear, he ended up taking a step back into someone walking in the sidewalk they were traveling down. Just because they were in their own little world, didn't mean they only people there. Their actions were causing a ruckus to the citizens that were just going about their day. Making the pair just realize where they were, flinching at the trouble they were causing.

"Sorry... Sorry." Bruce apologized, feeling bad for bumping into her. Though she had already moved on her way with a grumpy huff at him for getting in her way.

"Truce?" Bruce offered to Velma. Standing back upright and offering his elbow with no ulterior motives this time. There was a time and place for it, and in the middle of the busy sidewalk was not it. But no regrets on Bruce's side. He would duel her again in a heart beat.

"Truce." Velma nodded, being bashful for having him bump into someone accidently. Taking up his arm and trying to move with him without bothering others. Eating her cones in silence for a little bit.

'Aw... I was enjoying myself. Oh well, there will be more time for that later.'

Bruce grumbled internally. But still, it had been fun while it lasted. And shown him a more playful side to her that he had only seen from the outside. It was nice for a change for her to actually direct that kind of thing towards him. And how natural it was! Made Bruce very happy! He could tell that her reactions wasn't forced just to appeal to him, like other ladies did in the past. Her frozen retaliation and threats of her dessert defense was 100% a genuine Velma reaction. Caught up in the moment and acting like she would normally... well normally for her and the Gang.

He figured this wasn't her public face, either. Having seen her shy away from getting her pictures being taken at a Wayne Enterprise small party. Yet also stand tall and unwavering with tons of media on her, when she was with the gang for taking down some criminal and having to explain something to the press. Not at the level of his own mask for sure, but she had a small one of her own. To Bruce, it felt like she was also embracing the character she was playing, to let him get glimpses of everything that made up the woman on his arm.

Seeing the true Velma Dinkley, in all of her unrestrained and honest glory! Being just as much of a dork as he was. Which was very sexy to him. Compared to all the other ladies he had ever had on the other end of his arm, this was the best one so far. Spoiling him, and not wanting anyone else now. Because here, he had a woman who was enjoying his company with no other motives except to get to know him better. And love him for just being him.

"Today is a good day!" Bruce lightly announced out loud. Not really directed to anyone in particular. But just out into the universe as he happily shared his ice cream with his girlfriend on his elbow, on the sidewalks of Gotham.