In the Notion of Fear

Part 1

"She's beautiful isn't she?" Her hands flex and she lightly pushes farther away from his arm as she chuckles weakly.

They're saved from even more conversation as the mic calls for everyone to sit in their respective seats for the night. The hour was finally over and that was Bruce's cue to leave. But, as he watches her depart from her date and move towards the now empty bar he decides to stay a little while longer.

Once he reaches the bar, the bartender just nods and immediately starts working on his drink. He frequents here during these kinds of occasions. It's not like he sticks around to actually talk to other people.

He wipes his hands on the inside of his pocket before plopping himself next to her. The bartender slides the drink over to him. A comfortable silence surrounds them as she takes a sip from her own glass. Neither of them fully turn their bodies towards each other, making sure their interactions wouldn't be caught by others who might be watching.

"Hey Bruce" She smiles at him fully now, no longer sporting the blank look on her face.

"I thought I was Mr. Wayne to you", in an attempt to hide his smirk he takes a sip of his drink.

She just rolls her eyes.

"He'd use that against you... And me. He'll bring me to these events for a sliver of a chance to talk to you if he already knew we were past-" She says this with hand quotes, "Acquaintances"

He makes a face, "Acquaintances? Not how I remember it"

"What? Would you have preferred I said partners in crime?"

"Maybe not that"

"Yeah, you're right. You were always a good person. Quiet, but good. Me on the other hand..." She gestures a so so.

The strings in the background almost drown out his quiet chuckle. She smiles warmly, "You're still the same..."

He hums in response, not sure if it was a good thing. He was... even worse than he was now, less talkative, anxious, barely functioning. Saying he was quiet was an understatement.

They continue on like this, mostly in silence and her making some comment about a dress someone's wearing, the music, the food. Just like old times. He didn't even notice everyone filing out of the venue, too engrossed in the nostalgic feeling of having company, normal company.

She notices March looking for her and stands, her smile fleeting off her face. He finally glances at his watch and sees that he's been here for the whole event. He's suddenly engulfed in a side hug that lasts at most two seconds but feels like a lifetime. She points to her date looking for her and sighs, "Guess that's my cue, it was nice seeing you again Bruce"

He couldn't respond before a piercing scream resounded across the room. They both turn to a woman shaking on the floor, gripping the strands of her hair, tearing it off of her scalp. She stares straight ahead, yelling at a phantom to stop and to not hurt her. She's getting redder by the second, from the blood rushing to her head and the constant scratching and itching she inflicts on her own skin.

She's starting to slur her words and as she convulses Bruce catches a glimpse of the woman beside him. She doesn't even flinch, her stare unwavering from the sight a few feet away. It unnerves him how she wasn't reactive, even as the woman in front of them breaks apart both mentally and physically. She looked analytical. Unaffected.

He had no time to think about it. He refocuses on the scene in front of them as staff and security try to evacuate everyone from the premises. It was too late. The woman wasn't breathing. Her heart stopped and paramedics wouldn't be here in time, even if they managed to resuscitate her, the self-inflicted wounds were too severe.

Could he have saved her?

"Bruce..."

Maybe if he wasn't so distracted he could have done something.

"Bruce"

And to think he was going to leave?

"Bruce!" He turns to her, startling her back a step. His eyes reflect her own. A quiet determination. "We gotta go" A sudden wave of calm envelopes him as she tucks a stray piece of hair behind his ear and he gets a whiff of her perfume? He didn't notice how strong it was before. He nods hesitantly and she leads him out by the edge of his sleeve.

Once outside they were met with all of the attendees. She's pulled from him as March approaches. He whispers into her ear and Bruce couldn't help but eavesdrop. "We need to get out of here, now"

March protests as Gordon comes around, requesting the witnesses to get through some questions.

"I'm not talking to you" Bruce is sure no one has ever told him what to do based on his stunned silence. "Now, Mr. Wayne, Ms...." "Y/l/n. Dr. Y/l/n"

"Right of course my apologies" She sighs, "It's alright, I'm just a little shaken..." She didn't look shaken a couple minutes ago.

The questioning was standard. What did you see? Hear? When did it start? Was there anything or anyone suspicious before or after the events occurred? Who was with you?

She took it in stride, no stuttering or nervous movements. Her voice was even and he swears she wasn't wearing that perfume an hour ago.

It was one in the morning by the time they got out. She sighed as she dialed for a cab. She declined his offer of a ride, but accepted his coat to stay warm. They waited for her cab by a bench outside the venue. He noted she wasn't as upset that her date didn't wait up for her. He expected her to at least mention it. The time was spent in silence. Weird.

As he holds the door open for her she surprises him with a hug. For a second he stands there awkwardly holding the door and gripping his coat with the other hand. She pulls away and mutters a muffled sorry just as he was about to reciprocate.

"See you around Bruce" Around? Just as she was closing the door, he stopped it with the toes of his shoe. Great now they're scuffed. They were designer. "Wait, you're staying in Gotham?"

She blinks up at him owlishly, "Yeah..."

She smirks sarcastically, "I work for March Ventures now It's not like I can commute from four cities over every day"

"Oh" "Oh indeed..." He was still standing there spacing out into the top of her head.

"Bye Bruce" She chuckles to herself as he frantically lets go of the door and waves a final goodbye. Jesus, he was distracted.

...

He changed out of his suit and immediately went to the basement. Despite himself, he was looking forward to reviewing the events of the night. Not the murder part of course.

He tried ignoring Alfred's incessant comments about how he stayed for a whole event for once, and the benefits he reaped from it. He's glad that he was able to make the contacts more flexible, he doesn't doubt that he would have done genuine damage to his eyes if he hadn't thought of upgrading them. He skipped past the parts with you in them, but couldn't help but watch some as Alfred left to make breakfast.

He passed out at around twelve in the evening.

Alfred shakes his head as he prepares the laundry. Of course he wouldn't notice the lovely little note left for him in the pocket of his coat. He places it next to his head for when he finally wakes up.

For when you're not busy brooding,

718-067-4421

XOXO

-An Old Friend