(PHOTO IS MEANT TO BE WAYNE MANOR)
LAURENS POV
I wiped down the bar exchanging tired glances with my co-worker as the night wound down at the Black Cat.
"Long shift" my colleague remarked eyeing the emptying room.
"Tell me about it" I replied nodding towards the clock ticking past midnight. "Time to call it a night."
As I bid farewell to my colleague and stepped out onto the dimly lit street a warning drifted after me. "Be careful out there Lauren Gotham's not the safest at this hour."
I laughed a hollow chuckle born from the routine of the caution. "Isn't it every night?"
The familiar path home took me through the shadowy alleys and quiet streets of Gotham.
With each step the feeling of being watched lingered at the edges of my senses.
I glanced around but the darkness held no secrets no lurking figures in its depths.
Finally reaching the dinged-up apartment I called home I purchased at 19.
I stepped inside greeted by the warm glow of fairy lights I had strung across the room.
It was a modest space but it held a homely charm—a haven I had fashioned from the earnings I'd saved up scrupulously accumulated during my time at Pennies.
The walls were adorned with posters and mementos each telling a snippet of my journey.
A well-loved couch sat a few feet from the window offering a view of the city's skyline from the old rickety metal fire exit stairs that adorn the back of the building.
The kitchen though small boasted a comforting aroma of spices and warmth custom to my fire hazard obsession called candles.
After a hot shower to wash away the remnants of the night I settled onto the couch flicking on a movie to unwind.
Time seemed to blur scenes passing in a familiar dance of comfort and distraction.
Suddenly a loud thud echoed from the apartment above jolting me from my reverie.
It was a regular occurrence these late-night disturbances but tonight it grated on my nerves more than usual.
"This has got to stop" I muttered to myself frustration tinged with exhaustion.
I'd had enough of the constant disruptions the lack of consideration from the neighbors.
I stormed up the stairs the frustration from the persistent disruptions fueling my determination to resolve the issue once and for all.
My knuckles rapped against the door in a firm but deliberate rhythm.
A few moments passed before the door cracked open revealing a disheveled figure on the other side.
piercing green eyes met mine with a mix of confusion and annoyance.
"What do you want?" His voice held an edge a demand rather than a question.
"Look I live below number 15 and the noise—" I began my tone sharper than intended a response to his abruptness.
Before I could finish my request a sudden noise of pain emanated from the man behind the door.
It caught me off guard a momentary pause in my annoyance as concern flickered through me.
"Are you okay?" I started to ask but before I could complete the question he interrupted.
"Sorry ill keep it down in the future" he muttered his tone softer now an unexpected shift from the earlier hostility.
I hesitated taken aback by the sudden change in his demeanor.
His expression softened an unspoken apology in his eyes before he closed the door with a finality that left me standing there bewildered.
The encounter left me feeling perplexed an unexpected twist in what I had anticipated to be a confrontation.
The man's reaction had been abrupt yet tinged with a hint of pain or discomfort leaving me with more questions than answers as I descended the stairs back to my apartment.
The persistent disturbances upstairs had abated for the night replaced by a lingering curiosity about the enigmatic neighbor above a mystery that seemed to deepen with every passing moment.
The days passed with a surprising quietness the disturbances from the apartment above reduced to occasional muffled thuds that hardly disturbed the peace.
It was a welcome change a sense of tranquility settling over my little sanctuary.
it was late afternoon when I had decided sporadically decide to enjoy the fading sunlight with a jog around the neighborhood.
The rhythmic pounding of my footsteps provided a soothing soundtrack as I traversed the familiar streets of Gotham.
Mid-stride my phone buzzed with an incoming call the screen flashing 'Bruce Wayne.'
The unexpected caller caught me off guard but I answered curious about the reason for his reach out.
"Hello Lauren I hope I'm not interrupting anything," his smooth voice resonated through the line.
"Not at all Bruce what can I help you with ?" I replied trying to keep my tone polite but guarded.
"I wanted to extend an invitation Would you be interested in joining us for dinner at the manor this evening? Alfred Tim and I would love to catch up, he offered.
"I understand if you have other commitments" Bruce added sensing my slight hesitation.
The invitation took me by surprise but the prospect of dinner with Bruce Wayne and his company intrigued me.
"Yes I'd love too thank you for inviting me I'll stop by though I might have to leave early as I have work " I accepted keeping my response friendly yet guarded.
As the call ended I continued my run the evening sky painting hues of orange and pink as the sun began its descent.
The prospect of dinner at Wayne Manor added an unexpected twist to an otherwise uneventful day
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later that evening
As I arrived at Wayne Manor Alfred greeted me at the door with his customary warmth.
There was an undeniable bond between us something that transcended mere formality.
A smile lit up my face as I embraced him in a hug his presence a comforting familiarity in the grandeur of the manor.
"Miss Lauren it's always a delight to see you" Alfred said returning the embrace.
His genuine affection was a testament to the connection we shared.
"How many times Alfred just Lauren is fine" I chuckle at the comment I seem to constantly revisit when seeing Alfred.
" My apologies mis..." Alfred pauses and shakes his head in amusement " Lauren" he gives me a soft smile.
As we walked together towards the dining room I caught sight of Bruce Wayne and a young man seated beside him.
The young man Tim Drake was dressed in a smart but understated ensemble a casual elegance that seemed to echo the air of confidence in his demeanor.
It was hard to ignore the fact that he now donned the mantle of the new Robin.
Tim Drake had become Bruce's protégé after deducing the identities of Bruce as batman and Jason as robin .
Despite my initial reservations I couldn't help but feel protective towards Tim.
The fear of history repeating itself the tragedy that had befallen Jason lingered in the back of my mind.
However over time I'd come to regard Tim with a cautious fondness a mix of protectiveness and wariness much like a sister might feel.
Bruce hadn't changed much since the day we first met if anything, he seemed wearier burdened by the weight of his responsibilities.
He rose to greet me his demeanor unchanged a blend of cordiality and an underlying distance.
"Good to see you, Lauren," Bruce acknowledged his tone polite but distant.
"Likewise Bruce" I replied a congenial smile masking the internal conflict.
Bruce's presence still held a weight for me—a blend of respect admiration and the lingering burden of blame I carried for Jason's death.
It was a silent conflict within me, one that simmered beneath the surface unspoken but ever-present.
Inside I grappled with the complexities of our relationship.
I respected Bruce and considered him a part of my extended albeit unconventional family.
Yet there remained an unspoken divide—a layer of blame I held over his choices a feeling that whispered of missed guidance and protection for Jason.
And in the private recesses of my thoughts I couldn't shake the profound guilt I harbored an unyielding self-blame for Jason's fate.
Despite the outward politeness these emotions churned within hidden beneath a composed facade.
As the evening drew to a close I made my way towards the door, bidding farewell to Bruce Alfred and Tim.
The goodbyes were polite but tinged with an unspoken undercurrent a mixture of warmth and the lingering weight of unresolved emotions.
Alfred's parting words held a genuine warmth his eyes reflecting a deep-seated affection as he said "Take care, Miss Lauren. You're always welcome here."
Tim's voice broke through the atmosphere a hint of eagerness mixed with a touch of uncertainty. "Hey, Lauren, do you think you could come back sometime? Help me with the Bat computer? You have experience with this stuff."
His request caught me off guard, but I nodded, a sense of responsibility and camaraderie softening my demeanor. "Sure Tim.... I'll come by.... Ill do what I can to help."
With a final wave I left Wayne Manor the grandeur of the estate fading behind me as I stepped out into the night.
The air was crisp a contrast to the complexity of emotions that swirled within me.
AUTHORS NOTE
sorry for the really really long period between chapters but work and christmas took up alot of time.
and honestly i fell out of love with any type of reading and writing.
but dont worry im back and better than ever
HERES TO A NEW YEAR 2024.