2019-11-28 - Renewal of Commitments

Summary:

Selina returns from patrol and learns of the unwanted visitor in the Cave.

Log Info:

Storyteller: None
Date: Thu Nov 28 15:49:40 2019
Location: Wayne Manor - Batcave

Related Logs

2019-11-27-failure-to-negotiate

Theme Song

None

selina-kylebruce-wayne

It's been a few hours since Talia's visit to the cave. Bruce is still awake, however, the work he was doing on the werewolves has been put aside, and instead, he's pulled up the files on her, Damian, and Ras‘ al-Ghul on the main screens of the computer. As he looks up at the large monitor, he has his cowl off. His lips are pulled into a thin line, and his eyes are narrowed. On a side screen, he has /everyone’s/ tracker illuminated to make sure the patrols are going as planned.

The only noise in the cave besides the natural ones and the hum of the electrical systems at work is the NYPD chatter. He's on high alert and it shows in his posture, ramrod straight, face taunt, hand gripped around a coffee mug. The smell of cave may is mingled with coffee, as the butler had just finished delivering a fresh service. It's nearly dawn. He expects people to be returning home soon. And for the first time in a while, he's staying awake to make sure they all do return.


Selina pulls up on her bike not much longer after Bruce begins his investigation on his guest and her bloodkin, the rumble of the motor distrupting the peace of the cave. She's been on patrol, doing her part to try and insure that NYC stays safe, a habit she's gotten into since becoming involved with the Bat Family. Her helmet pulled off and set aside, she takes a moment to brush her hair into place before going to see who might be in the cave.

Finding Bruce, she can't help but to smile despite how tired the night has left her, the affection she feels for him manifesting in it. Approaching him, she looks at the monitors, trying to figure out what he might be doing that has him up so late. Or early, depending on one's perspective. "Have you even slept," she asks quietly, putting a hand on the back of the chair. She knows the answer without even having to hear it. Of course he hasn't. But maybe her asking him that will encourage him to explain what he has been doing.


"Have you?" Bruce asks in return. Though for once, it sounds more like an accusation than fondness. He's on edge, and it shows. Several seconds later, he seems to finally start to breathe again, turning around to face her. The look in his eyes is momentarily haunted, and when he reaches to pull her down for a quick embrace, she may pick up on the lingering scent of jasmine and Arabian spice of an unfamiliar perfume. Someone was awful close to him.

"You're late from patrol. Did everyting go alright?" he asks, trying to deflect from himself as he releases Selina and gestures to the nearby tray with small pastries and a coffee caraffe with fresh mugs for the returning crusaders.


That scent has Selina tensing. She doesn't know what transpired, of course, unaware that Talia had stopped by, so she is a bit confused. It is eventually shrugged off however, dismissed as one of those life's little mysteries. "Of course not," she admits, "but I'll go and get a catnap once I can get a shower and some…"

Breakfast. Looks like that has been provided already. Chuckling somewhat, she gives him a hug and a peck on the check before moving to get herself a blessed cup of coffee and what looks like a cross between a croissant and a danish. "Everything was fine," she says once she has her java doctored up the way she likes it. "Just more of the 'mundane'. Some robberies, drug deals, all that. Nothing the police couldn't handle."


He can sense her tenseness. And while he shares in it, he knows he owes her an explanation. Bruce waits for Selina to get herself together and smirks. "I may have to keep you company in the shower." he starts off teasingly, but it lacks something. "Just to wash off this night. We had a visitor." he finally decides to start. Twisting in the chair to face the computer again, Bruce brings up the camera footage of Talia coming up behind him, managing to get the drop, and the argument after.

Her attempt to get close and his rebuttal of her. "…Talia's come to Staten Island and she intends to set up shop. I advised her against it, but she has her mind set to it. And to reclaim Damian." Or to kill him is left out. "She attempted to play on my sympathies of her father's recent passing. I do not believe her, I have heard this story before." He gives a soft grunt of frustration as he leans back in the seat. "She threatened you."


He is off. Selina noticed Bruce isn't himself pretty much immediately, knowing him more than well enough to sense when something is going on with him. It has her thrown a bit off her own game and she just stands there, staring at him when he makes his joke about the shower. She almost says something but then he continues and she finds herself shaking her head. Whatever she might have to say in response is left unspoken, though, Sel instead looking up at the monitor. "Oh." That's all she can say as the footage plays, her heart sinking a little bit.

While things are explained further she sips at the mug of coffee, trying not to get angry at what she has seen, her growing emotions heightening upon remembering the scent - Talia's scent - upon Bruce. "I see. Do you think Damian will want to go with her?" Not that Bruce will let Damian go. That's a choice best not left for the young man to make, after all, even if Damian might feel loyalty to his mother. Putting a hand on Bruce's shoulder, then, she snorts. "Talia can try," she grumbles, the fact that she has been treatened an annoyance. It's a threat the other woman's more than capable of making good on, of course. Selina's good but Talia is the Daughter of the Demon, or whatever that title is, meaning she is much better trained.


As close as Talia had tried to press to Bruce, is it little surprise her scent is still there? "I will not stop him if he decides to go, I would hope he would make the right choice, though. However, he is of an age to make that decision. And it was one he made when he decided to take on the mantle of Robin." comes his response, though he still carries that tenseness about him as heavy as his cowl.

"I never forced anyone to make their decisions in this family." It's a mantra he's said often since Jayce's death. Absolving or damning himself, it's never really made clear in the way he says it. "But if she makes any attempts upon Staten Island, or any of the others, I will stop her." he promises, and then there's a glance to Selina. "I don't think her timing was accidental." After all, they had only started making plans recently, and now Talia's shown up.

Then, perhaps to try to reassure someone, he adds. "Nothing has changed."


"Just do him a favor, Bruce. If he does decide to align with Talia, don't hate him. Don't treat him as anything but your son…" It might be a lot for her to ask of Bruce, a man who is prone to holding grudges if he feels so inclined to. "Damian deserves that." Selina steps away from the computer and steps to where she can change, returning when she is out of the costume and wearing a much more comfortable outfit of loose sweats and an over-sized teeshirt. Much better.

The fect that Bruce refuses to let Talia get a hold on any part of the city is a relief to Selina and he'll notice that she's feeling a little better about everything. "No. It wasn't accidental," she agrees, something she's sure of despite not knowing Talia. Frowning, she returns to her coffee, deciding the warmth from the drink, soothing as it is, is very much needed at this moment.

At Bruce's last, she can't help but to smirk a tiny bit. "That's good to know, Bruce. I… I love you and I'd hate to lose you because of her."


"As I said, everyone makes their decisions. Even…" Jayce. "…Damian will be treated as he decides to be treated." Bruce watches over where Selina's changing, even if he can't see her, he's still talking to her. He's still in the cape and cowl after all. But he does recognize the moment of doubt for what it is, and when she returns to him, his hand reaches, brushing over hers and pointedly over her ring finger. "That is not an option, Selina." comes the firm response.

Selina was the last return he was waiting for, and now that she's back, he starts the process of shutting down the computer as he rises from the chair and moves towards the changing area himself, starting to strip down to prepare to change into his own night clothes to head upstairs.

"I love you as well, Selina." he finally responds, and chuckles. "And while I plan to turn in early, sleeping does not seem to be on the agenda." Alright, he might have gotten a /little/ worked up with Talia's intensity.


Selina nods slowly, unsure what to say. It is a silence that lingers as he touches her, her gaze allowed to lower so she can watch his hand as it passes over hers, the way he does so making her laugh. She leans in, ignoring that damn smell that still lingers, wanting to be near Bruce for as long as she can before he goes to change as well.

Once the computer's powered down she steps away, preparing to head to where that shower can be had, but then he speaks again and she pauses in her ascent, turning so she can watch him. "Should I ask the butler to prepare more coffee for us?" There's an undertone of naughtiness to her query as well as a playfulness that can often be heard when she speaks.


Stepping from the changing area in his own pair of sweats - which match and probably cost way more than what they're worth, Bruce moves to set his costume on top of hers so that the butler can collect and clean them before the next shift. Her lingering has his attention, and when she makes her suggestion, Bruce's brow rises high, and the smirk that appears seems to rise to her challenging and mischevious tone.

"Are you doubting in your own abilities to keep me alert and awake, Selina Kyle?" he asks her in return. "Because I know I can keep up." The challenge is issued as he steps onto the elevator to wait for Selina to join him and to return to the manor and their quarters. And to leave this dreadful night behind.


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