Murder at Wayne Manor

Chapter 15

Wayne Manor; June 30th, 18:04 EST

Entering the house, I immediately begin to look for Diana, more than anxious to see her. I touch the pocket of my suit jacket to make sure it's still there, knowing that I needed to do something to cheer her up and make things right between us again.

She's been quiet and withdrawn; upset by what had happened at the fundraiser, though she understood that she had no control over any of it. She's still understandably upset with me for not telling her that I had suspected something like this could happen, but I think some of her frustration comes from being forced to standby and do nothing.

I need to make it up to her, make her see that I hadn't done it out of maliciousness or because I didn't think that she could handle it. In fact, the truth is just the opposite.

Finding all of her favorite spots in the manor empty, I wander towards the kitchen in hopes that Alfred will know where she's at. I know that she's around here somewhere because her purse and high heels are on the floor by my desk in my office.

For some reason, she's claimed my office as hers, which I surprisingly find adorable. I should be offended by her insinuating herself so thoroughly into my domain, but instead I find I yearn for even more of her touch in my life.

In fact, it reminds me of my mother. She used to do the same thing to my father, leaving her heels by his desk, a hair pin on a side table or a scarf on the back of a chair...little reminders of herself throughout the house. I can't even bring myself to be angry, as it's brought a measure of comfort that I never could have anticipated.

There's just something so unexpected about coming home from a long day at work to find a pair of high heels lying on the floor beside my desk that fuels my attraction to her. It adds an air of femininity to the very masculine setting of the manor, something that has been sorely missing for far too long.

"Alfred, have you seen Diana?" I ask, disappointed to find that she isn't in the kitchen.

I spot her glasses and hair tie lying on the counter so I know she's been through here at some point. I'm growing rather found of how she has made my home her own. At first when she and J'onn had moved in, I was annoyed by her habit of leaving her things scattered around the house as if it belonged to her. Now, I find it's a simple reminder to me of how much she has actually come to mean to me, how much I've come to accept her as part of my life without even really realizing it.

To have her carved out of my life now would be...unbearable.

"I believe she is outside, sir," Alfred responds with a knowing glance at the sliding patio doors as he prepares dinner.

"The usual spot?" I ask with a disheartened sigh. I had hoped that she would be back to her old self by now, but I'm more than determined to see her through this unexpected setback.

"I believe so," he states. "I do hope you plan on fixing this. I dislike seeing the princess so downtrodden."

I pat my suit jacket pocket, my resolve no doubt showing through in my eyes. "I'm going to see her now."

Alfred smile that smile that tells me he knows there's more going on beneath the surface that I refuse to talk about right now. "Just don't make a mess of things," he warns me. His eyes are dead serious despite the teasing tone of his voice.

"I don't plan on it," I reply with a scowl.

"I just know your penchant for putting that foot of yours in your mouth when it comes to dealing with your feelings, Master Bruce," Alfred clarifies. "You have a tendency to completely shut down and isolate yourself from everyone. Just please try to let her in."