Making Headlines ~ Bruce Wayne [PAUSED]

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐓𝐰𝐨

"Have you seen this?"

Alfred's voice travels through the room he's sitting in, accent thick in his voice. He had heard Bruce's steps just as he was making his way out of the bedroom. His footsteps were soft but not soft enough.

Bruce walks in and squints reactively at the light coming through the large windows of the common room. He forces his gaze down in hopes of the usual ache subside and continues to make his way to the butler.

"Seen what?" Bruce asks back.

Alfred is sitting on his usual seat, breakfast displayed in front of him with an empty seat just by his side, and an unused plate. For Bruce. Bruce slides his arms through the sleeves of the shirt he just picked out and his eyes fall to what Alfred holds in his hands. Gotham's newspaper.

Nothing special, he thinks. Just the usual one that Alfred buys every time he takes his morning walks. Yet, it is not normal. No one would say that a newspaper's normal when they see their name in bold letters just at the top of the page.

The memories of the event are somewhat blurry after everything that happened, but Bruce is not quite able to forget a few things. Among them are ones such as seeing you. Or talking to you. And, of course, the presence of a journalist that had been watching your interactions.

Even though he remembers all that, he had still thought that the information had been kept secret and only been used for their little pink magazine. So, when Bruce notices his name, the first thing he thinks is that it's just talking about his reappearance to the world, after so long. But, he hates how wrong he is.

In bold lettering, right on the front page, is a clear manipulation of words that sell the information about yesterday's event. His name, as much as yours, is all over the second column of the page, so, he grabs it from Alfred's hands.

The title doesn't quite say anything about the two of you, he doesn't think. But as he reads as quickly as he can through the introduction of the opening news, he just sees how the title is nothing but an implication towards his and your conversation.

"THE ROYALTIES OF GOTHAM CITY REUNITE", it reads.

Of course, you're the two richest, therefore, you get the stupid nicknames of either king and queen or prince and princess. It has always been like that, and unfortunately it probably always will.

To Bruce's annoyance, they wrote a whole lot for no reason since the report itself doesn't say much. It's just a stupid excuse to throw both of your names into the news just because you were seen together. A little bit of backstory about Bruce here, and a little bit of your backstory there. And, of course, they had to mention the incident years ago.

The information they give about yesterday concludes as just a large speculation of whether or not Wayne Enterprises and your family's company will start working together. But even the journalist himself doesn't sound much optimistic with his own printed words.

And after that, there is a whole different column about some other people Bruce doesn't even think he saw the face of last night.

His eyes change to examine the pictures just by the text. There's one of himself, which he doesn't care enough to look for more than a second, but then he sees one of you.

You're wearing that smile. You always do. Either in pictures or when around many people. Bruce has noticed how it has become easy to see which one of your smiles is for the people and which ones are natural. As well as how the latter have become quite rare.

You look absolutely beautiful. As always.

"Is it true?" Alfred's voice comes back, almost catching Bruce by surprise.