Making Headlines ~ Bruce Wayne [PAUSED]

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐞𝐞

It has become a routine of Bruce's. He wishes to know for how long he has been doing it, but he doesn't.

He simply knows that it was some time after you came back to the city, years ago. It was at a nearby restaurant, not too far from the airport you must have been in. Bruce was just on his way out, putting on his jacket while talking his usual short sentences to Alfred. And that was right as you came in.

He remembers his heart skipped a beat and sped up. He couldn't believe that he was seeing you again after so long. The city had been silent when it came to your name and he had hated every bit of it. And, now, he was seeing you as a pure accident of that day.

He couldn't bring himself to stop looking at you. You looked amazing. And, truly, if it hadn't been for Alfred, he swears he would've stayed staring until you noticed him.

He felt like he was in a trance, almost, when looking at you. But you never noticed him. Not even when he stumbled on his own feet as he was making his way out. As well as even when he passed just by you on his way through the doors of the building as you were too focused on your friends.

That was the first time.

Bruce has always liked watching people. He's not much of a talker, so he prefers to listen and watch. And watching you or listening to you were just too great for him to ignore what he felt when he did just that.

So, he looked for you and did it again.

And again.

And again.

Staying in the shadows of the night has been something he has done for years. Years before the act of watching you became his somewhat of an obsession. The truth is that no one notices him. So, he uses this ability to look at you. And just to watch you.

He isn't proud of it, but he doesn't stop doing it. He likes the thrill. He enjoys being not too far yet not too close. Just watching you as you do what you have to do in your everyday life. Bruce doesn't like to believe he ever goes too far. He watches you leave work every night and get into your car. He may follow your car with his bike and stay by the side of your large apartment building, waiting for you to get inside. But he also watches you on your way to events, to meetings, to dinners, to everything. He just does it every night.

He likes it.

And when the thrill doesn't get too out of ordinary, he may or may not try his own luck. Maybe being a little less careful. And each time, you almost catch him. You're too good at keeping yourself aware of what is going around you, and that is what keeps him aware of the things he does.

He likes to believe he's careful, but he does freeze sometimes. You get too close to catch him and even though, deep down, he wants you to do it, he knows he would hate the outcome.

You don't like him. Not like he likes you. And that statement alone is what gets him to take a step back into the shadows sometimes.

The night of, almost, a week ago was too far. He froze and had nowhere to go. If you hadn't turned away to talk to your parents, you would've caught him and probably done a big scene. He wouldn't shame you for it. What he does is not the most normal of things. Yet still, he doesn't want to ruin it for himself.

Bruce promises he will never do it again. Never get as close to getting caught as yesterday, at least. He wishes he could believe his own promises. They're empty when it comes to you. He'll continue to do it and even do it more. He will get caught. He knows it.

Now, he watches you just from outside of a store. It's one of the only luxury stores Gotham City has, and it's protected like a fortress every night. His mom used to go there when he was just a kid, and that's how he knows most of how it works. The richest people plan ahead to go in, and just by closing hours, they will visit and shop in peace.