Making Headlines ~ Bruce Wayne [PAUSED]

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐅𝐢𝐯𝐞

Exactly 1AM. How can a dinner take these many hours, you're not sure.

To your surprise, no one suspected of your or Bruce's disappearance from the dinner. They didn't see it as anything strange. On the contrary, they all were very worried about you. Wouldn't be the first time everyone would have to re-do a dinner with the Hale's because someone was not feeling their finest. Maybe that is why they offered you so much attention for the rest of the night.

Bruce came back to the room just a few minutes later. He exchanged a few words with Patricia, who was just glad he hadn't run off. Even when she knew no one would dare to. Not even a Wayne.

You all waited for the damned dessert for another hour. It was only when some of the people were on the brink of falling into their alcohol-induced slumber that Patricia found it the most appropriate to serve it. No one felt hungry anymore, so only Patricia really had fun with this last course.

And if that wasn't enough, Patricia gave more drinks and made enough conversation to trap people in for a few more hours.

You're not sure how exactly you're still standing and listening to every word. If you were home, you would've been passed out on the couch by now since you're not sure what makes the situations so different. A shitty reality show or Patricia Hale speaking: both are boring and intriguing in their own way.

Time passed and no one dared to be the first one to leave. You had all moved over to a more comfortable room, with, of course, more drinks that no one touched. You stayed off in a corner by a curtain while you looked out into the night.

Bruce stayed not too far. He didn't feel tired, but that might be because his sleep schedule is not exactly ideal. What happened in the bathroom replayed in his head, time and time again. Weirdly, something in his brain is making him overthink it. And Patricia's voice just so happened to be his perfect background noise when deep in thought.

As soon as Patricia excused herself for yawning, almost everyone jumped on the "oh, we don't want to keep you awake. Maybe we should go" method. But, Hale still told everyone not to worry, because, if anything, she could just go sip an espresso and she'll be more than ready to keep the 'party' going.

For the rest of the night, your eyes found Bruce's a few good times. Your mind was quite serene after what happened, which surprised you.

You have an idea of how you will deal with it in the morning - when the wine and crazed feelings towards him are out of your system. You're not sure when they appeared, these feelings, but they're here.

You just hope they're not here to stay.

The first people to threaten to leave were the oldest couple in the group. They apologized to Patricia profusely before leaving, which she declared as nothing but 'nonsense' and 'not worth apologizing for'.

The next person waited 15 minutes before announcing their leaving. You noticed how their hands shook behind their back as they spoke.

The next one was only half an hour later, and you jumped on to be the next one just as the clock hit another 10 minutes. Patricia offered you a smile as you walked up to her and her hands laid over your shoulders when you were close enough.

You whispered to her a joke about how you didn't feel as young as you look when it came to staying up late. Patricia laughed at it wholeheartedly, pulled you into a hug, and offered to walk you to the elevator.

The last conversation was pleasant and she made sure to emphasize how you are completely invited to the next dinner in her home. You offered her a smile and an 'I'm flattered' and got yourself inside that elevator.