𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆, 𝒍𝒂𝒓𝒂 | 𝐛𝐫𝐮𝐜𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐧𝐞 (𝙜𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙢)

𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝟳

 "There's a phone!" Eularia whisper-shouted. "Come on!"

"I don't– I don't carry coins. Do you have any coins?" Bruce asked Selina, after clicking at the buttons on the payphone a few times. Like, you obviously needed money, it was called a payphone for a reason...

"Nope, not a dime." Bruce turned to Eularia hopefully. She sighed, digging through her pants pockets.

"Here." She placed a quarter in the center of his palm. It would have been her lunch money, but he didn't have to know that. "Bye, Bruce. Have a nice life." She started walking up the stairs to the roof.

"Wait! Where are you going?" Bruce put the phone back. "Are you... are you leaving me?" He held back the urge to say, "just like my parents did?"

"Look, those bad guys were there for 'Lina and I," Eularia admitted. "Not you. You have nothing to worry about. Go enjoy your wealth! Live your life! You're safe."

"But Cat said–"

"I know what she said!" Eularia snapped. "And I didn't stop her because I was selfish. I didn't want to leave. I thought we could stay together. But I was putting you in danger and risking your life for something only I wanted. Is that it? Is that what you wanted to hear? That I'm actually not nice? Well, congrats, 'cause you got it."

"It's very convoluted reasoning." Bruce said shakily. It hurt him to say it, but it was true. She did do it for herself.

"I am a convoluted person." She exhaled. "It's been cool meeting you. We'll lead them away from you. See you. Or not."

"No! You can't! Please don't disappear. You have to come home with me." He was practically begging at that point. "Don't... leave..." Bruce took a step towards her. "When Detective Gordon finds the man who killed my parents, you both have to testify."

"You really think that was ever going to happen?" Eularia felt her heart shatter completely at the broken look on his face. "I'm sorry."

And so she ran.

Like the coward she was.

She jumped from one rooftop to the other, her long hair whipping behind her in the wind. She and Selina stood on the other side, looking back at Bruce. He was breathing heavily, unable to reach them. They were so close, but also so far.

"No! Bruce, don't do it! You won't make it!" Eularia screamed when he leaped. It was impossible, he'd had zero experience in such large jumps. It felt like things were going in slow motion. He'd landed on the edge, although barely. He teetered back and forth on the edge, threatening to fall off. Eularia grabbed his hand, yanking her towards him. Bruce fell forwards, collapsing on top of her. Eularia let out breathy laugh, the anxiety leaving her system.

"What did I say about giving me a heart attack, Bruce?"

"Don't do it?" He offered weakly. "Please– don't run off again. I'm out of breath. Can't– can't run."

"First, we gotta work on that stamina of yours– or lack of. How are you gonna run away from trained killers if you can't even chase after two kids?" Eularia helped him stand up on his own two feet. "But for your valiant efforts, we'll let you stay. Won't we, 'Lina?"

"Whatever you want, Lara." Selina agreed. "As long as he listens. All of Gotham's our backyard, so you listen to our every word. Got it?"

"Yes, ma'am." Bruce saluted sarcastically, making Eularia giggle.

"Welcome to the Flea." Eularia gestured all around her. "The place where everything but nothing happens."

"It's like the mall for street kids. Without the crappy music." Selina supplied helpfully. "We'll be safe here until dark." And dark came fast. The sky became a shade of lovely dark navy blue, filled with terrible light pollution of Gotham.