The Way We Fall | Bruce Wayne

CHAPTER 28 - Crutches

A/N: thanks so much for 2k views!

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Sara chose to enjoy her breakfast in the comfort of her room. Under the manor roof, it was the furthest she could get from Bruce, who was supposed to be leaving for Wayne Tower shortly.

Wrapped in blankets before the fire, last night they had sipped chamomile tea in silence. The stillness of the room had nearly felt worse than if they'd have been talking. Heat rivaling that of the fireplace rose to her cheeks each time he stole a glance at her. Nose sniffling, she set her focus on the fire. The combination of warmth and chamomile finally settled her nerves. At some point, she fought against sleepiness and lost.

She had awoken that morning on the couch, the blanket had been neatly tucked around her shoulders and under her feet. It took a moment for her to realize where she was and why. Sitting up, she rubbed her tired eyes and smelled the breakfast aroma wafting from the kitchen all the way to the formal living room.

After neatly folding the blanket over the back of the couch, Sara hurried up the stairs. She was acutely aware of Bruce's mannerisms from the night before. He still hadn't given up on her yet. Too bad she already did. So she hid away again within her four walls.

It seemed as though her instinct was always to flee. To run and hide from the face of danger, avoiding unnecessary risk at all costs. Just as she had at the car impound, and at the banquet. And lately, she had never been able to escape. Not from the Batman, nor from Bruce Wayne.

All the years she spent climbing the professional ladder, and still she struggled to apply the same principles outside of the workplace. Those lonely years taught her everything she ever needed to know about confrontation. But now it seemed that the wall she had erected between her personal and professional lives wasn't protecting her at all.

Finishing her glass of orange juice, she got up to take a hot shower. Soap and water stung her hands and knees, reminding her of the scrapes she'd acquired. After getting dressed and drying her hair, Sara once again returned to her place of peaceful solitude - the balcony. She sat back in the chair and propped her feet against the railing.

Maybe the wall separating her double life was precisely what needed to be torn down. It was about time she took charge in her own life, not just in the office. Separation of personal and professional had been only natural, however. In recent years, her 'personal' life consisted of only the short time between clocking out and clocking in.

In honesty, she hadn't had any real life outside her work since eight years prior. A fresh college graduate then, she had a more optimistic outlook on the world. At the age of twenty-two, it may have even been said that she was courageous. Willing to laugh in the face of risks out of eagerness for the reward. Inexperienced and naïve.

Life had a way of knocking her down, and inevitably that young woman didn't get right back up. Instead she crawled on her hands and knees for months. Only when she was presented with a unique opportunity did she manage to stand on her own two feet again.

Since then, it was as if she walked on crutches.

Knocks on wood interrupted Sara's sulking. Answering the door, she was greeted by Alfred.

"The sergeant is here to see you, miss."

"Sergeant Gordon?" She blinked. "If this is about last night-"

"No, no. He says he has something for you."

Puzzled, she followed Alfred down to the foyer where the sergeant had been waiting, a familiar metal box in his hands. A lump rose in her throat.

"Ms. Carter." He nodded in greeting. "I'm sorry to say there isn't much left since the fire, but we've been able to retrieve this for you among a few other items." His kind smile told her he hadn't the slightest clue of what he was holding. And sure enough, the lock was still secure.

Glancing at the box and back to him, she mustered the most sincerest smile. "Thank you, you don't know what this means to me." As he passed it to her, she looked down at it with conflicted emotion. Though all she allowed him to see was the face of a woman reunited with her dearest belongings.

"Is Mr. Wayne around, by chance?" He asked Alfred, his smile fading into a frown.

The butler shook his head. "I'm afraid you've just missed him. He's left for an early meeting."

"Well, if you'll be so kind as to pass along a message, let him know we've got a possible new lead on the embezzlement case," Sergeant Gordon paused, looking to Sara, "And we believe it's connected with the arson."

She nearly felt her hands go numb, clutching the metal box to keep from dropping it on her toes. "Are you sure?"

"Can't say I'm completely positive, but it seems promising."

Feeling sudden suffocation on the lump in her throat, she swallowed hard. It only confirmed her suspicions, and perhaps her worst fear.

"If I could arrange a time with you and Mr. Wayne, I can go over the details."

"Master Wayne is quite busy this week, but I'm sure he'll set aside time. I'll let him know of the urgency," Alfred said.

Nodding, Sergeant Gordon said his goodbyes and left the manor.

Sara returned to her room, cold metal box in hand. She set it on her bed and blankly gazed at it for a long time, as if debating whether to ever open it again. It continued to sit there untouched.

Could she use the opportunity to lay her crutches aside for good? To finally step away from the third life she lived, and try her hardest to never look back? Though the latter would be the most difficult.

The forces of guilt dared her to destroy the box's contents. It would eliminate the need to ever have to explain herself, should it be uncovered by inquisitive minds. She'd never be truly free from remorse and regret, but part of her believed that she could find at least some peace in knowing that she was done with it all.

But were things ever so simple or easy? Her safety could not be guaranteed. Wayne Manor was a temporary safe haven, but when the time came for her to return to her real world, would she always be looking over her shoulder?

With a decisive sigh, Sara fiddled with the electronic keypad. After a sequence of button presses, the lock opened with a click. Her gear was all there, just as she had left it.

The mask, the suit, the utility belt and all of its contents. On top of it all laid her watch. Taking it in her shaky hands, she turned it on.

And among other notifications was the most urgent. A new job offer.

It called for a break-in to disable fire alarms.

Location: Wayne Tower.