Sooner rather than later

She expects him to be asleep when she tiptoes across his study floor. Expects to see him flat out on the couch or hear his soft snore coming from his bedroom. She got neither, he was sat at his desk rock blaring through his headphones at a dangerous level. His dark eyelashes casting spidery shadows across his cheek the yellow glow of his dim desk light turning his pale skin a sickly colour thin lips pulled into a tight line of concentration.

Selina stayed quite her heavy boots making the old wooden floor creak. She probably shouldn't have came, she thinks as she stalks across the floor towards the couch, he can look after himself. She knew he was fine, yet some part of her needed to check for herself- needed to see his dark eyes look into hers hears his velvety voice proclaim he was fine and then she would leave.

"I didn't expect to see you for a while" Her bones froze and any rehearsed witty comments fizzled out on her tongue her mouth dry- damn him- Selina took a breathe approaching carefully her voice not as strong as she hoped.

"I heard what happened, I just" her laughter echoed through the room and Bruce frowned noticing the underlying hysteria. "I don't even know anymore, I guess I wanted to make sure your not dead" He nodded cradling his bandaged hand.  She couldn't read him, couldn't tell if he was being cautious and not pushing or if he didn't care to know what would become of them after their argument.

"I'm fine bruised but fine" She nodded swaying on his toes the question hanging in the air. "Jerome came back, I managed to convince him he needed an audience to kill me" Selina almost flinched at the calm and collected mention of his own death. "We ended up in the hall of mirrors. I was there knife in hand all the control in the world and I couldn't do it. I couldn't kill him" His hands curled into fists at his side, as he sat down on the couch Selina came to stand in front of him her voice softer than anticipated.

"That's not a bad thing B, it makes you better than half the filth out there" He sank into the couch head resting on his hand. Selina couldn't leave, he might be fine physically but mentally; something dark was churning up in his insides like a thunderstorm ready to erupt. Apparently there was something in the air because before Selina could react she was kneeling by his feet her hands on his thighs trying desperately to pull him out of the whole he was crawling into. "Look at me, I know right now what I'm saying doesn't sound true but once you've gotten over yourself you'll see I'm right. You couldn't kill him? So what, who cares" her hand found his and Bruce's eyes snapped up to hers she tried not to fidget under his sad gaze.

"I care" she was going to slap him.

"How many people did he kill, how many did he torture? You killing him wouldn't bring them back and you'd feel a lot worse than you do right now believe me" recognition flashed through his eyes, she had killed Reggie- partially on purpose as some part of her knew he wouldn't survive the fall yet she liked to believe in the moment Reggie dying wasn't a thought that had crossed her mind. It wasn't true, just because she liked to believe it doesn't mean he doesn't still strangle her as payback in her dreams. Bruce seemed to get all this and nodded squeezing her hand as comfort or recognition she wasn't quite sure with him.

Selina hand was icy cold in his but he didn't let go. Let the burning sensation running through his veins as she spoke to him in the quite voice with the edge that made him want to kiss her, he let it all become his only concern he let it be the way the breeze from the open window play with her caramel locks. Let it be the way her green eyes seemed even brighter in the dark how her harsh features seemed to have disappeared leaving fragile looks of concern and pretty genuine glances in their wake. He let her ground him, leaned on her for more support in that moment than he'd ever admit, as he dragged himself out of the well of despair and self torture. They sat in silence for a while neither one quite sure what was really happening. Bruce was the one too break the silence turning to Selina who had moved to sit next to him.

"I'm sorry about your mom Selina. I realise how I was being selfish using your moms motive for prove her wrong" Shadows cast sharp angles across her face once again as she reverts back to snark and sarcasm. "I should've told you as soon as I suspected, I just didn't want you to push her away if I was wrong- I hoped, prayed I was wrong" The smile the settled on her lips was devastatingly beautiful a picture of sadness and acceptance.  No snappy comments or sarcastic quips left her beautiful lips and Bruce took that spec of hope and held it tight between his fingers

"I know, I just need sometime" Bruce nodded solemnly, she made sense and he wasn't one to push things still a tiny part of him couldn't forget the hatred she had look at him with. "Why did you do what you did with Jerome?" Back to being cryptic, Bruce had learnt how to translate knowing when "just hungry" really meant "what you're doing is dangerous and I'm scared for you" and when kiss on a cheek was goodbye insurance just in case there was chance for a proper one. He also knew she meant why follow Jerome into the hall of mirrors why not run away if you weren't going to kill him.

"You told me I had some growing up to do and I've done it" he hopes "I couldn't let him terrorise innocent people looking for me so I stayed and fought"  Selina shook her head her laughter soft and melancholy as she stood up to leave. Her skinny arms wrapped around his frame and she rested her chin on his shoulder. Bruce froze waiting for her to laugh in his face, after five seconds he pulled her closer, squeezing his eyes shut trying to memorise every part of her before she went away again.

"That's not what I meant and you know it" he gave her a laid back smile  in return playing along almost to effortlessly. As she made her was back over to the window pausing to lean against the frame. "I'll see you soon B" he wanted desperately to ask how soon, soon would be but he knew he'd probably get a glare in response so stayed silent as she climbed out his window for the last time in a while. Alfred entered a disapproving look etched into his wrinkled skin.

"Come on Master Bruce school tomorrow, who was that you were talking to" Bruce couldn't help the grin that slipped onto his lips.

"No one Alfred, I was just deciding it's time for me to grow up" The Butler followed Bruce's gaze catching what he was grinning wildly at.

See you soon B, Selina's words rung in his ears as he came to the realisation of her funny choice of words: she had set it up, soon would come before he knew it. How was he so sure?

She had left her leather jacket behind.