Out of Time (BatJokes 18+)

Apartment Living

(Sorry this took so long...)

The first thing Bruce observed when entering the apartment was the overpowering smell of cigarette smoke that hung in the air. Funny how he didn't notice it sooner. 

This was also the first time he ever saw Arthur holding a cigarette. He would come to learn that it would not be the last time. By any means.

Arthur shut the door behind Bruce then moves to stand next to him. The freshly burning cancer stick dangling between his lips. Bruce notes Fleck maintains a friendly distance away. There was a brief awkward silence between them.

Arthur broke it, "Would you like a tour of the place?"

"Sure," Bruce smiles.

Arthur moves further into the main living room - which only took about four steps to accomplish - put his cigarette between his fingers and spread an arm out wide. "Here it is." He beams at the billionaire.

Bruce steps in and blinks at the room. That was the tour? Bruce was more than sure now that the unusual man really didn't get many visitors.

It had a dated appearance - which naturally it would. Simple yet comfortable furnishings. Nothing special. It had two large windows with hideous curtains. One had an air conditioning unit placed in it. Most likely not of the best quality for there was a fan nearby as well. There was no particular piece that stood out from the rest of the accouterments. The main focus was the lived-in beige couch and faded brown chair that sat in the middle of the room which faced the old television set. A bedsheet, pillow, and green blanket took over the couch, giving off the clear impression that someone slept there. A floor lamp sat next to the chair, and a cluttered coffee table lay in front of both of the main furniture. The tv was placed in a wooden entertainment center and on top of it sat a VHS player. Typical decorations and nic-nacs adorned around the room for the time period. But with an obvious feminine touch. A no-account table with matching chairs sat planted against a wall almost unnoticed in a corner of the room. That too was littered with various items. A dreary ceiling lamp dangled above it. Something that wasn't as easily seen but felt was that every single surface had a thin layer of tobacco ash lightly dusted on it from excessive use. Otherwise, the place was rather neat and tidy.

Only...

One corner of the room caught Bruce's attention more than anything else as his eyes scanned the wide space. It was in a far back, non-descript corner of the room. Wedged between the two windows and easily overlooked for how unassuming it was. In this corner lay a small light brown dresser with two doors. On top of it what appeared to be a miniaturized chest of drawers. Tan in color. There was a pipe hanging out from floor to ceiling, and draped on it midway was a bland robe. Kiddy-corner to that hung a garish green suit jacket on the wall. Other clothes seemed to be hidden behind it. Random garments of the underwear and sock variety litter the dresser. Some shoved into odd corners. A large bedroom white chest of drawers was placed in the back of the room, somewhat away from the funny little nest of things.

No one had to tell Bruce. The layout said everything. He had a distinct feeling that he didn't even need to see the rest of the home to deduce this outcome correctly: The mother owned the apartment. Arthur barely existed in the living room.

"It's very nice," Wayne says, scanning the room.

The small compliment had a bigger impact than the intention behind it. The long-haired brunette pinned Bruce down with a stare that came in an instant. It was a powerful combination of excitement and pleasure that hit the vigilante into a momentary state of confusion.