♕│he opened his mouth to say something again in return but froze and stopped himself. if, at this point, he truly trusted her enough… he had been about to share about his parents. rain was one of the only people in the entire city who had yet to hear, learn, or read about the deaths of his parents. bruce himself felt ready enough to tell her but wasn’t entirely sure if this was the correct time. ❝my father added onto the older home that my grandfather had built. he was ambitious, i like to think. it was a show of power and a demonstration of the growing strength in our family name,❞ he told her slowly, voice suddenly growing far more soft, barely audible toward the end of his statement.
♕│❝alright, i’ll see what we have then. i’m not much of a cook and i’m not sure if we have any LEFTOVERS,❞ bruce informed as he rounded the corner out of the room into the hallway that led down to the kitchen. he returned with a plate of thinly cut roasted chicken and a glass of water. ❝this’ll have to do, i’m sure it’s still perfectly fine tasting,❞ the smaller teen assured with a little smile before he took a seat on the couch across from her, shoulders still straight and posture perfect as practiced for years. ❝so… now you know what my home looks like.❞
♕│❝nobody’s really a fan of mine at the academy, i believe it’s better for you to go in knowing that. i’m not well liked,❞ bruce shook his head, then coming to the realization that he may have made a grave error in giving away his place of schooling. ❝you… you won’t tell anyone, correct? anything of this conversation is to be kept under wraps, just in case.❞
♕│he appreciated the dropping of the previous subject more than she knew. it may not have been exactly UNCOMFORTABLE but it certainly wouldn’t have been too pleasant to discuss in this context. ❝alright, then. just… maybe you could let me know when you DO find out. so you can go in knowing at least one person.❞
♕│❝of course,❞ he replied instantly, getting out of the long car when the door was opened before running over to the other side to help her out on his own, without the assistance of the driver. ❝you are free to go, i don’t believe i’ll be needing to leave at any other point this afternoon. thank you.❞ he dismissed the man and received a nod in return, but did not wait for any further response. bruce helped her to stand and led the way in through the terribly large frontmost doors of the enormous home, seating her as carefully as possible on one of the couches in the main room. ❝why is it that i have the feeling you don’t believe me when i say you’re safe?❞
it wasn’t entirely ensured that she wouldn’t be in any danger at all with him, as proven a year or so ago with the attack on he, selina, and the infamous butler himself. but, with alfred’s history back in great britain they were mostly safe once the older man arrived back. chocolate hair was smoothed back as he looked around for the first aid kit, but once he found it he began to rip out different emergency care supplies. ❝remind me where your injuries are once again?❞
♕│❝perhaps i could show you around a little bit then sometime, there’s much to see no matter how the city seems. but it’s dangerous in this area,❞ the brunette suggested, spewing information as always. but there had been a chance to change the subject and he took it quickly, getting his foot just barely into the metaphorical door to hint that he didn’t want to discuss the matters of his late mother and father with a perfect stranger, no matter how nice she is. ❝any friends yet? a school? perhaps we both attend the same academy. anders?❞
♕│❝there’s a lot you don’t know about me yet, rain. i’m going to help you, you’ll be safest at the manor. nobody knows you’re there, the driver is sworn to secrecy and alfred… he’s a special case. we have friends in the police force. it’s the safest place you can be in this city,❞ he tried to assure her once again, replying with simply information rather than a real answer. as they pulled into the long driveway of the wayne manor he looked down at her again. ❝where are all of your injuries? are you sure that you are able to walk? we can get you into the main living room. there, if necessary, i can stitch you up and wrap the res of your wounds. is that alright?❞
it was then that he came to the realization to the she had never been to his home before. all of their meetings had been out in alleyways and upon contact through “little birdies” along the way.
♕│❝no! i’m not going anywhere without you,❞ he replied quickly, one arm slipping under her knees. ❝i suppose i’ll have to just carry you then,❞ he told her, though there was no longer an element of reassurance in the serious teen’s voice as he lifted her into his arms and began to stand. ❝tell me if i’m hurting you, the car isn’t far away. just a few feet.❞ he made it there slowly, holding her as tightly as possible to prevent any dropping and to apply just a little more pressure to the wound. bruce laid her down across the back seat of the car and ordered the driver to get them back to the manor as fast as possible. alfred had been out for the day gathering further information and another man had to be employed temporarily to get the wealthy teen from place to place.
❝you never told me who hurt you,❞ he recalled as they sped through the streets of gotham. ❝and you NEED to tell me, rain. i can help you with this.❞
♕│❝ah, i see. they’re just afraid of the difference then, i believe. people nowadays see different as a bad thing, something that should be corrected or removed entirely,” he realized after a moment. ❝no, definitely not. if anything it’s wonderful, refreshing. most people have heard my name and have learned to fear the wrath of my family. with money comes strength, from which power is assumed. is it not?”
♕│❝rain? w-what happened?” bruce completely IGNORED her words and dropped to his knees at her side, looking around for something to clean up the blood, but finding nothing. “WHO did this?” the younger teen demanded as he ripped off the bottom of his white dress shirt and pressed it to the wound. “i-i have the car. can you walk? i not sure if i can carry you over to it but we NEED to get you out of here.” he brushed her hair back from her forehead to check for any visible head injuries.
