( he thinks back to alfred β to the way he lies so still and lifeless in the hospital bed through the glass window that divides them. how there isn't anything he can do β not bruce wayne with all his money or batman with all his strength and determination. to be put in that position again as he had been with his parents... to be and feel utterly powerless...
gaze drifting away from the pup, he looks to her, licks over his lips, then grips the edge of the island counter behind him. )
I've already lost enough people in my life. I don't want to lose anymore.
[ Loss is inevitable. But she's never seen anyone fight harder against the inevitable β and, sometimes, win β than Bruce. ]
I understand.
[ Better than he knows, perhaps. With Themyscira lost to her, the gods absent and unreachable, her mother alone, the Amazons scattered... yes, she, too, would prefer to lose nothing and no one else. ]
Then we will work together to ensure you do not. But first β
[ She pushes off the edge of the counter and comes toward him β toward the island, reaching past him for the bag she'd brought and lifting it with a small smile. ]
You should probably put these in the refrigerator.
( there's a touch of something there in his eyes when she comes in towards him β when she goes and reaches past him and he finds himself blinking some. as if she herself were a warm light penetrating the shadows that continuously surround him β part of him β and bring to him a warmth he doesn't often feel. doesn't often let himself feel.
looking down to the bag, lips part and he sighs, slight tilt of his head to come as he looks to her there in front of him them. )
Think they're gonna last what with the upcoming road trip about to happen?
[ She lifts the bag easily in one crooked finger, smiling still. The slight flicker in his glance doesn't dissuade her; she notes it, tucks it away with everything else she knows about Bruce β the one she knows and this one she's learning about. ]
You could always eat them ahead of time. I hear vegetables are good for you.
[ Either that, or she'll make sure they go to someone in need before they leave. ]
( there's a huff there on his lips and a brow raised as she goes and says that and bruce twists some as he watches her, leaning there against the kitchen island as he does. )
Not about to suggest we cook, are you?
( wondering now if that was part of the reason why she brought these over. )
( rare as it seems to be, there's a soft breath of laughter there on his lips as he looks down, leaning there on his elbow, head tilted some. taking out numerous criminals throughout the streets of gotham β going head-to-head with the joker. he can do that easy, no problem. firing up the stove and attempting to make anything that could be considered edible? that's where he fails and he knows it, too. )
So you're either trying to have me end up with possible food poisoning or have me starve surrounded by things neither of us can cook.
( the words are light β playful even as he looks over to her with just a barely raised brow there. )
[ That ghost of a smile on his lips, the breath of laughter, the faintest lightness to his eyes β she'll take it as the victory it is. Her own smile brightens, widens, and her laugh ripples through her voice. ]
Ah, you've found me out. Yes. I came here to ensure you fell victim to the most nefarious and subtle of dangers.
[ Reaching into the bag, she pulls out a head of β ]
( now he's just poking fun at himself. billionaire prince of gotham not knowing a thing about food that isn't already prepped and cooked on a silver platter before him. )
[ She sets the lettuce down, then retrieves a few mangos from the bag as well. It turns out, even without living with the gorilla knights, her craving for tropical fruit continues unabated. ]
Even we should be able to find a way to eat these.
slipping away from the island there, he rummages through a couple drawers before he finds said knife, waving it some as he comes over, hand held out to take one of the mangoes from her. )
( he says that as he takes the mango in hand and, pad of his thumb pressed against the heel of the blade, he starts to carefully peel it in a circular motion. )
[ She uncrosses her arms, curls her hands at the edge of the island instead. When the overhead light flickers again, her tiara catches the glow and glints. ]
Well. So far, I have you for company. A fine start, I think.
[ It's more, in some ways, than she has back in her own place and time, at the moment. Although β well. There's Tom, she supposes. But Tom is a question she finds she's relieved not to have to answer, just yet. ]
( he meant more in regards to where she had planned to stay while here since the diadem hotel wasn't permanent by any means and not the sort of place he'd personally trust staying at. so when she mentions him for company, the look in those blue eyes of his softens some in a way that's... he's not even sure how to feel about that. but it has his gaze lift over to her after a moment, a long stare β unsure with what to say to that because he knows he's not the best for company by a longshot...
...and in his being unsure with what to say to that, the knife slips through the wet mango and catches his other thumb, drawing blood. a slight hiss through his teeth, he watches as the red mixes in with the bright yellow and sighs a bit because. well. so much for this being simple. )
[ She moves quickly β not at super speed, but rapidly enough β to search out a napkin, a cloth, anything nearby she can find to staunch the bleeding. It's times like these, she muses, when she might consider carrying some extra cloth around.
Some swift rummaging in a drawer yields a clean tea towel. She dampens a corner of it at the sink, then comes over to take the mango gently out of Bruce's hand, setting it side. She curls her fingers beneath his for support, then dabs at the cut with the damp towel to clean it out, her touch firm but gentle. ]
( the way she cradles his hand in hers β the gentle care she takes in pressing the wet tea towel to his little slip-up... it's done in such a way he's not used to β hasn't felt since his mother died. alfred took care with him when he'd injure himself at a younger age, of course. but he tends to himself now, especially during the last two years since donning the cape and cowl. there isn't anyone to kiss it betterβ not that he'sβ not important.
hum on his lips, he flicks a few strands of hair out of his face as he looks over to where the mango has been placed. the way the red blends into the yellow. )
An important life skill to have, evidently.
( though it's said dryly, of course.
and after a moment of silence and diana taking care with his hand, he looks to her then β watches her face before he lets his gaze drop down to the so-very-minor injury. )
And yet you still wished to add another scar to your collection, I see.
[ Teasing him as she turns the towel in her hand to set a dry section of it to the cut. She presses it down with her own thumb, then gives him an amused glance. ]
Although I suppose this one wasn't precisely earned in battle.
( he wills himself not to look up to her β simultaneously fighting the slight curl of his lips he can feel trying to give way to an ever-so-faint grin. moments like these are... few. the slowness of them where he isn't lost within his thoughts or fixated on whatever footage he'd collected from the night before, forcing himself to remember it all. he's been so used to it just being him... to being... alone. the absence of alfred here is painstakingly obvious, though he's done his best to ignore it β to replace it with nightly stalking throughout the streets and taking that pain out on those who could be seen as deserving of it. it works. for the most part. until he's back here. alone again. )
Don't think you want to eat that mango.
( he lifts his gaze to look back to the mango then, after a moment, allows it to fall onto her face instead. )
[ She hums at his first comment, amused. Focused as she is on caring for his cut, it's startling to glance up and meet his eyes, to realize he'd been watching her. From these few inches away, she can see the keen clarity of his eyes, despite the weariness he wears wrapped around him like his cloak. ]
Bury it.
[ Half disbelieving, half laughter. ]
I can see it now: slinking into the deepness of the night with a shovel to hide our shame. Or, we could simply throw it away.
[ Or wash it off. It's still a perfectly good mango. And she is... lingering. Diana casts her gaze back down to their hands, lifts the towel and waits to see if blood will bead back up. ]
( have bandages, that is, yet he doesn't seem to make any movement to retrieve them. he does, after a moment, force himself to look away from her and their hands and clears his throat, glancing around to see where the pup has gone and spots him laying down there in the kitchen. )
Bathroom has a first-aid kit. Should be stocked.
( otherwise there's the more heavily stocked things he has in his temporary batcave, but. this isn't exactly anything that requires the heavy duty stuff. )
[ She presses the towel back to the cut, her fingers curling around his hand for a moment before she finally releases him, holding her hand out for the knife. ]
Go find one, then. I'll see if I can salvage the mango. At least if I slip, I'm more likely to damage the knife than the other way around.
( dryly said, as expected from bruce, he drops the knife to her hand, tips of his fingers brushing along her plam as he lets it go and turns to head for the first-aid kit. the pup, perking up, follows after him, trotting away happily as bruce makes his way into the bathroom.
in there, he takes a moment, pad of his thumb rubbing slow circles over the injured one as he stands there, staring down to the sink. lost in a thought that threatens to be held hostage to endless overthinking. it's only with the soft bark from the pup that he pulls himself out of that thought and looks down to him there, watching the way he looks up with those dark eyes of his. )
Don't you start worrying, too.
( getting a bandage and a bottle of antibiotic ointment for just in case, he comes back into the kitchen with a band-aid held between his lips, fingers busy with applying the ointment to the cut as he does, pup trailing in ahead of him to go over and see what diana is doing... and if she possibly has food for him, of course. )
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gaze drifting away from the pup, he looks to her, licks over his lips, then grips the edge of the island counter behind him. )
I've already lost enough people in my life. I don't want to lose anymore.
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I understand.
[ Better than he knows, perhaps. With Themyscira lost to her, the gods absent and unreachable, her mother alone, the Amazons scattered... yes, she, too, would prefer to lose nothing and no one else. ]
Then we will work together to ensure you do not. But first β
[ She pushes off the edge of the counter and comes toward him β toward the island, reaching past him for the bag she'd brought and lifting it with a small smile. ]
You should probably put these in the refrigerator.
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looking down to the bag, lips part and he sighs, slight tilt of his head to come as he looks to her there in front of him them. )
Think they're gonna last what with the upcoming road trip about to happen?
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You could always eat them ahead of time. I hear vegetables are good for you.
[ Either that, or she'll make sure they go to someone in need before they leave. ]
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Not about to suggest we cook, are you?
( wondering now if that was part of the reason why she brought these over. )
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I'm not very adept at cooking, although I suppose we could attempt it.
[ How hard is it to chop everything up into a salad? ]
I'm afraid I was spoiled by having a private chef, and others did the cooking back on Themyscira. I never did bother to learn.
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So you're either trying to have me end up with possible food poisoning or have me starve surrounded by things neither of us can cook.
( the words are light β playful even as he looks over to her with just a barely raised brow there. )
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Ah, you've found me out. Yes. I came here to ensure you fell victim to the most nefarious and subtle of dangers.
[ Reaching into the bag, she pulls out a head of β ]
Fresh lettuce.
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( now he's just poking fun at himself. billionaire prince of gotham not knowing a thing about food that isn't already prepped and cooked on a silver platter before him. )
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[ She sets the lettuce down, then retrieves a few mangos from the bag as well. It turns out, even without living with the gorilla knights, her craving for tropical fruit continues unabated. ]
Even we should be able to find a way to eat these.
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( which... he should have?
slipping away from the island there, he rummages through a couple drawers before he finds said knife, waving it some as he comes over, hand held out to take one of the mangoes from her. )
Can't be that hard.
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[ She offers a mango to him, assured in their ability to eat some fruit, at the very least. ]
I think a knife will do.
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( he says that as he takes the mango in hand and, pad of his thumb pressed against the heel of the blade, he starts to carefully peel it in a circular motion. )
Gotham just has a bunch of rats living in it.
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[ It's her turn to lean against the island, and she sets down the bag to do so, crossing her arms as she watches him work at the mango skin. ]
As crowded as it was, living with half a dozen gorillas in a small apartment... I admit I miss them. They were excellent company.
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( he finds himself asking then before even really realizing it. )
Not that I guess it matters since... who knows if we'll be coming back or not.
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[ She uncrosses her arms, curls her hands at the edge of the island instead. When the overhead light flickers again, her tiara catches the glow and glints. ]
Well. So far, I have you for company. A fine start, I think.
[ It's more, in some ways, than she has back in her own place and time, at the moment. Although β well. There's Tom, she supposes. But Tom is a question she finds she's relieved not to have to answer, just yet. ]
cw: blood and injury ig
...and in his being unsure with what to say to that, the knife slips through the wet mango and catches his other thumb, drawing blood. a slight hiss through his teeth, he watches as the red mixes in with the bright yellow and sighs a bit because. well. so much for this being simple. )
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[ She moves quickly β not at super speed, but rapidly enough β to search out a napkin, a cloth, anything nearby she can find to staunch the bleeding. It's times like these, she muses, when she might consider carrying some extra cloth around.
Some swift rummaging in a drawer yields a clean tea towel. She dampens a corner of it at the sink, then comes over to take the mango gently out of Bruce's hand, setting it side. She curls her fingers beneath his for support, then dabs at the cut with the damp towel to clean it out, her touch firm but gentle. ]
Well, perhaps we can practice peeling fruit.
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hum on his lips, he flicks a few strands of hair out of his face as he looks over to where the mango has been placed. the way the red blends into the yellow. )
An important life skill to have, evidently.
( though it's said dryly, of course.
and after a moment of silence and diana taking care with his hand, he looks to her then β watches her face before he lets his gaze drop down to the so-very-minor injury. )
I've had worse.
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[ Teasing him as she turns the towel in her hand to set a dry section of it to the cut. She presses it down with her own thumb, then gives him an amused glance. ]
Although I suppose this one wasn't precisely earned in battle.
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Don't think you want to eat that mango.
( he lifts his gaze to look back to the mango then, after a moment, allows it to fall onto her face instead. )
Probably best to... bury it. Or something.
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Bury it.
[ Half disbelieving, half laughter. ]
I can see it now: slinking into the deepness of the night with a shovel to hide our shame. Or, we could simply throw it away.
[ Or wash it off. It's still a perfectly good mango. And she is... lingering. Diana casts her gaze back down to their hands, lifts the towel and waits to see if blood will bead back up. ]
You must have bandages, somewhere.
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( have bandages, that is, yet he doesn't seem to make any movement to retrieve them. he does, after a moment, force himself to look away from her and their hands and clears his throat, glancing around to see where the pup has gone and spots him laying down there in the kitchen. )
Bathroom has a first-aid kit. Should be stocked.
( otherwise there's the more heavily stocked things he has in his temporary batcave, but. this isn't exactly anything that requires the heavy duty stuff. )
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[ She presses the towel back to the cut, her fingers curling around his hand for a moment before she finally releases him, holding her hand out for the knife. ]
Go find one, then. I'll see if I can salvage the mango. At least if I slip, I'm more likely to damage the knife than the other way around.
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( dryly said, as expected from bruce, he drops the knife to her hand, tips of his fingers brushing along her plam as he lets it go and turns to head for the first-aid kit. the pup, perking up, follows after him, trotting away happily as bruce makes his way into the bathroom.
in there, he takes a moment, pad of his thumb rubbing slow circles over the injured one as he stands there, staring down to the sink. lost in a thought that threatens to be held hostage to endless overthinking. it's only with the soft bark from the pup that he pulls himself out of that thought and looks down to him there, watching the way he looks up with those dark eyes of his. )
Don't you start worrying, too.
( getting a bandage and a bottle of antibiotic ointment for just in case, he comes back into the kitchen with a band-aid held between his lips, fingers busy with applying the ointment to the cut as he does, pup trailing in ahead of him to go over and see what diana is doing... and if she possibly has food for him, of course. )
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