Chapter Text
Gotham Natural History Museum– November 18th, 7:45 pm
She had been right.
Batman hadn’t visited her in over a week.
Evelyn knew she didn’t need him. She was stronger than that; had lived years on her own. That didn’t mean she didn’t miss him.
The ceremony where Sarah had been officially dubbed Commissioner was shockingly perfect. No crook nor villain dared to ruin her day. That set Evelyn even more on edge. Her date told her she was paranoid.
Teddy Parker, Evelyn’s old friend from her days as a Marine, was on her arm that night. She supposed it should have been the other way around, but everyone was looking at her. She heard people mutter about how scandalous her dress was; about how it showed too much cleavage and the slit came up too high on her thigh. But she knew most of the gossip was due to the fact Bruce wasn’t with her.
The media had asked -no demanded- why she wasn’t with Bruce Wayne. She didn’t give them the time of day, only smiling for the cameras as they ascended the steps to the museum. She made sure her nails were on display for every photo, her hand on Teddy’s shoulder.
Long nails painted that bright, shimmering red.
She was a walking warning. She wanted her tormentor to know she was there. She wanted him to know she knew he was there too. That she was coming for him.
“Eva,” Teddy whispered in her ear. “You look constipated.”
Evelyn smacked him on the arm, the both of them devolving into a fit of laughter. Teddy had been a strategic choice for a date. Not only was he her medic once upon a time, but he was able to put her at ease with his charming smile and carefree demeanor. He had been her savior once upon a time.
“I’m just keeping an eye out,” she finally admitted with the widest grin. She hadn’t smiled like that in over a week.
“Relax,” Teddy purred all too smoothly as he pulled out her chair. “You’ve got this.”
Evelyn nodded, yet her eyes still swept over the crowd. The room was cast in faux candlelight and the sculptures around them almost faded away. Roses in Sarah’s favorite shade of red decorated every table, almost a bloodstain against the stark white tablecloths.
Everyone in attendance seemed so happy. As if danger wasn’t always all around them. All so blind.
Bruce was the only thing to catch her gaze. He’d been looking at her, even from where he sat across the room. A pang of guilt made Evelyn ache. That piercing gaze she’d missed so much had touched her once again.
“Eva,” Teddy whispered in her ear again, finally breaking her out of her trance. “You’re staring.”
“I’m not,” Evelyn jumped to defend herself. She grabbed a flute of champagne as a waiter passed by, uncaring if it was truly meant for her or not. “I simply just gazed over in a direction, and he was there.”
“And since when do you watch Bruce Wayne like that?”
“Like what?” Evelyn shot her friend a warning glance.
“Like you used to look at the stars when we were on patrol.” Teddy smiled knowingly. “You used to get so lost in them. I swore you’d get shot one day because of it.”
“So?” She looked again to where she had seen Bruce, only to be met with an empty chair. Teddy didn’t miss the frown that barely flickered on her lips.
“You love the stars, Evelyn.”
“Not anymore…” her gaze fell to her drink. “Can’t see the stars here.”
“Just because you don’t see them doesn’t mean they aren’t there.” She barely caught the flash of Teddy’s wedding ring as he too grabbed for a flute of champagne. He had been married a long while now, the father of two bouncing and bubbly children. Evelyn used to wish it was her once upon a time. Now she wished she could have a family of her own.
“Dr. Grubauer!” A man exclaimed as he took the seat beside her, shooting her a charming grin. “Harvey Dent. I don’t think we’ve met.”
After Harvey Dent had introduced himself, Evelyn was swept away into conversation after conversation with people of power. While she wasn’t all too interested, she kept up the façade. Instead, she studied each and every person she met, their face, their mannerisms, their voices. No one seemed to be the man in the mask who had attacked her. No one was nursing a bullet wound either.
She broke away from Teddy at some point into his conversation with some cops she didn’t know she worked with. Evelyn wandered through the crowd towards the entryway, tempted to grab another drink along the way. She had an inkling of an idea what she would find and had no clue if it would work.
However, Bruce was one step ahead. There he stood in all his glory, wearing his all-black suit that fit just right. As dashing as he was, Evelyn couldn’t help but notice he was one step ahead of her. He was casually leaning against the wall as he flipped through the guest list.
“Anyone with double initials?”
The way Bruce looked up at her let her know she had been right. He had noticed it too.
“A few…” Bruce swallowed, having to take her in all over again. He knew she’d be the death of him eventually, he just didn’t realize it would be so soon.
“Any worth watching?” She stepped closer and Bruce mindlessly reached out for her, wrapping his arm around her waist.
“Why did you bring someone else?” The question had been on his mind since he laid eyes on her arm-in-arm with a man he so desperately wished would spontaneously combust.
“Jealous much, Bats?” Evelyn hummed, low enough to be just for him.
“I…” Bruce struggled for the words he’d been practicing in his head. He’d prepared a speech the day as he avoided conversation. But none of the words came to mind. Instead…
“I thought we were inevitable…”
“I thought we were too…” Evelyn was saddened at his words, her eyes falling to the floor. Any wall she had tried to rebuild was now crumbling in his hands. “But then I didn’t hear from you. I thought-”
“I never wanted to ignore you…” Bruce clicked his tongue in displeasure. He tilted her chin so she would look at him again. “I thought being with you was putting you in danger.”
“How could I be in danger with the Savior of Gotham on my side?”
Neither breathed.
Neither moved.
It simply… existed.
Their gaze made the rest of the world slip away. It had the power to do so, though perhaps it always had the ability to do so. Simply existing; where the weight of the world seemed suddenly easy to overcome.
They were so close. So close, Evelyn swore he was the only thing keeping her on her feet. She could no longer feel her fingers as they crept up to hold onto his shoulders. All she could feel was him. Bruce’s gaze was on her lips, and everything felt too fast and too slow all at once.
But all good things come to an end.
“Mr. Wayne!” Mayor Reál announced herself boisterously as she approached with open arms. Evelyn quickly pulled away, feeling as though she had been caught doing something forbidden.
“Mayor Reál,” Bruce sighed and collected himself, tucking the guest list behind his back.
“A pleasure to see you mingling with the guests this time.” Reál smiled despite her pointed comment.
“Just spending time with my girlfriend,” Bruce faked a smile and Evelyn had to bite back a laugh.
“I thought you came with the Marine,” Reál asked with an accusatory glance.
“Teddy and I used to serve together a while back.” Evelyn held onto Bruce’s arm, smiling in her dazzling way. “He always wanted to go to one of these things, but we were always overseas. Thought I’d made his dream come true.”
“I was unaware one of Gotham’s finest served.” Reál perked up. “I would love to have you over so we could speak more on the topic.”
“Dr. Grubauer doesn’t speak publicly about her time served,” Bruce piped up, pulling Evelyn even closer to his side.
“Oh?” Reál didn’t have a moment more to speculate before Evelyn spoke up.
“I think I should get back to Teddy. I’m afraid he might worry I’ve abandoned him again.”
“I’ll join you,” Bruce added. He kept his hand on the small Evelyn’s back, leading her through the crowd. Soon enough, they were able to breathe again.
“I apologize,” Bruce finally mumbled. “She’s usually that nosy.”
“It’s okay.” Evelyn smiled up at him, still living off the feeling of being so close to him. She hummed in contentment as she saw the light blush that had risen across his cheeks.
“I…” Bruce muttered before catching his mistake. Then with shaking hands, he signed to her. You look beautiful tonight.
Evelyn could have died happy at those words. She signed back to him, you always look this handsome.
Teddy had settled himself back at their table as he video-chatted with his family. His daughters -both under the age of five- were oohing and aahing at the lavishly decorated room as he planned the camera. They squealed in delight as Evelyn came into view. Both girls bounced around on the screen, fighting to speak over the other as they asked her about anything and everything they could think of.
“Girls, girls,” Teddy chuckled as he attempted to calm them, “Remember, Evelyn can’t understand you when we’re on the phone.”
Bruce taped Evelyn’s wrist to gather her attention. He signed to her, practically a natural now. They say you look like a princess. She signed her thanks, her eyes watering more at the action than the words.
Teddy said his goodbyes, spending more time wishing his wife a good night. Then as quickly as he hung up, he was on his feet. He and Bruce seemed to study each other a moment before Teddy extended a hand.
“You must be Mr. Wayne.”
“I am.” Bruce returned his handshake in obvious discomfort. “You must be Dr. Parker.”
“Aw, you talk about me?” Teddy boyishly teased, dramatically batting his lashes at Evelyn.
“Shut up.” Evelyn scoffed with a smile.
“Really,” Teddy said through his laughter, “It is an honor to meet you. I admire the work The Wayne Foundation has done in this last year.”
“Thank you.” Bruce nodded.
Sarah approached; confidence radiating from her being. She had changed since her promotion, a new and elegant burgundy dress floated behind her as she strode closer. Evelyn couldn’t help but be proud of her friend.
But the new commissioner was grim as she came to join their conversation.
“Who?” Evelyn asked before a word was even uttered.
“Come with me.” Sarah ushered her coroner away, leaving Evelyn’s companions behind in confused silence.
“Alright, look,” Teddy broke the silence with a low tone, stepping closer into Bruce’s space. “Eva doesn’t have any brothers and her dad’s a dick so it’s up to me to give you the talk.”
“The… talk?” Bruce blinked back.
“The if-you-hurt-her-I’ll-hurt-you talk,” Teddy sighed. “She got a second chance at life a while back. Make sure you don’t screw that up.”
“I promise.”
Teddy nodded in solidarity before going back to his brink. Bruce stood awkwardly beside him, watching the party go on around him. A bypasser in his own life, it seemed.
“So… you have kids?”
“Two,” Teddy brightened. “Victoria and Eve. God, they’re the best.”
“They seem like it…” Bruce softened, with a hint of a smile on his lips. “I’ve always wanted kids.”
“What’s stopping you?”
“We’re not there yet.”
“What about that kid?” Teddy raised a brow. “The one Eva wants to take in?”
“Tiago?” Bruce’s brows knit together in thought. “I didn’t think she’d want to with me. We haven’t been together that long.”
“Might be worth asking.”
Evelyn hurried back, heels in her hands. Teddy straightened at the panic in her eyes, asking her a fleury of questions. Instead, she came to Bruce’s side as dread began to fill the room. And with eyes pleading with him to play along, she took his arm.
“You know Batman, right?”