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It was almost dawn when the Batmobile finally roared into the cave. Bruce powered down the engine and reclined in the driver’s seat with a deep exhale, his muscles relaxing after an entire night of being tense. He reached up to take off his cowl with a slight groan, a cut on his ribs stretching uncomfortably with the movement.
When he exited the car, he was met by Alfred - which he expected every single night - but also by a sleeping figure huddled up on the dark leather chair in front of the cave’s computer, covered with a blanket. Bruce huffed to himself and smiled slightly as he made his way over to Alfred, who took the cowl from him.
“She just couldn’t help herself, could she?” he said to Alfred as he took off his gloves.
“I told her plenty of times that she should go to bed, but she just wouldn’t listen to me,” Alfred replied. He helped Bruce remove the top of his suit and caught notice of the angry cut that was still oozing blood. “Rough night, Master Bruce?”
“Riddler packs a lot more of a punch than he lets on,” Bruce said with a chuckle. “I expected him to use that staff so often that I wasn’t prepared for him to spring knives on me.”
“Perhaps you should take a break and study up on your most wanted list.”
“Perhaps not. Although the studying sounds like a good idea.”
While Alfred helped Bruce to patch up his injury, he noticed his watching over Y/N’s sleeping form.
“You’re worried about her, aren’t you, sir?” he asked as he rolled the gauze bandage around his ribs Bruce hummed in assent.
“Has she been here long? I told her to not wait up for me before I left.”
“She’s been here the entire time. She kept an eye on the monitors for an hour or two and then fell asleep in the chair. I don’t think even an explosion could wake her up at this point.” Alfred fastened the bandage with a safety pin before making sure that the wound wasn’t going to bleed through.
“You look just as tired, Alfred,” Bruce said to his oldest friend. “Maybe you should head off to bed too.”
“That sounds like a good idea. Good night, Master Bruce.”
“Good night, Alfred.”
After Alfred had left the cave and Bruce had gently washed the sweat off of his skin, he made his way over to Y/N, who was still sleeping soundly in the computer chair. He gently ran the backs of his fingers over her cheek, taking in her peaceful expression.
“Let’s get you to bed, sleeping beauty,” he said softly as he moved to scoop her up into his muscular arms. The sensation of his warm skin on hers instantly made her stir awake.
“Bruce?” she asked, her voice still thick with sleep. She could barely open her bleary eyes but she knew that he was there. She couldn’t have mistaken him for anyone else.
“Hey, sleepyhead,” he said gently. “I told you to not wait up for me.”
“I know, but I don’t like sleeping in the bed without you. It’s too lonely.”
“Well, I’m here now. You can cling on to me as much as you want.” She smiled and nestled closer into his bare chest.
They were both quiet as Bruce carried Y/N through the manor to their bedroom. The house was dead silent and the sun was already beginning to rise outside.
When he finally set her down on the soft mattress, she noticed the bandage on his side and furrowed her brows.
“You’re hurt,” she said simply.
“It’s nothing,” he replied as he tried to place the bedsheets over her.
“It’s clearly not nothing,” she said as she reached out to gently graze her fingers over the bandage. “I don’t like seeing you in bandages.” Bruce sat down on the bed next to her and tenderly kissed her forehead.
“I’m still breathing, still walking, and I’m still here with you now. You have nothing to worry about.” He gathered her up in his arms once more, she made sure to not hold him too tightly.
“I know, but I always worry that you could come home in a much worse state.”
“Alfred patched me up pretty well, so I’m going to be okay for now. I’ll feel even better if we both get some sleep.” He felt her nod against his chest before he moved to lie them both down under the covers.
“Good night, Bruce,” she said quietly, her sleepy voice almost a whisper.
“Good night, honey,” he responded, leaving a final goodnight kiss on the top of her head.