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Selina had grown tired of driving Bruce home at three in the morning. If his drunken clinginess and tendency to vomit all over her wasn’t enough to turn her off, the six mile walk back to the Sirens was enough to drive her to murder.
Unfortunately, she’d never had it in her to cut him off when she should. They had too much history, too many years of loving and losing and hurting, for her to ever really turn her back on him.
Therefore, against her better judgment, she was driving his unreasonably expensive (vintage, according to his flirty, slurred comment from the back seat) car across the bridge toward the Manor.
Selina found small victories in this routine, such as playing music he hates too loud or letting him puke on the floorboards. She pretended it made up for how easily she fell for his affections; letting him hug her at the door, allowing him to kiss her before he fell asleep, running her hands through his hair and rubbing his back when he cried over problems he caused. She pretended she was fine knowing he only ever touched her because he was wasted.
She took a deep breath, clearing her head as she drove up to the gate. She typed in the code, rolling her eyes while he fawned over her remembering the number sequence. He should really be more concerned that she’ll rob him blind while he’s sleeping.
“Selina?” Bruce muttered, voice muffled as if he was face down in the seat.
She glared at him through the rearview mirror. “What do you want?”
He glanced up, frowning at her harsh gaze. “I’m sorry.”
“For what?” She asked, suddenly groaning and rolling her eyes, “Did you throw up again? How is there anything left in you? I swear you left all but your stomach acid on the bar floor.”
“No, it’s not that.” He whispered, “I’m sorry for this. All of this.”
That kind of thing happened often. Once he was done hitting on her, desperately clinging to her side, yelling in her face, spewing various bodily fluids on her shoes, and passing out in the backseat, he resorted to crying and begging for forgiveness. The first few times Selina folded immediately, coaxing him into her embrace and promising everything would be ok.
Now, though, she was over it.
“It’s fine, Bruce,” She sighed, “Just go inside.”
For a moment, Bruce thought she meant she wouldn’t be following. He worried this time was the final straw, that she’d given up on him. He feared this may be the last time he saw her.
Then, she was opening the door and pulling on his arm until he was upright, world spinning, and dragging him through the garage.
“You’re hot, B.” She whispered as he leaned his head onto her shoulder.
He grinned, a little dazed, “Thanks, Selly. You too.”
“No,” she huffed, smacking his chest, “You’re feverish, asshole. Are you sick?”
Bruce squinted, thinking as hard as he could to remember how he felt before he drank himself numb. “Maybe?” He answered hesitantly after a long pause.
“Jesus,” she hissed, “If you give me the flu I’ll kill you. No wonder you were so bad tonight.”
The pair slowly made their way up the stairs, Bruce stopping multiple times to catch his breath, and towards his bedroom.
This wasn’t Selina’s first time stepping through that door; that was two months ago. The first time she drove him home they’d stumbled in, lips pressed together and hands in one another’s hair. She snuck out immediately after he fell asleep, crying and shivering the entire way home. They still haven’t talked about it.
Bruce gasped as a bright light filled the room. It was only then he realized they weren’t in his bedroom at all and, instead, his bathroom. As his eyes adjusted he had half a mind to wish he’d cleaned up before going out.
The sound of the bath running distracted him from his thoughts.
“What are you doing?” He murmured.
She glanced over her shoulder, staring as if he was an idiot. “Running a bath.”
He blinked slowly, headache already blossoming in his temples. “Alright. Why?”
“You have a fever,” She sighed, “We’ve gotta get your body temp down. So you’re taking a cold bath.”
Bruce frowned, not sure a cold bath would be any more effective than a dose of tylenol and a good night's sleep, but figured she wouldn’t appreciate any more commentary.
“Come here,” Selina whispered, standing up and extending a hand.
Bruce met her in the middle, trying not to pout when she immediately dropped his hand. He craved contact, craved her gentle touch and soft lips more than anything.
Selina sighed, hands finding the top button of his oxford. “Can I take this off?” She asked, almost timidly.
He nodded, hands finding her waist and eyes meeting hers, searching for any sign of what she was thinking.
She slowly, and a little shakily, unbuttoned his shirt. He shrugged it off as she began to remove his pants. She maintained eye contact the entire time, even as her fingers found the edge of his boxers.
Then, her gaze was too intense. He glanced away before grabbing her wrists, suddenly self conscious.
“Can I keep these on?” He asked, softly and shyly. “Please?”
Selina nodded. “Of course. Come on, let’s get you cooled off, baby.”
Bruce’s stomach fluttered as she led him to the tub, sharply exhaling as she helped lower him into the water. She crouched next to him, brushing his hair back and kissing his cheek. “I’ll be right back, ok?”
“You’re leaving?” He whimpered, clinging to her arm.
She smiled softly, kissing his temple quickly, before replying “I’m just gonna go get you some clothes. I’ll be back soon, I promise.”
As she gathered new underwear and a pair of his ridiculous, baby blue satin pajamas (that likely cost him three to four hundred dollars) she mentally chastised herself for even being there.
She always fell into his trap, always a victim to his spell. She couldn’t bring herself to leave, not for good. She’d always come running if he needed her, wanted her, or even looked her way.
He was hurt, and sick, and more broken than she’d never seen him. She knew he was alone, everyone else that cared about him was gone, but she also knew he pushed them away. He’d been self destructing from the inside out for months.
She knew, if she were smarter, she’d leave too. She couldn’t fix his life for him, and he’d likely hurt her to an irreparable extent if she tried, but she couldn’t bear to turn her back on him.
He only had her.
She sighed, allowing her anger to wash over her, returning to the bathroom with his pajamas and sat next to the tub once again. “Hey, B. Feel any better?”
Bruce startled, as he was half asleep in the cool water, and squinted up at her as he readjusted to the harsh lighting. “You’re still here?”
“I told you, I was just getting clothes.” She replied, smiling at him and gesturing toward the clothes on top of the toilet. “I can’t believe you still wear those things.”
“I don’t.” He scoffed, “I usually just sleep in whatever I wore out.”
Selina frowned, taking a deep breath and laying her head on the edge of the bathtub. “You’ve gotta stop, B.”
“Jesus,” He groaned, “I don’t want a lecture right now, Selina. I don’t need this, not from you.”
“Don’t yell at me, Bruce. Don’t take it out on me because you know I’m sticking around.” She snapped, “I don’t deserve that.”
Bruce rolled his eyes. “You leave every weekend.”
“And I always come back. You’d be dead without me, and you know it.” She scowled, “Do you really want me to go? Because if I leave now you won’t ever see me again.”
He stared back, trying to keep a hard face, before dropping his gaze and curling into himself. “I’m sorry. That wasn’t fair, I’m sorry.”
“No, it wasn’t.” She hissed. “I’m trying to help you, Bruce. I’m here because I care, don’t shut me out too.”
“You shouldn’t,” He whined, “You’re worse off for trying.”
Selina dragged a hand down her face. “Stop it. I’m not gonna throw you a pity party. If you want me here I’m gonna stay, but I’m not gonna let you kill yourself.”
Bruce felt much too vulnerable for this conversation in nothing but his boxers, shivering in the frigid water.
“Can we just talk about this later?” He sighed, eyes burning a hole into his hands, “I just wanna go to bed.”
She stared at him incredulously for a while, before eventually caving. “Fine, come on. Stand up.”
He did as he was told, hissing at the cold air on his skin, before being wrapped in a towel by Selina.
“Here,” She handed him the fresh pair of boxers. “Put these on while I dry your hair.”
He nodded, trying not to cringe as he peeled off the wet fabric, and pretended he wasn’t horrified at the idea that Selina was one wrong move from seeing him fully naked. Before he knew it Sel had her forehead pressed to his back and hands on his stomach, causing his full body to flush.
“I just don’t want you to get hurt. I want you to be safe and happy and you haven’t been in months.” She whispered, tears barely held back. “Please let me help you.”
“Ok, Sel,” He replied, covering her hands with his own. “I’m all yours.”
“Good,” She smiled, kissing between his shoulder blades before turning him around to wrap him up in a proper hug. “Let’s go to bed.”