Chapter Text
I want you to know
I'm a mirrorball
I'll show you every version of yourself tonight
I'll get you out on the floor
Shimmering beautiful
Being back in Gotham was bittersweet, this is the city where she was born and raised but still was so strange. It had been years since the last time she put a foot here, many of his friends had moved and those who had remained in the city no longer had contact with her.
That's why she felt so stupid sitting in her childhood dining room eating the microwave food founded in the cupboard, she was no longer a girl, didn't have to feel that way, but when her eyes unconsciously went to the stairs and a vague memory of her parents arguing while her mother came down with a suitcase under her arm was enough to curb her appetite, she really wanted to have made an incredible dinner tonight but not for herself and how expected, her dad was going to work late.
She didn't even consider turning on the TV to watch the news. This was GothamCity of course there were going to be disasters and a lot of bad things that would make her not want to pay attention immediately. She looked carelessly at the screen of her cell phone.
"Don't wait up for me, I think I'm going to pass the night here"
She growled reading her dad's message, supposedly she had moved back to Gotham to spend more time with him after being so far away because of her university studies, but this was going to be very difficult.
She reluctantly finished the macaroni and cheese throwing the plastic packaging in the trash and it was to do her personal care routine before going to sleep, it was strange to go back to her childhood room, Barbara was no longer the same person, the walls lilacs with the little crepe paper butterflies hanging from the corners had been lovely before and of course brought back good memories but she had to change that or move into her own apartment soon yes probably the second option was best but again this would mean make it that much harder to spend time with her dad which was the reason she'd taken the Gotham job in the first place.
She went into her private bathroom to wash her face, swishing her evening toner to apply when her makeup case came into her range of vision and a wild thought flashed through her mind. So she took the eyeliner and her trusty nude eyeshadow palette, she did that foxy eyeliner that she adored because it made her almond eyes look much more elongated and feline, she looked at herself with a satisfied smile and before she knew it all her makeup it was finished.
She considered removing her makeup for now if she really went to sleep, but why waste this job so well done? She turned around and searched through her suitcase that she had not yet unpacked, for some of the evening dresses she used to wear when she was in Paris.
She found a gorgeous white silk form-fitting gown that hit mid-thigh, strapless, and a draped neckline that gave an enticingly subtle view of her breasts. She grabbed a pair of heels that had two straps that wrapped around her calf, a handbag and a beige trench coat. She had had a good hair day today so she left it loose so it fell in beautiful waves reddish.
Grimacing when she realized her appearance was completely out of tune with her room, sent to her dad a quick text that she was going out and he sent another seven back with security measures and begging her to be careful. She really wasn't planning on having more than one drink tonight, so took her car keys and started driving through the streets of Gotham until found a place that caught her eye.
Without intending it just Arriving in one of the best areas of the city, she had to save the money that had because even though she already had a job here, had not yet started and the most financially responsible thing to do would be to take care of her savings for now, but she told herself as buying an expensive drink wouldn't do any harm.
She parked in one of the city's elite bars, and quickly a guy from the service approached her asking for her identification and asking if he could help her with the car. She absently extended her identity document, although her father was not part of the city's millionaires, not even by mistake, the surname Gordon was recognized by his position, recognized enough that she could be entering that place. Plus she was sure her outfit tonight was giving her extra points.
She handed the keys to the service guy and entered the bar leaving her coat at the reception, it reminded her a lot of the classic and old money style that some places had in Paris with its high ceiling, wooden floor, chandeliers and warm lighting, the music wasn't too noisy but was present in a perfect way to set the scene. She quickly decided that liked this place a lot and went over to the bar.
With a shake of her head, pushed all her hair back, asked for a "Manhattan cocktail" and quickly found herself turning her attention back to the phone, biting her cheek when realized that she had done all this simply to sit and watch networks in a bar, something she could perfectly do from the comfort of her bed, but everyone here seemed to already have company, be it a couple or a group of friends or business associates, and she was in no mood to start snooping on the shoulder who might be interested.
It was then that he realized that someone sat next to her. The first thing she noticed about that man was his smell, his woody perfume was intoxicating. She slightly looked up.
“A Manhattan please”
She chuckled realizing he'd ordered the same cocktail, he turned to her and she found she'd never seen such deep blue eyes.
"Good evening," he now addressed her with his perfect baritone voice that made her tremble.
“Good evening” She responded with a nod of the head and returned her attention to the screen, out of the corner of her eye saw how the bartender had handed the cocktail to the man, he had sat down so she sensed that he would take the time to drink it there.
She only had one shot left of her own cocktail so she finished it off and gave an uncertain look at the empty glass considering whether or not she should order another one, the bartender approached noticing that she had no more liquor left.
"Can I help you with something, miss?"
“Give me one more”
“One more Manhattan cocktail then”
She nodded, this would be the last as she still had to drive. She received the cocktail with a grateful smile only to realize that the man next to her had been watching the exchange, she raised her glass subtly and he did the same.
At that moment when they were both looking at each other's face, she realized that he looked vaguely familiar. Where the hell had she seen him before? She knew that celebrities flocked to this bar, but didn't think he was any actor or singer.
"Would it be too daring of me to ask for your name?" He said looking at her.
"Barbara Gordon," she replied.
“James Gordon's daughter I presume”
"Yeah well, there aren't many Gordons in this city." She shook her head as the taste of whiskey and vermouth slipped through her mouth. "Have I seen you before?" she asked him.
“Yes a couple of times, I know your father”
"It must have been before I went to college, I really don't remember."
“Don't worry, they were very ephemeral encounters, you used to be behind James most of the time”
“Oh sure, you met the girl with the braids and thick glasses” she laughed “it wasn't my best fashion moment”
She suppressed the shudder that ran through her as the man subtly slid his eyes down her body.
“So this is still unfair. You know my name but I don't remember yours”
"You're right," he smiled as if satisfied with the question. I'm Bruce Wayne.
Barbara was so thankful that she hadn't been consuming any liquor at the time because she was sure would have spit. Of course, the face of Gotham's most desired Playboy was familiar to her, she now remembered seeing him on a couple of occasions when he had returned to the city after his world travels in his pased mid-20s and she was just a young teen. Damn, she also understood now why so much scandal by the man, surely Bruce was the work of a Greek god.
"Okay now I get it." She let out a wry laugh. “Guess I must be under a rock lately”.
"My life isn't relevant enough for everyone in town to know it by heart." He shook his head. “You mentioned you were in college, right? What brought you back?”
"Dad, I was planning to spend more time with him before his work kills him" she answered bitterly, "but of course he's too busy with work for that." She looked at the reddish liquid and let out a small laugh, blushing and covering her face with the hand. “I'm sorry I don't even know why the hell I'm telling you this, I think it was too much for me tonight”
“Probably” he smiled “Are you passing through or have you moved?”
“I moved to the city again, when I finished my master's degree got several job offers, one of them here so I took it, apparently my resume was perfect”
“Do you have a master's degree? You look too young that's surprising”
"Twenty-four" she replied with her age, shrugging her shoulders, how old would he have to be anyway? He was probably in his 40s. “I even have a double major in history and literature”
"Not at all modest," he observed with a smile.
“Why be modest with something that took me so much effort?” She smirked and tilted her head slightly. "I got into college earlier than I should have, because my GPA was so good that I didn't really have anything to do in high school."
“Why did you choose to study in another city?”
"I seem to have heard that you did the same. Why you did?"
“I wanted to see what the world had to offer me”
"But you end up coming back anyway," she finished realizing that both of them had been at the same point one way or another, "The same happened to me. I did my undergraduate degree in DC, a brief exchange to Canada, and then moved to Paris for my master's degree. Even so, I realized that this city still has its charm, a gloomy and dark one, but it does.”
Bruce nodded, they had a few more seconds of conversation about how nice the bar was when he got a text, his expression changed and he frowned slightly.
"I'm sorry Barbara, I have to go”
"Okay, no problem." She gave him a quick smile, it's not like he was her date to get mad because he had to leave anyway.
He motioned to the bartender and slid his card over to the waiter, Barbara suppressed her shocked expression as she realized it was a damn black card with a picture of a Roman soldier in the center. She knew Bruce Wayne had more money than she thought he could spend but it was the first time she had seen a centurion card in person.
"The lady's bill too" he told the man.
“There's no need”
"I insist." He gave her a half smile and Barbara ended up giving in. Bruce stood up, seemed to hesitate for a second “Do you need a ride?”
“I brought my car”
“You drunk”
"Just two cocktails, plus. Don't you drive too?"
“I have a driver.”
She felt stupid for intuiting otherwise.
“Don't worry, I'm leaving now anyway, it's gotten late and the city is dangerous”
"Could I walk you to your car?"
She tensed, okay, Bruce Wayne might have been damn hot, but she had no intentions of anything else tonight and the idea of some hypothetical stranger walking her into a vulnerable position like that wasn't enticing. However, he had been respectful in their conversation and hadn't made any sexual advances, so she swallowed a sigh.
“Sure”
They moved to the reception and collected their coats. Barbara quickly tapped on her phone and left it ready in the pocket of her trench coat, so that if she felt unsafe, she only had to press a click to send her location to her father with the emergency alarm.
Bruce walked with her in silence to her car which really wasn't very far, he occasionally glanced over his shoulder and seemed tense, he waited for her to open the door and Barbara looked at him with a smile.
"I guess thanks for the drinks Mr. Wayne, it was nice."
“Please, just Bruce.”
"Then just Barbara." She smiled at him.
“I hope to be lucky enough to meet her again soon.”
"It would be a pleasure." She looked around when she realized that a black car had approached. "Your transportation?"
“That's right, get in your car, I'll wait.”
"Shouldn't you have a security service?"
"Yeah…" He hesitated, his gaze going to his car and back to her, "but I prefer it that way from time to time."
“I understand” Barbara bit her lip, questioning the way to say goodbye, a kiss on the cheek was not an option yet “Until next time Bruce”
He nodded and she closed the door, locking it immediately as an acquired habit, started the engine and when she started to drive away she saw in the rearview mirror how he got into his own car. After all, tonight turned out pretty good.