16: The First Date [2]

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Seriously join it, I'm in a severe need of Friends who are cultured. (⁠╥⁠﹏⁠╥⁠).

[A/N: Ok, No, I'm not done with the Pàtreon thing. just wanted to give you guys this chapter to let you know I'm coming back soon.]

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A few minutes later, I led Talia off the cruise ship as the party inside transitioned into a more formal affair.

As we left, I noticed that most of the paparazzi had cleared out. The remaining few had repositioned their cameras toward the departing ship, likely hoping to capture any potential drama. And knowing the circumstances, drama was probably what they would get.

The cruise had intended to venture away from the coast and sail on the sea for a couple of hours. Even if the paparazzi were anticipating a spectacle, the limited time the ship had for its journey would limit their opportunities.

Exiting the cruise, we headed toward the waiting limousine. However, just as Talia was about to step in, I stopped her. She looked at me with curiosity as I shed my coat and loosened my tie, tossing them onto the car's seats.

"What are you doing?" Talia inquired, a glint of amusement dancing in her eyes as she raised an eyebrow.

"Fancy restaurants, world-class cuisine, candlelit dinners." I explained as I rolled up my sleeves, a mischievous grin forming. "All those things are romantic, but not exactly fun. Tonight, we're going for fun. If you're up for it, that is."

"Absolutely." Talia responded with an eye roll, surprising me by kicking off her heels and leaving them behind.

I couldn't help but raise an intrigued eyebrow, and she caught my expression. "What? I can have fun too."

"I believe you now." I said with a smile, playfully tugging her hand as we left the dock, watching as the cruise ship finally set sail.

"So, what's on your mind?" She asked.

My gaze swept over the coastline, searching for something special to kick off our unconventional date. It didn't take long to spot a quirky street-side ice cream shop that caught my attention.

"So do you want Vanilla mania or killer chocolate?" I pointed to the ice cream names displayed on the menu. Talia gave me a bemused look that clearly said 'Are you serious?'.

"Fair enough." I conceded before turning back to the vendor. "Two Killer Chocolates, please."

Talia couldn't help but chuckle at my eagerness to embrace a carefree evening. As we waited for our ice creams, I couldn't help but feel that this, in its own way, was more romantic than any lavish dinner.

The vendor generously scooped a substantial portion of ice cream into a cup, and I made sure to leave a hefty tip as a sign of my gratitude before we departed.

We walked side by side along the shoreline, the storm last night had left the streets wet but the air was warm, it was comfortable. 

I felt the wind from the sea against my face, just like I could feel the heat emanating out of her body. 

"This is good." She commented with a mouthful of ice cream and I nodded as I couldn't agree more. This is fantastic and honestly I'm gonna buy the shop when I get back to Gotham.

"When was the last time you had ice cream?" I asked, hiding my intention with a face that pleaded genuine curiosity.

She blinked, taken aback by question as her mind reminisced the last time she savored the item but after a moment she stopped.

"Three, four years?" She shrugged her lips casually.

Now that's just sad.

"Ok." I shrugged and continued my questions. "What's your favorite food?" 

"I don't have one." She admitted.

"Why?" 

"I…Just like them all." She smiled. "I guess I don't categorize foods as my favorite or less likely, food is food." 

"That's good." I nodded appreciatively.

A silence settled between us as we trod onto the beach, the sand beneath our feet sinking with each step toward the ocean's edge.

With the sky having cleared, the moon now adorned the waves with its gentle light, casting a sense of enchantment and tranquility over our surroundings.

"Can I ask you something if you don't mind?" Talia's voice cut through the silence, her tone cautious.

"Sure." I replied, casting her a sidelong glance, my gaze keen and attentive.

"The first time we spoke." She began, and I indicated my attention as I listened. "You never really answered my question, what happened when you let your emotions take over?" 

A sigh escaped me, and I internally wrestled with the choice of answer that would benefit the moment.

"It was after my parents were killed. In the week following their murder." I admitted, the weight of those memories tangibly heavy in my words.. "I was lost, I couldn't accept it." 

"Bruce, you were a child." Talia offered solace, her hand coming to rest on my shoulder with a comforting touch.

"No Talia." I shook my head with determination. "I couldn't accept it was random, that some plain old no name Joe Chill had killed my parents over nothing but pocket change and pearls."

"Deep down I believed that there was to be something bigger at work. Growing up, I heard about the legend of the Court of Owls."  I explained, noting Talia's intrigue at the unfamiliar term.

"The Court of Owl is an ancient myth among Gotham's elite, a secretive cabal that controlled the city from the shadows. Yet, no tangible proof existed of their existence."

"Driven by my instincts, I delved into a relentless investigation of the Court. Every scrap of evidence I could gather led me to a mansion on the outskirts of the city." 

"I was sure that was it, I had found the court of owls, the men behind the murder of my parent's death." My narrative paused, a brief touch to the bridge of my nose as if recollecting the emotion of that moment. I was painting a theatrical picture. 

"But what I found that night was actually much more terrifying." I allowed a dramatic pause to linger.

"Nothing." 

"What?" Her confusion was palpable.

"Dust." I answered, a blend of frustration and regret evident in my voice. "I had allowed my emotions to guide me, to perceive any shred of evidence as a confirmation of my suspicions. In reality, it led me to a dead end."

"I lost that day."

Talia's hand extended, our fingers interlocking as she pulled herself closer to me. I inhaled deeply as her head found its resting place on my shoulder, and together, we resumed our steps along the shoreline.

"You didn't lose Bruce." Talia murmured, her voice an anchor of reassurance. I turned my gaze to her, inviting her to elaborate. "If anything you proved you were a human and a son."

"Thank you." I murmured, drawing her in until our bodies were close, our foreheads touching gently. Her arms found their place on my shoulders, and mine settled securely around her hips.

"Look at me." I chuckled, lifting her chin gently to meet my gaze. "I'm the one who promised no more gloomy conversations, yet here I am, veering in that direction."

Talia smiled and inched her lips closer. "I'm sure you have ways to lift the mood."

"You bet I do." I pulled a phone from my shirt pocket, the one I had bought upon arriving here, and scrolled through the songs until I found one that felt right for the moment.

The song began to play, the melody just loud enough for the two of us to hear. As the lyrics flowed out, Talia and I swayed to the music, moving at our own pace. I caught a whiff of her unique and captivating scent, one I doubted I could ever forget. Her breaths grew quicker, and a smile spread across my face as I sensed our bodies warming up.

"You certainly have a way with romance." Talia grinned.

"Maybe you haven't heard of the Wayne Charm before?" I quipped, shifting my hands from her hips to her neck. I gently pulled her closer, and without hesitation, I leaned in and kissed her. The surprise in Talia's eyes quickly turned into acceptance as she melted into the kiss.

Suddenly, a loud explosion echoed through the air, causing us to break our kiss and turn our gaze toward the sea. There, we witnessed the cruise ship engulfed in flames, and a jet was swiftly flying away from it.

"Looks like your father is done with his work." I commented.

"Seems he has." Talia replied with a smile.

"And what were we doing before that?" I inquired, pretending to be clueless.

"I believe we were kissing." She answered thoughtfully.

"Oh." I exclaimed, arching my eyebrows in a playful manner, and then I pulled her close for another kiss.

Our lips met while we continued to dance in our own little universe. Above us, the stars twinkled in the night sky, and we remained silent, both afraid to shatter the enchantment that surrounded us.

It was cheesy as hell but gotta admit, this was kinda fun.

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Answer for the previous one: Power.