Chapter Text
Edward stirs in his sleep before jolting up against the thick comforter. He was wearing the same clothes as yesterday, that being a thin t-shirt with the Carseat Headrest Twin Fantacies album art drawn on it and baggy faded jeans, which both stank of sleep and sweat. The room he had found himself in smelt strongly of wealth, each piece of ornate furniture around him costing more than the entire sum of money he will ever make. The only familiar items were his shoes, carefully placed on a dark oak table. Leaping up, Edward is immediatly hit with a headache festering in his head, causing him to stumble his way to the en suite, because of course this room had an en suite. The marble flooring shone like the stars Edward would never see from his polluted apartment, and the shower was the size of his entire bathroom. Edward held himself up at the sink, trying to stabilize his irratic breaths. The long framed mirror showed him how tired he was, the deep bags under his eyes making him look hollow. Edward began smoothing out his hair with his nimble fingers before spotting a small emblem on the top of the mirror. he squinted to see it, noticing it all around the house like some easter egg hidden for him. It was carved into every gothic pillar and antique wardrobe, and was undeniably a W, the very same W used as the emblem for the Wayne family.
Trying to scream, Edward could only produce a desperate, breathless dry gasp. He wanted to itch all of his skin off, rip out all of his hair in disgust, his skin somehow became paler and his legs buckled under his weight, letting him loudly fall to the cold floor. A man instantly rushed in, kneeling at Edward and asking him questions he had become too numb to hear. Despite his thick eyeliner, stained onto his skin, and Joy division t-shirt contrasting from his usual formal attire, it was Bruce Wayne. Edward weakly pushed himself out of Bruce's warm grip and turned away from him. Bruce held him again, his calloused hands clutching Edward's pale skin, still inspecting him for for injuries. ' Are you ok? I heard you fall from outside.' Bruce murmured, lifting Edward to stop him from slipping back onto the floor. Edward simply flared his nostrils and turned away from the man. Bruce reached his hand out softly, and clasped Edward's soft cheek, turning him to make eye contact. Bruce's eyes were a deep, unflinching blue that matched his other perfect features perfectly. It was unfair he was born handsome and rich, Edward thought, shamelessly checking him out. 'If you aren't in the mood to talk, can you at least say something so I know you're ok' Bruce whispered, bringing a sense of intimacy into his small request. Edward refused to let himself be charmed by the man. It would be foolish to give him another opportunity to deceit him, and hurt him even more personally. Edward was not worthy of love, in his own opinion, and he was deffiently not worth the love of someone so desireable as Bruce Wayne. It was all some kind of trick.
'Ok fine, I'll say one thing, Why Am I Here ?' Edward demanded, his hoarse voice causing his demand to lack the edge he wanted. Bruce seemed unscathed by Edward's sudden hostile nature by his steely expression, but was internally unsure of how to explain what had happened in a way that seemed normal. 'Oh yeah so I got you really drunk at a bar and bought you home to keep you safe. I also took off your shoes el oh el.' Bruce thought. He shouldn't of taken Edward home really. He should of left him in a nice hotel with a note explaining everything, saving them both the awkwardness and confusion, yet, even now he had the overwhelming urge to care for Edward, that only he could be trusted with him, like some fragile item. ' I- You got drunk. With me. You asked me for a ride home but were too drunk to give me your address so I took you here.. We didn't do anything, obviously. I'm not that kind of person.' Bruce explained slowly. Edward sighed and rubbed his forehead, watching Bruce fetch some painkillers from the cabinet above them. ' Well, thank you for the bare minimum.' Edward spits coursely ' I'm sure we had fun last night but I would prefer if we keep this second meeting our last meeting. Please just order me a cab home.' Bruce knelt back down to make eye contact with him, his eyes looking wet and disappointed. Bruce gulped down the frog in his throat and ran his hand through his hair, reminding himself to wash it.
' I know this must be confusing for you, but I really believe we had a great time last night. I'd really like to get to know you, even just as friends. I can't,, isolate myself forever' Bruce was only met with cold silence and thought through what Edward had said more clearly. 'Second meeting?' Edward's head shot back to face him , his expression bitter. ' Yes second meeting. We had met at the opening for the renewal project. You and I were only 8, but we caught eyes for a moment and-' Edward sighed softly, pushing his glasses back up to meet his soft eyes and shaggy hair.' I was so certain you would fix everything for us. You carried so much hope.. I guess we can see how well that went, for me and the rest of the orphans.' Bruce's stomach panged with guilt and recognision. The renewal project and, more specifically, funding for Gotham Orphanage, had been forgotten about after the passing of his parents, as well as most projects and responsibilities given the the 9 year old Bruce. They both sat in awkward silence, Bruce regretting not hiring them the ride home they had asked for.
'I'm..sorry. I was a kid, I forgot the-'
' Not every Kid has the luxury of being able to forget responsibilities. Not every kid can flit from interest to interest due to their hoards of wealth'
Bruce bit his lip thoughtfully, a bad habit, and let the pair step back into silence.
' I wasn't there for you then, but I want to be here for you now. I know I could never make up for what I let happen to you, but I want to try. I really like you, Please.'
Edward stirred and wrung his hands. he was right, Bruce was only a child. He would have had no idea how to help, or really remember the orphanage at all. He had no control over how much the media pitied him. 'Fine.' Edward muttered, still nursing his hangover. ' Please take me home.'
Edward clutched the piece of paper with Bruce's discord and number in his clammy hands. He was sitting in the back of the driver Bruce had sent to deliver him home, an old man who kept sneaking curious glances at him through the rearview mirror. Arriving back at the door of his apartment, he turned to thank the driver, before seeing he had already sped off. Logging onto his computer, Edward sent the friend request to Bruce, for it to be instantly accepted. He rocked back and forth while thinking off what to say before just sending a short message and closing the laptop.
ridlr #6969: when's the next date then ? ur buying ofc