Chapter Text
Bruce rarely allowed himself to go out, shielding himself from public image and money-hungry yes men. However, he needed a drink, and Alfred thought drinking alone in his room was ' Anti-social' and 'Brooding'. Walking up to the bar, he collapses onto the nearest seat, savouring the emptyness. There's only one other man, who was hunched over his empty glass, rubbing his hands through his sandy brown hair while pushing up his crooked glasses. Bruce lowers the brim of his cap to cover more of his face and sits next to him, ordering a martini, along with another of whatever drink the man next to him had. The man looks up at him gratefully, letting Bruce see his full face. He has pale skin and deep purple crevices under his soft green eyes. His lips are thin and chapped and he bites on it thoughtfully.
' Do you.... like riddles' The man asks carefully. Bruce shrugs and smiles at him.
' I can riddle.. on occasion.' He replies non-chalantly. The man next to him starts humming happily and tapping his fingers on the table in front of them excitedly. Calming himself, he took a frayed old notepad out of his backpack and flipped it open. ' Ok Ok, listen to this.' He clears his throat and pushes his glasses up the bridge of his nose. Bruce takes a sip of his drink and leans in closer to the other man. ' Well, don't keep me waiting. The suspense is killing me' He jokes, unoticed by the other man, who is transfixed on his notebook. 'Ok, You hide me from people eventhough you know that someday you're going to give me away forever. When we depart, you won't be sad, you'll be happy that I'm gone, eventhough you went out of your way to make sure I was perfect. What am I?' The other man smirks at Bruce, almost shaking with excitement. Bruce rubs his chin jokingly, enjoying having a conversation with someone genuine for once. 'Plus,' Bruce thinks to himself ',He is pretty cute' before completley squashing the thought. The other man in question is shaking with excitement and is dangerously close to falling off his stool.
' Could the answer be.. a gift.' Bruce replied, catching the other man by the back to prevent him from fully slipping off. The man squealed with delight, kicking his legs hapharzardly and covering his mouth to stop himself from making anymore of a scene. ' Yes!! No-ever gets that right, you're one smart cookie' He giggles.' That is me, saying that you for the gift.' The man downs the rest of his drink in one fatal swoop and giggles softly. Bruce lifts up his drink and finishes the remaining dregs, to catch up with the other man's obvious drunkness. ' It's ok. I think I need the company. If we are going to drink together I should find out your name though.' He replies, ordering another. ' It is Edward. Nashton. OK now you tell me yours, three, two one go' Edward excitedly laughed. It dawned on Bruce that Edward really does not know who he is, whether that be due to his flimsy disguise or his dumb drunk mind. It felt relieving to be able to be unknown, unjudged by public image, a feeling Bruce only ever felt as Batman, and was welcome in his everyday life. ' Ok Ok weeeell are you going to tell me or not' Edward slurred jokingly.
' Me? I am,, Br-et. Bret my name is Bret.' Bruce stuttered, watching Edward lean onto the table and slowly put his thumb up.
' Ok well Bret,, please drive me home i'm going to vomit' Edward laughed.
Bruce lay a large sum of money onto the counter, hoisting Edward onto his back and into his car. He didn't know why he felt so connected to the taller man , but either way, he knew he had to get him home safely.
'What's your address?' Bruce asks, pressing the satnav on his outragously expensive car, but only getting slurred rambling in response. ' Uh, well ok. I guess you're coming to mine?' He responds to himself.
Bruce purpousley avoids Alfred as he carries the , now giggling, Edward into the manor. Edward is clawing at Bruce's Deftones T-shirt and collapses completley on the ornate bed in the guest room. Bruce thinks about how he will explain all of this to Alfred in the morning, and if Edward would be safe through-out the night. He reminds himself that watching over the drunk man would be ominous and creepy, and leaves slowly, shutting the thick oak door quietly.