You could call it the morning after, but it's not like anything has ended

[cutting_edgex23]

X's required two hours of sleep came later in the night than they usually do. And once she was awake again, it seemed better stay in bed for a while, watching Bruce sleep.

But eventually breakfast is going to come calling. As are the cats.

It is fortunate that she has the makings of omelets ready to hand.

A high-energy breakfast is probably the way to go.

Comments

[master_bruce]

The smell of food is enough to rouse him. He wanders out of the bathroom a few minutes later, wearing just his tracksuit trousers and a wide grin.

'Morning,' he says, and kisses her on the cheek.

[cutting_edgex23]

X leans into the kiss fractionally, mostly because both her hands are occupied with tasks necessary to cooking.

Kitchen safety is important.

"You can get plates. And the milk."

If he wants to be obliging, that is.

[master_bruce]

'Sure.'

He is ever obliging.

And still grinning.

'You OK?'

[cutting_edgex23]

"Yes," X says, half-turning to look at him as she lifts the frying pan off the burner. She looks a little startled, but only a little.

Then she pauses a moment to dish out the omelet, cutting it in half in the pan.

"You did not make me miserable."

It could be a trick of the light, but maybe the tiny smile on her mouth is actually real.

"But I think that I will need to get a bigger bed."

Bruce makes things so difficult.

[master_bruce]

He places the milk and plates next to her, and drops a kiss to her shoulder. Then he pulls himself up onto the worktop to watch her cook.

'I'm going to take that as a compliment.'

From her, it's glowing praise.

'And can I come help you pick one out?'

He's teasing. Unless she actually wants him to.

[cutting_edgex23]

"You can," X agrees, setting down the spatula to press her fingers against his wrist, just for a second.

He can take it as a compliment, that is.

As for the other --

She's back to looking slightly startled again, if only for a second before she starts dishing out the food.

"There are specifications that are important? For you."

Beat.

"For a bed."

[master_bruce]

'You in it?'

Yeeeah, that grin still hasn't gone away.

[cutting_edgex23]

X looks a little dubious.

"It will be my bed. And you are usually not here when I am not."

Obviously.

"I do not think you will need to come."

Beat.

"Unless you want to."

And now that the table is ready --

She takes his wrist and tugs, very carefully, as if to pull him off the counter and over to the table.

Then she goes to take her own seat.

[master_bruce]

He snorts a laugh, and hops down.

'OK. Well. Big, and comfortable, then.'

The omelet smells awesome.

Everything is awesome, today.

[cutting_edgex23]

"I do not think that will difficult," X offers, after a careful few moments of consideration.

And a careful few sips of milk.

"Storage space will be useful, too. For the frame."

You know, if they are making a list.

[master_bruce]

'For me?'

Yeah, OK, it makes total sense. He just hadn't thought of it yet.

Then again, she could mean she needs more clothes space. Or somewhere for the cats toys.

[cutting_edgex23]

"Yes," X says. "If there are things you want to keep. Here. And there is room in the closet."

Beat.

"I will need storage for some of my weapons cache, too."

Some things it is better to keep hidden.

Shockingly.

[master_bruce]

He spears a bit of his breakfast, and regards it a moment.

'Yeah. I could keep some things here.'

He's never kept things at a girlfriend's place before. No real reason why. He just hasn't.

He takes the bite.

'This is good.'

Beat.

'You can hide some weapons at my place, if you like. If you need extra storage for ones you don't use all the time.'

He has a Batcave. There's room.

[cutting_edgex23]

"Next time you can help," X says.

While this may or may not make the food taste better, she feels any bit of practice helps.

To some extent.

Then she takes a few bites of her own meal, thinking over his offer.

"There are some. It is better to be well-prepared, but I do not have a secondary location. Besides Milliways. And I do not trust the Loompas."

Which is to say 'sure'.

[master_bruce]

He looks faintly alarmed at the idea of more cooking. He did it once before! He didn't realise it was going to become regular.

'...OK.'

Where's Alfred when you need him?

He nods though, through more food.

'I'll help you bring through what you need. I've been wanting you to come see the cave anyway.'

Now it's mostly finished, and all.

[cutting_edgex23]

X is persistent when she thinks a thing is useful.

Speaking of useful --

"Yes. That would be good."

Beat.

"Thank you."

She eats a little more of the omelet, though she does not much look away from him to do so.

"You will help bring the bed in? When I have purchased it."

It is less about the weight than the bulk.

And the stairs.

Some things you do not ask a teleporter for help with. Unless it is entirely necessary.

[master_bruce]

Cue, more grinning.

'Of course.'







'You know, I'll pay for it, if you like.'

Seeing as she's sort of getting it because of him, and all.

[cutting_edgex23]

"Half is okay."

X's response is prompt.

It is not like she cannot afford it herself, but --

They are dating. It makes things different.

A little.

Then, a few long seconds later --

"There are thread-counts you prefer? For the sheets."

Colors too, of course. X is partial to purple. But taking his preferences into account, too, only seems fair.

[master_bruce]

It occurs to him that after all this time dating, they've never talked about money. He doesn't actually know where she gets hers from.

Not that it matters. He doesn't tend to give things like that much thought. Probably because he's never had to, it's true.

'I'm not even sure what a thread-count is,' he says, cheerfully.

'Whatever you prefer.'

Same for colours.

He is not much of an interior decorator.

[cutting_edgex23]

"I think," X ventures after a moment of thought -- and remembering conversations she has overheard -- "that it makes sheets more comfortable. I do not know why."

She would shrug, but there is still food to eat, and she might lose some of the egg from her fork.

"I like purple."

In case he had not noticed that already. See: placemats, curtains, and the stained-glass flowers hanging in the bedroom window.

[master_bruce]

She is admirable in her regard for the egg.

'Purple's OK.'

He likes black.

But he's aware that this is not, necessarily, the best colour to spread through one's furnishings.

'Were you thinking of getting it all today?'

[cutting_edgex23]

X likes black, too. But not for sheets. Or curtains. Bela taught her well.

She takes another sip of milk, head tilting as she studies Bruce.

And after a moment --

"I do not think it would be impossible."

Beat.

"Unless you are very picky."

X's shopping consists of obtaining what she came for, as quickly and effectively as possible, and then leaving.

Again, as quickly and efficiently as possible.

Browsing only happens with other people.

"Or the available options are sub-standard."

[master_bruce]

He blinks.

Sub-standard only happens to other people.

'Well, then. I could come.'

He eats another mouthful, slowly.

And grins.

'Or we could go back to bed.'

Hey, it's been a long time.

[cutting_edgex23]

X weighs these options, gaze flicking from Bruce to her bedroom door and back again.

Some people might call this an easy choice.

X is definitely one of them.

"I think the new bed will be more useful."

Beat.

"It will make experimentation easier."

[master_bruce]

Cue, Bruce Wayne, billionaire and crime fighter...choking on omelet.

'Um.'





'Let's go shopping, then.'

Hell yes.

[cutting_edgex23]

X's victory is complete.

"Okay," X says in response, standing up to clear the table.

"But first you will have to put on a shirt."

There will be time for taking it off again later.

Probably.

[master_bruce]

'...I can do that.'



Yeah. He can do that.

And if she wants to take it off again later, that's just fine with him.