Fic: Drycleaning

[manorly_wayne]

Talia claims to be using every resource available to assist in his search for answers but as the weeks go by Bruce becomes more convinced by the day that this is not the case. Certainly she brings him leads, but all the leads her contacts give them come to be a waste of time, a dead end. More often than not it seems they’re taking him further from

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[osborn_heir]

Harry's still unsure exactly what the fuck took place in Malibu. Tony was drunk, yeah, but this was different. He was different. The way he'd talked to Pepper

[manorly_wayne]

He's aware there is more than one person in the room before he even enters and for a moment he wonders if he's returning earlier than usual, if he's caught Talia by surprise. He has a moment when he feels irritation she'd be so stupid to bring someone, anyone, even if it is a source, back to the room they share. It's asking for trouble, inviting it

[osborn_heir]

This is not, of course, the first time Harry has been walked in on having sex. Funny enough, it's not even the first time he's been walked in on having sex with a person's significant other. However, and this is a big, huge even, however, this is the first time he's been walked in on having sex with someone who isn't his wife, while he's been married

[manorly_wayne]

Talia looks back and that beautiful face is the portrait of extreme innocence. She even says something to the effect of having not expected to see him back so soon... and to complete the show, she covers herself, ever so coyly, with the sheet.

Bruce seems... it's hard to know how Bruce seems. It's hard to see him at all beneath the whole charade.

"Put some pants on, Harry."

He says. No. He orders.

He doesn't do Harry the service of looking away. He isn't that kind. He looks right at him. He even looks him up and down.

"Really, Talia?"

But this Bruce that isn't Bruce is making no move to hand Harry his pants. And he's standing between Harry and them.

[osborn_heir]

"Okay. You're not Batman."

There you go, Bruce. Easy as that. It's not that he believes him. He's not sure he doesn't believe him. It's just, Bruce is a mess.

He's a mess. He's right. Bruce's life is a wreck, and it's so fucked up.

The Batman stuff, it's not even important. It's just not.

"I'm sorry."

He doesn't add what it's for. Not if he's sorry for fucking Talia. If he's sorry for disappointing him. For disgusting him. If he's sorry for adding to the stress Bruce is already under. If he's sorry for accusing him of something when he has no proof. If he's sorry for fucking up. Again.

Bruce told him before apologies shouldn't be with conditions. Not that he thinks Bruce wants an apology from him.

Looking over at Talia, he wonders why she is so quiet now. She'd had so much to say before, and now she's so quiet.

Is this what she wanted? Was this the end game?

Harry looks down, but he doesn't ask Bruce to let him go again. He just stares at the floor.

[manorly_wayne]

"Batman..."

He says, shaking his head, as if it's the stupidest thing in the world.

And as he goes to remove the handcuffs it happens. Both windows shatter and through the glass crashes figures dressed in black. Two, four, six.

Talia stands up.

Bruce stands up.

He drops the key on Harry's lap.

"Try to get under the bed."

He says.

[osborn_heir]

Okay. If Harry was a paranoid person, well more paranoid than the Osborn genes give you, he would start to suspect he's the cause for all these damn explosions.

Monaco.

Malibu.

Seedy motel room with Bruce and Talia.

YEP.

Bruce and Talia are on their feet and people in black are rushing into the room. Seriously?

SERIOUSLY?

Using the key, he releases the cuff and that's all he's able to do before they're attacking. The thing is, and call him crazy, you wouldn't be the first, Bruce is holding his own.

Against...

Ninjas?

Are these ninjas?

Talia and Bruce are fighting ninjas. Harry would laugh if it wasn't for the fact he is pretty sure they're all going to die.

Under the bed. Right. There are ninjas blocking the bed so doing the best with what he can, Harry is under the table. Waiting to die.

Death by ninjas in Gotham.

[manorly_wayne]

Bruce for his part doesn't feel threatened. He feels annoyed. Whatever this is, whoever has done this, this isn't about hurting him - they know it takes more than six men to do that - it's about drawing attention to him. It's about driving him out into the public