fic post:
against the odds, the dark knight, harvey/bruce, pg-13.
There was something about him, about Bruce, he couldn’t quite place.
title: against the odds.
pairing/characters: a hint of harvey/bruce. established rachel/harvey.
fandom: the dark knight/nolan!'verse.
summary: There was something about him, about Bruce, he couldn’t quite place.
rating: pg-13.
word count: 1451.
disclaimer: all characters belong to DC Comics and themselves; plz don't sue, kthnx.
notes/warnings: this is what I get for officially falling in love with this pairing from the moment I saw them interact on the big screen. I owe so much fic but this was definitely eating away at my brain for the past two or three weeks. might be OOC, but I've never written them before so -- keep that in mind? unbeta'ed, all mistakes are mine. edit: there seems to be some confusion with when exactly harvey proposed to rachel; in my opinion he asked her before that night at the fundraiser for harvey. whether or not that's true, it's definitely written in to this fic that way. hope that clears it up.
He stood at the edge of the world. The night swept Gotham in a blanket of activity; tonight was the charity event held for the city’s newest savior. Harvey stood at the edge of the world, holding onto a champagne flute and looking out on the city below while the party was taking place behind. He sighed, the wind catching on his suit-jacket. Rachel had to be around somewhere, mingling with the guests, and more probable, Bruce. There was something about him, about Bruce, he couldn’t quite place. Something about the way he looked at Rachel and how she stared back, like there was something between them that Harvey would never be able to figure out.
It made him way too uneasy, way too curious. After proposing to her a few weeks before, and hearing her say she needed time, and the way her eyes distanced themselves from his face, he just knew it had everything to do with Wayne. The guy still had feelings for her, that much was clear. But what was it that they were keeping from him that was so hidden from the world? The wind kicked up a bit and he felt his hand shake slightly, his fingers itching for a smoke even though Rachel made him quit a month before. Didn’t stop the involuntary movements, though.
“Tired of being praised already?” He heard behind him, gruff and teasing. Harvey turns to see Bruce smirking slightly and making his way towards him on the terrace. Harvey just shrugs, not really knowing what to say to someone he wants to both thank for the event he put together and yell at for the questions he has about the relationship between him and Rachel.
“Guess I am,” is all he can muster, and Bruce chuckles, a comfortable silence falling between them. Two men against the world.
Harvey looks at him, scans his face for any sort of cocky grin or patronizing smile, but all he sees is a man in search of something. Bruce’s eyes look out at the same city Harvey does, like he’s pensive about the future of Gotham, too. Or maybe, he’s watchful over all of them, however strange that seems. Bruce can tell Harvey’s staring at him when he smiles and ducks his head, turning towards him.
“So, not enjoying the party I assume?”
Harvey looks away, not wanting to be too honest. “No, it’s great, actually. I didn’t get to thank you earlier, by the way.”
Bruce shakes his head. “No need, I’m grateful for all the work you’re doing, Harvey. City needs you.”
“Yeah, that’s what they’re telling me,” Harvey manages to laugh a little. Bruce cocks his head like he saw right through that.
“And you don’t believe it?”
Harvey sighs a little. “I think the city needs hope. What I’m doing now, who knows if that’ll hold forever. I think justice can be served but in all honesty, it can only last so long.” Harvey feels relief pouring out of him in waves and he’s surprised; he hasn’t even really been this honest with Rachel. He’s kept his façade up for weeks now, and somehow it’s taken him this long to say something about it.
“You’re doing the right thing. The criminals are getting the upper hand and someone needs to bring that down. You’re the guy to do it. It won’t be easy, though. I can see that.”
Harvey waits a beat, letting go of a breath he held in, nodding slightly. “It’s probably just my nature to worry about these people.” Harvey looks back at him and Bruce is nearer than he was before; the wind whips past them and their bodies simultaneously move closer together, whether by some unspoken force or the weather pushing them. He doesn’t know how long he stares at Bruce’s mouth but he sees something familiar about it, something he saw the night before. On the rooftop with Gordon when the Batman showed up and he spoke to them, there was something about the way his mouth moved when he spoke, that strong sense of intimidation combined with the solemn understanding of something much darker. Bruce had that in common with the dark figure, that much was apparent. It was strange and it captivated him unknowingly, his eyes transfixed. He barely noticed Bruce watching him back.
“There you are, Mr. Dent,” an amused feminine voice filters through his haze and he turns sharply to the voice, watching as Rachel walks over to them. She links her arm through Harvey’s and smiles at Bruce. “Keeping him away from me?” She jokes and Harvey finds himself flushing at the words but clears his throat to keep the attention off of him. Bruce manages a smile and nods towards the commotion inside.
“You two enjoy yourselves, I think I might stay out here a bit longer.” Rachel touches his arm and gives him a kiss on his cheek.
“Don’t brood too long, Bruce. It’s not good for you.” And with that she’s pulling Harvey along, hating when he looks back at Bruce Wayne in the same position he was in; back against the world and looking out towards a city of corruptness.
When they’re inside, Rachel introduces him to people he hadn’t met that grew up with both her and Bruce. When he shook the last person’s hand and they told him they believed in him, and believed he could save the city, well, he might’ve actually felt like it was true this time. And if he just so happened to hear a deep familiar voice tell him he believed in him too, it was merely a coincidence.
~
He walks her to the front steps of the downtown apartment after the cops let her go from questioning, a sense of protectiveness overwhelming him when he knew that she was going to be alone that night. She tugs on his shirt sleeve, fingers drifting up underneath his suit where the jacket met shirt, soft run up and across his wrist. It was her way of letting him know she would be okay. He believes her, brings them close and meets her mouth halfway when she leans up.
Harvey kisses her, his thoughts wandering hopelessly to someone else. A stronger mouth, firmer lips, not a pair of soft lip-stick smudged ones. He brings his hand up to frame her face, his mind working against him harder now. It’d be different; a strong jaw he’d find, a hungry mouth capturing his over and over. Mind in a different place, he kisses her like he never wants to kiss anyone else. He feels guilty when he feels himself get hard at the thought of someone, of him, of the man he once thought he hated, taking his mouth and getting what he wants. Suddenly she pulls away, a whisper in her voice.
“What’s on your mind?” Her question sounds accusatory and he can’t help but sigh in the way she knows isn’t content.
“Who else would I be thinking about?” And she wants to ask him how he knew she meant that instead, but she stops. Her hand goes up to his cheek, brushing against his hair which now covers half his face, the shadow scaring her more than she would admit.
“I’ll see you tomorrow morning.” Searching his eyes she tells him everything he needs to know and he kisses her one last time. He lets go of her hand and she walks the three steps up to the door and lets herself in, looking back and smiling softly.
The cab is still there waiting and he smiles back at her before getting in. As soon as the door shuts and he gives the directions to his apartment, Harvey settles into the seat and feels something in his suit pocket. He takes it out and sees it’s one of the napkins from earlier, from the charity event.
Wayne Enterprises in fancy lettering, black smudging from not knowing it was in his fist when he was put into the closet. He clutched it tight during the conversation with Rachel. Harvey remembers when they told him Bruce was the one who saved him. He considers a moment, lowers the cab window and starts to crumple it again, ready to throw it out. Then he stops, folds it back up quickly and puts it back into his pocket, his knuckles brushing the silver coin as he puts it there.
He’d decide (heads or tails; that was how it always was) later what to do with it. For now, that was where it would stay.
end.
There was something about him, about Bruce, he couldn’t quite place.
title: against the odds.
pairing/characters: a hint of harvey/bruce. established rachel/harvey.
fandom: the dark knight/nolan!'verse.
summary: There was something about him, about Bruce, he couldn’t quite place.
rating: pg-13.
word count: 1451.
disclaimer: all characters belong to DC Comics and themselves; plz don't sue, kthnx.
notes/warnings: this is what I get for officially falling in love with this pairing from the moment I saw them interact on the big screen. I owe so much fic but this was definitely eating away at my brain for the past two or three weeks. might be OOC, but I've never written them before so -- keep that in mind? unbeta'ed, all mistakes are mine. edit: there seems to be some confusion with when exactly harvey proposed to rachel; in my opinion he asked her before that night at the fundraiser for harvey. whether or not that's true, it's definitely written in to this fic that way. hope that clears it up.
He stood at the edge of the world. The night swept Gotham in a blanket of activity; tonight was the charity event held for the city’s newest savior. Harvey stood at the edge of the world, holding onto a champagne flute and looking out on the city below while the party was taking place behind. He sighed, the wind catching on his suit-jacket. Rachel had to be around somewhere, mingling with the guests, and more probable, Bruce. There was something about him, about Bruce, he couldn’t quite place. Something about the way he looked at Rachel and how she stared back, like there was something between them that Harvey would never be able to figure out.
It made him way too uneasy, way too curious. After proposing to her a few weeks before, and hearing her say she needed time, and the way her eyes distanced themselves from his face, he just knew it had everything to do with Wayne. The guy still had feelings for her, that much was clear. But what was it that they were keeping from him that was so hidden from the world? The wind kicked up a bit and he felt his hand shake slightly, his fingers itching for a smoke even though Rachel made him quit a month before. Didn’t stop the involuntary movements, though.
“Tired of being praised already?” He heard behind him, gruff and teasing. Harvey turns to see Bruce smirking slightly and making his way towards him on the terrace. Harvey just shrugs, not really knowing what to say to someone he wants to both thank for the event he put together and yell at for the questions he has about the relationship between him and Rachel.
“Guess I am,” is all he can muster, and Bruce chuckles, a comfortable silence falling between them. Two men against the world.
Harvey looks at him, scans his face for any sort of cocky grin or patronizing smile, but all he sees is a man in search of something. Bruce’s eyes look out at the same city Harvey does, like he’s pensive about the future of Gotham, too. Or maybe, he’s watchful over all of them, however strange that seems. Bruce can tell Harvey’s staring at him when he smiles and ducks his head, turning towards him.
“So, not enjoying the party I assume?”
Harvey looks away, not wanting to be too honest. “No, it’s great, actually. I didn’t get to thank you earlier, by the way.”
Bruce shakes his head. “No need, I’m grateful for all the work you’re doing, Harvey. City needs you.”
“Yeah, that’s what they’re telling me,” Harvey manages to laugh a little. Bruce cocks his head like he saw right through that.
“And you don’t believe it?”
Harvey sighs a little. “I think the city needs hope. What I’m doing now, who knows if that’ll hold forever. I think justice can be served but in all honesty, it can only last so long.” Harvey feels relief pouring out of him in waves and he’s surprised; he hasn’t even really been this honest with Rachel. He’s kept his façade up for weeks now, and somehow it’s taken him this long to say something about it.
“You’re doing the right thing. The criminals are getting the upper hand and someone needs to bring that down. You’re the guy to do it. It won’t be easy, though. I can see that.”
Harvey waits a beat, letting go of a breath he held in, nodding slightly. “It’s probably just my nature to worry about these people.” Harvey looks back at him and Bruce is nearer than he was before; the wind whips past them and their bodies simultaneously move closer together, whether by some unspoken force or the weather pushing them. He doesn’t know how long he stares at Bruce’s mouth but he sees something familiar about it, something he saw the night before. On the rooftop with Gordon when the Batman showed up and he spoke to them, there was something about the way his mouth moved when he spoke, that strong sense of intimidation combined with the solemn understanding of something much darker. Bruce had that in common with the dark figure, that much was apparent. It was strange and it captivated him unknowingly, his eyes transfixed. He barely noticed Bruce watching him back.
“There you are, Mr. Dent,” an amused feminine voice filters through his haze and he turns sharply to the voice, watching as Rachel walks over to them. She links her arm through Harvey’s and smiles at Bruce. “Keeping him away from me?” She jokes and Harvey finds himself flushing at the words but clears his throat to keep the attention off of him. Bruce manages a smile and nods towards the commotion inside.
“You two enjoy yourselves, I think I might stay out here a bit longer.” Rachel touches his arm and gives him a kiss on his cheek.
“Don’t brood too long, Bruce. It’s not good for you.” And with that she’s pulling Harvey along, hating when he looks back at Bruce Wayne in the same position he was in; back against the world and looking out towards a city of corruptness.
When they’re inside, Rachel introduces him to people he hadn’t met that grew up with both her and Bruce. When he shook the last person’s hand and they told him they believed in him, and believed he could save the city, well, he might’ve actually felt like it was true this time. And if he just so happened to hear a deep familiar voice tell him he believed in him too, it was merely a coincidence.
~
He walks her to the front steps of the downtown apartment after the cops let her go from questioning, a sense of protectiveness overwhelming him when he knew that she was going to be alone that night. She tugs on his shirt sleeve, fingers drifting up underneath his suit where the jacket met shirt, soft run up and across his wrist. It was her way of letting him know she would be okay. He believes her, brings them close and meets her mouth halfway when she leans up.
Harvey kisses her, his thoughts wandering hopelessly to someone else. A stronger mouth, firmer lips, not a pair of soft lip-stick smudged ones. He brings his hand up to frame her face, his mind working against him harder now. It’d be different; a strong jaw he’d find, a hungry mouth capturing his over and over. Mind in a different place, he kisses her like he never wants to kiss anyone else. He feels guilty when he feels himself get hard at the thought of someone, of him, of the man he once thought he hated, taking his mouth and getting what he wants. Suddenly she pulls away, a whisper in her voice.
“What’s on your mind?” Her question sounds accusatory and he can’t help but sigh in the way she knows isn’t content.
“Who else would I be thinking about?” And she wants to ask him how he knew she meant that instead, but she stops. Her hand goes up to his cheek, brushing against his hair which now covers half his face, the shadow scaring her more than she would admit.
“I’ll see you tomorrow morning.” Searching his eyes she tells him everything he needs to know and he kisses her one last time. He lets go of her hand and she walks the three steps up to the door and lets herself in, looking back and smiling softly.
The cab is still there waiting and he smiles back at her before getting in. As soon as the door shuts and he gives the directions to his apartment, Harvey settles into the seat and feels something in his suit pocket. He takes it out and sees it’s one of the napkins from earlier, from the charity event.
Wayne Enterprises in fancy lettering, black smudging from not knowing it was in his fist when he was put into the closet. He clutched it tight during the conversation with Rachel. Harvey remembers when they told him Bruce was the one who saved him. He considers a moment, lowers the cab window and starts to crumple it again, ready to throw it out. Then he stops, folds it back up quickly and puts it back into his pocket, his knuckles brushing the silver coin as he puts it there.
He’d decide (heads or tails; that was how it always was) later what to do with it. For now, that was where it would stay.
end.