First Date [locked to themyscirans]

[nodyingyoung]

Bruce couldn't remember the last time he would have considered himself anxious, but there were definitely nerves at play that night as his private jet taxied off the runway and over to its hangar. He'd flown into cities just for a dinner date dozens of times, but this evening's companion was exactly as she'd said when they'd met-- not like any other woman he'd ever known. And that had only partly to do with what she was capable of physically. Diana was a match for him on many levels, maybe even his better.

Not that he was admitting that to anyone, of course.

Still, he was nothing if not himself. He needed to know more about her, needed to solve the mystery of Diana Prince, and of why he really hadn't hesitated at all to accept her invitation.

He walked down the lowered steps of the jet onto the tarmac to find her waiting. He smiled Bruce Wayne's smile and checked his watch.

"Two minutes early. Do I get any credit for that?"

Comments

[ex_themyscirans396]

It doesn't take long to get from memorial to airport, the distance involved is almost trifling. With a private car it's nothing. Diana arrives on scene early enough to watch the plane land, chatting amiably with one of the personnel on duty until Bruce makes his appearance. It's been a long time since she's been interested in someone past a conversation or two. Maybe it's because she's witnessed his tenacity in battle against overwhelming odds, or the grace to admit being wrong. Maybe it's the glimpse of genuine admiration toward a former adversary turned ally, even if the alliance was short-lived.

Whatever it is, they have a common purpose. Learning more about him only benefits that.

"Not really, but I suspect you already know that." Diana offers a smile of her own. "What are you in the mood for tonight, Bruce? We can walk somewhere, or I have a car at our disposal."


(ooc: i default to present tense, jsyk. don't worry about matching if you're more comfortable with past.)

[nodyingyoung]

[OOC: No problem!]

"I had to try," he says with a shrug, walking closer. In her presence, Bruce immediately feels himself on a kind of alert: there's something about Diana that makes the hair on the back of his neck stand on end, and yet it's not the same kind of tension he feels around enemies. He's not wary, but he is something unfamiliar, and that's unsettling.

At the same time, he can't help himself but investigate. He's a detective, after all.

"Walking sounds good." Bruce looks Diana over, but it's not the appraising leer that he uses at parties and in public. And he's not sizing her up, either. If he could just pin things down, he'll be much more content.

"Do I offer my arm, or is that a little chauvinistic?"

[ex_themyscirans396]

"You did." There's a thread of amusement present; nothing overly harsh, just acknowledging his ploy and the failure of it. If she's aware of his scrutiny, there's no obvious - or outward - sign of it. Diana simply threads her arm through his after waving off her car's driver and a promise to call him later with instructions.

She's dressed simply, elegantly, much like she was on their prior encounters; dark leggings and a knit sweater under her coat. It cultivates a European aura, although her accent already hints at that. In return, Diana lets her gaze flick across him - head to toe - before her expression softens fractionally.

It would be a mistake to assume she's not on her guard, though. "There are restaurants scattered between here and the president's home. Why don't we stop at the first one that looks interesting?"

[nodyingyoung]

"Well, if I'd had a little more notice, I'm sure I could've swung a table actually in the White House," Bruce comments with an accustomed swagger to his tone. "But then I suppose that's not a venue especially suited to first dates."

It's a few steps before he catches himself and the line of BS he's just tossed out. "Sorry about that. Force of habit."

He curses himself. Diana's making him nervous, for God's sake, and it's infuriating in its way. Control is how he lives, and control is how he's managed to survive doing what he does for two decades. So yes, he's not happy about it... But what's strange is that he's not more upset.

Small talk? "So when was the last time you were in DC?"

[ex_themyscirans396]

"I'm sure you could have," her reply is easy, couched in the tone of a diplomat. She's acutely aware of the man beside her; his likely habits, what kind of schedule he must keep to convince the world that the Wayne heir and the Batman are two entirely different people. She herself is using an assumed name, though its origins are speculative to her own if he ever cares to look at what information is right in front of him. When he's ready for the truth, she'll be here.

"Years ago. It's been a long time." Superman's entrance on the global stage - as himself instead of ghost - is partially what's drawn her back to mortal civilization. "I've been exploring the museums."

It's a piece of herself, small but something he can add to the pile.

[nodyingyoung]

It's not untrue. Bruce Wayne has put money in all the right pockets over the years, and if he really wanted to, he could be one of those policy-making one percenters. But he's far more interested in using that clout to keep eyes away from his dealings and investments, considering how much of them end up being funneled into his leisure time pursuits.

He nods as Diana gives him the kind of half-answer he's expecting (and is an expert at himself).

"I remember the interest you were showing in that bogus Alexander the Great sword." Bruce chuckles. "The way you looked at it was almost familiar. Your interest in antiquities must be very strong."

[ex_themyscirans396]

Bruce could easily be one of the top percent of the world's economy. His business interests are flourishing, his pedigree is solid, it's not hard to imagine the man brushing elbows with lobbyists and politicians. And, she suspects, sometimes he does. However, the important thing to remember is his philanthropy. He takes care of his own, above all, whether it's Alfred or a lowly employee at one of his companies. Diana knows - she's done research.

He cares about people more than money to a startling degree for this day and age. If he didn't, they wouldn't be having a conversation. "It is," she admits after a thoughtful pause, turning her head to watch the lights in the distance. "I like collecting old things."

Whether they are items not meant for the world at large, artifacts best held in a museum, or certain vigilantes who might need, at the very least, a friend.

[nodyingyoung]

He chuckles, and it's a warm, genuine laugh the likes of which Bruce doesn't let slip very often. But he can't help it after that comment. "I'll have you know I'm considered very fit for my age. And we both know I'm not really the December between you and me."

When it comes to that, it's one more conundrum of Diana that he's drawn to. Being around her, she feels both youthful and ancient at the same time. And there might just be parts of him that needs both of those things.

"We should meet up at one of the projects my company sponsors. There are archaeologists doing some really important work on the ancient world today. At least, that's what my advisors tell me."

[ex_themyscirans396]

The corner of her mouth lifts, eyes bright above it, at the display of amusement. Laughter suits him, even if doled out in small quantities. There are faint laugh lines at the corner of his eyes, a remnant of happier times. She nudges his side with her elbow.

"That's true." She wonders how he'll react if her true age ever becomes unearthed, brought into the sunlight like a true relic of the ancient world, as he terms it. "You know, I'd like that. What kind of projects are they? If you don't mind me asking."

[nodyingyoung]

"You'd have to talk to my educational outreach coordinator for a complete list," he confesses. "How she keeps all that straight is beyond me. But I know we've got a team in South American crawling around inside Mayan pyramids, and one in Canada researching Viking exploration patterns." Bruce gives her a sidelong glance. "Even one team on Crete who think they've found physical evidence that some of the figures from Greek mythology may actually have existed."

All right, so he's baiting just a little. But what's a first date if not partially a fact-finding mission, right?

"I seem to remember an excellent Thai place on the next block."

[ex_themyscirans396]

Diana shoots him an amused look in return. "Are you going to tell me that someone with your level of intellect can't keep track of every archeological mission that your company underwrites?" The sarcasm is lightly sprinkled, but it is there.

She's not going to believe any protests that he doesn't pay attention. No, he's too shrewd for that. Shrewd enough to take some calculated risks, too. "I wouldn't be surprised. Most legends have some kernel of truth to them. What would you do if myth was proven fact?"

A pause. "Thai sounds delightful. Take me there."

[nodyingyoung]

"I could," he retorts, "but I spend too much time tracking my other pursuits." The defensiveness is only mostly in jest. "Besides, there's only so much room up here," Bruce explains, tapping his temple. "After all, I am getting on in years."

It's an interesting question to be sure, so he gives it serious thought. Not very long ago, he would have immediately believed that the affairs of gods and monsters wasn't any business of his, not when he had a city to protect, but things had changed drastically.

"I suppose it all depends on how they match their stories. A lot of those deities were depicted as capricious and arrogant. As you know, that's not my cup of tea."

Arriving at the restaurant, the host recognizes him immediately and effusively. They're ushered without wait to a private dining room upstairs.