TW: some sensuality, mentions of nudity but no actual smut!

...

"You never lose by loving, you lose by holding back."

It was a different kind of shock, finding out her partner, Batman, was Bruce Wayne, than when roughly about an hour ago, Alex found out her father was murdered by the killer she's chasing. Obviously the two were wildly different, but two shocks like that in a row really gave her whiplash.

Alex eyed Bruce's face. It was plastered with anticipation, maybe a tinge of fear. He hasn't revealed himself to anyone before. Alfred obviously was there from the beginning. He hasn't done this before. It felt right with her, completely natural. It was like a massive weight was lifted off his chest. Although, he was a bit worried since neither of them had said a word in the last two minutes. They just stared at each other's faces intensely.

"This.. this is happening right now... right?" She stammers. This felt like a wild dream. Her father, now this. She had gotten to know Batman for so long. All those late working nights, hours talking back and forth.

The kiss.

"Yes, this is happening." It was the first time he could use his proper tone of voice. It was fucking exhilarating. Alex goes to reach and touch his face, but recoils. She's kissed Batman, she doesn't have that relationship with Bruce.

Or does she? God, her head was spinning.

Bruce noticed her hesitance. He's unsure of what to do though, at the moment. Behind the shock she was in so much pain, he could tell that much. He starts feeling guilty for throwing this at her after what had just happened. Or maybe it's a possible distraction for a moment. Maybe he can relieve her pain, just for a second.

The mask coming off sort of broke down a wall between the two.

"My condolences.. about your mother." He says gently, repeating what he had said at the funeral. "And about your father."

"You as well." She whispers back. The tears began welling up in her eyes. He nods.

She'll run out of tears eventually.

Alex shakes slightly from the cool weather and the downpour. "Maybe we should get out of the rain." She mumbles. "I'm not as covered as you are."

"I know where we can go." Bruce slipped his cowl back on, and rose to his feet, pulling Alex up with him. Her legs felt similar to jello. Her mind was racing. She glanced up at him as he held onto her arms, not wanting him to let go. She began feeling comfort in his touch.

He did let go though, wondering what would happen if they were spotted this close together. "Only for a short while." Bruce mumbles, as if he read her mind.

...

It was nearing the early hours of the morning. After driving on regular streets, Bruce turned down an underground tunnel that then led to his Batcave. Honestly, Alex wasn't exactly paying attention to where they were headed. She assumed now since his identity was revealed, the Wayne manor. When the car entered into the batcave, she was intrigued but also a bit concerned. It looked dark and grimy.

The car ride had been silent. She felt a bit outside of herself at the moment, compartmentalizing for the time being. She knows it'll hit later. Maybe she was in a state of shock, so it wasn't hitting. Or maybe her earlier reaction was it. She wasn't sure. It was easier when she was younger and her mother passed, that was from cancer. This was her father being murdered very unexpectedly. She knows that her and Bruce will come back to this later though. It was still an open wound right now.

The two get out of the car. She glanced around at all his random gadgets, cars, bikes, some other random things she doesn't understand. Bruce walked over towards a table. She glanced over at him and watched him, back turned to her, he began removing his suit.  First his Cowl, then his upper body armor. Underneath he had a simple black long sleeve. Alex was unsure of what to do with herself. She didn't wanna be a creep and stare but, he wasn't speaking, she was worried if she opened her mouth she would be in tears again. She wrapped her arms around herself, the cave having a cold breeze, her wet clothes clung to her skin. Alex was somehow even more cold in here then actually out in the downpour. Bruce turned to face her. Their eyes met, tension was thick in the air. He can see her shaking, then he notices her soaking clothes. Shit, she must be freezing.

"Let me run you a bath, and get you a change of clothes." He mumbles, walking over to her then leading her to the elevator a few meters away. He was used to the one being taken care of, but a nagging feeling he had was telling him to help her. She needed any sort of comfort right now. Alex didn't have a family or partner to go home to anymore; that was up to him now, to fill the empty space.

The elevator ascends slowly. Alex and Bruce stand close, their arms are touching. The two were afraid to make any further moves, per say. Alex was incredibly shell shocked at the moment, each passing second she grew more numb. She wanted to lay on the floor and disconnect completely. But she was holding herself together for the time being, in the presence of Bruce Wayne. She felt like she had to, she was worried about being vulnerable in front of him. Again, she knew Batman, not Bruce Wayne, personally that is. She was so lost on how to act.

He shows her to a grand ensuite connected to a bedroom, assuming it's his. Bruce leaves her alone for a moment, to go grab her some clothes. Her eyes linger around the room but she doesn't take much in.

Suddenly, he's back with a set of clothes and folded towel in his arms, placing it on the counter to his left. Alex doesn't move though. So he moves around her and turns on the bathtub faucet. Her distant stare moves towards the running water. He then walks past her to exit but stops in the doorway. "Alex." He says softly. She turns around, her gaze meeting him. There was a fair bit of distance between them. Tears seamlessly slip down her cheeks. Everything was surreal, like a movie playing before her eyes. Bruce takes a bold step forward. He can see her internally falling to pieces, unsure of what she wanted or needed at the moment. "Tell me what you need."

She nods, the tears becoming heavier. She wasn't sure how to ask him to help her, to stay. The words caught in her throat. She hated this feeling, whatever it was, but obviously it wasn't something she could help at the moment. The shaking, crying one second, stopping the next. She was totally out of control. Her fingers go to unbutton her shirt. Bruce's eyes grow wide in shock, he then immediately turns around, giving her some privacy. "I'll just uhm, be in the bedroom." He stammers, not used to feeling nervous like this.

"Bruce." She chokes out. He freezes in place. "S-stay.. please." Bruce's eyebrows knit together in confusion. He was unable to remember the last time he's been this close with someone, so intimate. He needs to keep his cool as the thought scared him a bit. "You can turn around." She coaxed him gently. He hesitantly turns around, finding her continuing down her shirt, popping open the buttons of her long sleeve. "I mean, if you're uncomfortable t-"

"I'm comfortable." Bruce assures her, sounding incredibly nervous. He wasn't used to this feeling either, feeling nervous or shy around someone. He was used to being behind his mask around her, hiding his true identity. "Uhm, I'm going to change quickly. I'll come back when you're in. If that's okay?" He wonders.

Alex simply nods. When he leaves, she completely undresses, placing her clothes in a messy pile. She steps into the hot water, pins and needles pricking her skin from the drastic temperature change. She submerges herself, tilting her head backwards, soaking her hair. Once she brings her knees to her chest, Bruce re-enters the bathroom. He's wearing a plain black t-shift and some simple sweatpants. The room was thick with humidity.

Bruce quickly glanced at her face, and parts of her body that aren't private. Alex rests her chin on her knee, aimlessly staring forward, she didn't glance his way when he came back. Unsure of what to do, Bruce faces the vanity and grabs a small cloth, submerging it in warm water and facial cleanser. He rubs the black make up from his eyes, along with sweat, dirt, and grime from the night. He feels refreshed, rinsing it off with cold water. Glancing over, she's in the same position as the last time he looked at her.

Bruce bends down and grabs a bottle of shampoo, conditioner and some body wash from the cabinet. He places them on the covered toilet seat beside the bath and he drops to his knees. He squirts some shampoo from the bottle onto his palm, and with his dry hand, places it on the top of her head, trailing it down her hair to collect some water. Rubbing his hands together, he brings them to her hair, scrubbing her long brown locks between his hands. He was never a nurturing person. He didn't have anyone to take care of this way. He was the one being taken care of, when he was a young boy. When he grew older, he was reclusive. It felt right that it was Alex he was helping.

When he pulls away, he dips his hands into the water to rinse them off. When he looks at her, she's staring at him in absolute awe. He nods, motioning her to rinse her hair. Alex slides her body down, submerging her hair then she then resurfaces. She rubs the water from her vision, he's waiting there for her. He tried to keep his eyes away from her private areas, but it was hard. It was just body parts, he tells himself. He's mature. She's willing to be this exposed to him, she doesn't care much if he sees every inch of her. Alex doesn't care much about herself in her personal life and affairs. She really didn't see any value in herself, unless she was at work, catching the bad people, trying to clean this mess of a city. That's when she loves herself.

Their eyes catch each other's eyes again. "Bruce." Alex whispers, grabbing his attention. He leans forward and presses his lips to hers tenderly. She kisses back for a moment before the two fall away. "Thank you." She breathes.

"Thank you, Alex."

Alex didn't understand at that moment, but Bruce was thanking her for making him feel human for the first time in forever.