Re: quicklog -- steph/bruce: dive bar.
[There was a moment, brief, when he took a breath and it seemed like he might push. But Bruce knew Eddie was a—touchy subject for both of them and he left it alone. For now. If she wanted to talk about it, if and when, he'd always be willing to listen. It was the least he could do. He knew he wasn't always easy to get along with, and he knew he'd been snapping at people more and more lately—unintentionally, at times, but that wasn't an excuse. He wondered how many of them, his friends and family, talked about how different he was since he'd gotten back. Oh, he was sure they had.
He smiled when she assured him that he could always talk to her. There was a touch of sadness to it, but it was genuine all the same. He believed her.] That means a lot to me, Stephanie. And I hope you can always talk to me too. [He knew there were times when his priorities were skewed, when he put Gotham before his family. He was trying, for what it was worth, not to let that happen as often. He looked down when she squeezed his wrist, and there was something intensely comforting about knowing that he wasn't entirely alone, that he hadn't distanced everyone. The divide reminded him of the other Gotham, where they'd worked well together as a team in times of crisis—but, beyond that, things were strained.]
I know. [Grave, and he did know. Bits and pieces of memories were coming back to him now. He remembered failed attempt after failed attempt to help Helena, remembered how he'd tried in vain when it seemed like everyone else had given up.] It happened before. I kept trying to save her, but she didn't want to be saved. [He sighed.] That's why I didn't drag her to a hospital. Why I want forcibly committing her to be... a last resort, if at all. I don't like it. [He fell silent, nursing his drink as she spoke. He wondered who she'd talked to about it, but for now, he didn't ask.] I feel... helpless. And, honestly, I hate it. [As for the family, putting it back together, he'd never been very good at that. Sometimes he even managed to do more harm than good when he was trying.] Maybe. It depends on whether or not we want to come back together.