Re: quicklog -- steph/bruce: dive bar.
You think he'd have a heart-attack to see us all in this shape? He'd probably come in and beat the sense into all of us on the first day. [Alfred, he hadn't been there for a while, and she missed the man, too. Even if she hadn't been raised by him like the boys were, or doted on as much as Barbara had been. He was a kind soul in a sea of unkind fuckers who inhabited Gotham. And those? Those were real rare nowadays.]
No, what would I do without you. [Stephanie sobered for a moment, seriousness in her soft smile as she gazed at him like some teenaged girl so grateful that her father still loved her after she totaled his car. So maybe it wasn't just like that, but Steph's life was collapsing all around her, and he was still here. She couldn't really say that about anyone else in Gotham, as much as she tried. Okay, maybe one other person (being? entity?), but her relationship with Destiny was far more complicated. Bruce? Bruce, despite everything, was simple. She'd always see him as the father she never had. She'd always vie for his approval. She'd always love him unconditionally. She'd always be that pain in the ass chirping in his ear and making sure he was okay. Because he would do the same for her. And, there were some days where she almost missed the militant style of the Bat she'd grown up with, but she wouldn't trade this Bruce for anything in the world. Even for everything else in her life to magically be okay.
Steph watched with delight as he took the shot and then laughed at his face.] Your playboy ass is outta practice. [Tease, and her tongue stuck out between her lips before downing the rest of her second drink without that much of a shiver. There was a small woo in surprise, however, at how hard it hit her, and she could see Marty making her next drink out of the corner of her eye. A grin, this one softer, and she pffftttted. But then, she drew silent for a moment, resting her chin in the palm of her hand.] I hate this. Not this. [She gestured between the two of them.] I love this. I've missed you so goddamn much. But this. [She waved at the room at large.] Gotham. I fucking miss how it used to be. It was better. [She cocked her head to the side, just as another drink was slid in front of her.] Or was it? Is it like, a fucking grass is greener sorta situation?