Re: Corner Couch: Jason/Banner
"Me too, but I'm being social in spirit. Invisibly." Social for him was showing up. Smiling at people. Going to the reception instead of coming up with an emergency to flee. Bruce was glad he did, outside of feeling awkward, because it was nicer than a lot of other events he'd been to. So far so good. No disasters. He was not surprised to see Dick on his feet at all, because he was the cause of it, or he was the one that branched Dick to Claire. It worked and he'd have to get the girl a thank you gift, once he had the chance.
"I think she knows you well enough to know you being here is a big gesture." Bruce didn't know Jason's exact reasons for being reluctant, outside of the kid didn't seem that comfortable with this sort of thing. But suspected it had to do with Eddie, who had a reputation he seemed to be trying to change. Whether anyone wanted to accept it or not, that was up to them. Some people couldn't get past what Bruce did or what he was capable of, and he understood that. He wondered why it didn't happen more often. "You look good too. You clean up well."
He smiled ruefully. "I had an uncanny ability to pick the one Betty hated the most. At a point she asked if I was purposely doing it." But he was making it up and had bad luck. There was no bittersweet touch to his tone when he talked about her. because that felt like someone else's life at times. "We had a little bit of a long night in my door, but it worked out. I feel like our two doors are full of bickering." That was an understatement, especially considering the situation.