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Batman jumps to dodge an explosion, throwing an exploding batarang at the Santa machine.
The dark knight sighs deeply, thinking about Jim. Their romantic dinner, how Jim probably saved for months to be able to afford that place.
It was way beyond 7:30.
- Alfred, what time is it?
The Toymaker starts laughing, saying something among the lines of " It's time to die, Batman".
- It's 9 pm, master Bruce. You are a tad late for your date.
Alfred says and Bruce sighs again, as he continued to fight the robotic Santa toys.
//
Bruce lands on the roof on top of the restaurant and thinks.
He....did have a shirt under the suit.
A black shirt, yet he doesn't have pants, just some black shorts.
He definitely doesn't have the time to go back to the manor, change and drive back.
So he decided to go and say hi, announce a reschedule, order take out or give Jim the gift, at least.
He sees Jim in a car, an old rusty car before he drops from the top, diving right near it.
He cleans his boots from snow and enters the vehicle.
- Bruce.
Jim smiles warmly,a beautiful contrast to the weather outside.
- I'm sorry. Did you wait much?
- No, i've been here for 10 minutes. I was busy with the Santa apocalypse too.
Jim chuckles.
- Yeah, me too.
Bruce smiles, he was so happy Jim understood his life, his work, his tendecy to be late.
- I got you something.
Jim leans to the back of his car and takes a box.
Bruce takes it before touching his belt, letting a small red box fall out after he presses a botton.
- Merry Christmas.
They both said, awkwardly, sweaty, tired yet happy.
Bruce rubs his fingers a moment. The box was wet. He opens it it and sees an expensive brad of whiskey in a broken bottle, quite far from a cop's salary.
- A santa threw me while ....i was holding the box.
Bruce chuckles and sniffs the box.
- My favorite.
Jim smiles awkwardly and opens the small red box.
- A broken watch.
He smiles as he looks at the broken thing.
- Yeah, Santatron threw me around too.
Bruce apologizes as James smiled fondly.
- Wait!
James suddenly turns seriously.
- Is this a rolex?
Bruce shrugs.
- You dont like it?
- Bruce, i m dont earn half of what this is worth. I can't wear it.
Bruce looks at thr box, trying to see if it s any whiskey to salvage, ignoring James pleads about money.
Suddenly they both laugh.
- The restaurant might still be open.
Bruce takes out his mask.
- I didn't have time to change. I have a shirt under this.
James looks at his work clothes then thinks for a moment.
- I have some pants in the trunk.
He announced.
///
Bruce wipes his black camo make up in the review mirror.
He had some suit pants Jim had in the trunk, and a MCR shirt he wore under the batsuit, and James's boots a size bigger.
James was still playing with the watch.
- I saw a lot of these....after getting them back from being stolen. It's....
- It's not that expensive. I wanted to engrave it but didn't have time.
Bruce annouces and James puts the broken watch in his pocket, taping it gently.
- Let's try the restaurant. Uh, here.
He offers Bruce his Jacket since he had long sleeves beneath.
//
- You've got to be kidding me.
Bruce says as they got to the restaurant for their first date.
- I'm sorry sir, but you are past the hour you said you will be at, your table has been given away.
The man says and not even bribery really worked since there were no more seats available.
Jim was frustrated, he chose the restaurant, he planned everything, but sometimes planning doesn't work when both people have really demanding jobs.
-It's fine.. Jim, we can.. Do something else.
Bruce says, it was already pretty late right now and not many places were open.
- Let's just.. Walk for a bit, okay?
Jim takes a deep breath, looking at Bruce, he seemed more confident, but perhaps that is because not many people were around at that hour, even with Christmas being in tow.
They hold hands.
- It's pretty tonight isn't it?
Jim asks as he looks at the white snow covering Gotham.
- Yeah..
Bruce smiles, looking at Jim,feeling his cheeks red not only from the cold but also because he can't believe still that someone like Jim saw something in him. Something worth loving.
- Look.
James announced as they saw a bowling place.
- Bowling? Never been bowling .
Bruce confesses.
James makes a faked shocked expression and grabs his hand tighter.
- Come on, I'll show you!
He hurries to the place.
It was one way to get out of the cold, but at the same time being in a bowling alley was new to Bruce. He had never been in one before.
He had never been in many places as a man anyway, everything is new to him, even now it's just like.. He was making his first steps into the world and Jim was there with him, holding his hand.
- Alright.. Tell me what to do, you're the boss.
Bruce chuckled and they took some shoes, and began to play.
- You're much better than I expected.
- And what did you expect Bruce?
- That we both suck so you don't have to kick my ass so hard.
Bruce chuckles
- You'll have to learn the hard way, Bruce.
Gordon jokes before throwing the bowl, hitting all the white pins.
Bruce rolls his eyes, concentrating a moment, feeling his batman persona peek through.
He hits all pins except one.
He smiles cocky.
- Are you sure you never played before?
Gordon asks, a bit suspicious and Bruce chuckles with a nod, before going to sit down on a bench.
- Then how did you do that?
James asks.
- I'm Batman.
They both start laughing.
This was a great night , actually.. It was better than they could have hoped for.
- Merry Christmas Bruce.
Jim says again and looks at Bruce, who stared back and him.
- Merry Christmas Jim.
He says back and their first kiss was.. Pretty awkward, both of them used to their stoic personas, unfamiliar with displays of affection.
//
When he got back home, Bruce felt like his feet were jelly, his breathe short and his mind fuzzy.
- You're awfully late master Bruce.
Alfred inquires as Bruce enters the manor.