Title: Demons in the Dark - Part 2

Category: Movies » Batman Begins/Dark Knight

Author: Slingblade125

Language: English, Rating: Rated: M

Genre: Drama/Romance

Published: 10-03-12, Updated: 05-11-13

Chapters: 25, Words: 176,069

Chapter 1: Chapter 1

Story continuation: Takes place after In the Dark of Day- Bruce and Selina work to reclaim the lost fortune of Wayne Enterprises and find a future for themselves in the shadow of a post Bane Gotham.

(I was getting PM'd like crazy about if I was really continuing so here is the opening... more to follow..thanks for the support. I'm glad you loved the story enough to want more!)

**** as promised- here is the more to finish out Chapter 1****

Demons in the Dark:

Her face darkened as the reoccurring fear arose in her mind. All of this with Bruce was just a fantasy, a beautiful interlude before she had to face the reality of who she really was, what her future really held. The Clean Slate was a great tool for someone that wanted to disappear, start fresh, but Bruce was intent on recapturing his life back in Gotham. Where would that leave her? She was an escaped prisoner from Blackgate, facing felony charges for kidnapping and aggravated assault of a United States Congressman. Unless the clean slate had the power to cause mass amnesia and was able to erase the hard copies of files possessed by the GPD, she wasn't ever going to be able to show her face in Gotham without going back to jail to face trial. The few weeks she had spent incarcerated at Blackgate awaiting arraignment had been torture. She couldn't chance that she would get sentenced to real time there, and real time was exactly what she was facing. She was looking at the gavel dropping on a minimum of eleven years. Thanks to her history of escapes, all of that time would be served in Blackgate. She would be locked in with the worst animals Gotham had ever produced.

Eleven years. She looked over at Bruce. Where did it leave us? More importantly, where did it leave him?

She watched over him with protective eyes as she felt the threads of fear winding tighter around her heart. Fear made people do stupid things she reminded herself, but she was not able to shake the dread and trepidation that she felt when she thought of her possible future. Her throat closed and her eyes burned as the first warm tear tracked down her cheek. She lay next to him for long hours watching him as he slept, spinning the scenarios over and over in her mind until she was exhausted. Drained from the emotional torment of reliving the events in Gotham, she turned away from him and curled into herself, dropping into a troubled sleep.

Xxx

She was nine years old, walking home from school. Her worn tennis shoes dragging along the sidewalk, empty denim book bag bumping against her back as her pace progressively slowed as she neared her building. It was an old crumbling brownstone, damaged and neglected beyond repair. Her brown eyes were large and haunted as she looked up to the second floor window. It's closed. He's not home. Her mood lifted some and she hurried more quickly in hopes that she might find some food to eat and be gone again before he got off from work.

She had slept in the alley the past two nights. So desperate to avoid him that she had accepted hunger and cold rather than the alternative of his presence. She understood that he would punish her when he caught her, but she had no intention of getting caught.

Selina glared up at the window knowing even if she hadn't run away that there would have been another reason for him to punish her. Something else that would be her fault, something she did that would invite the violence against her. She could stand the anger; she could take the punches and the kicks. It was the other…the other punishment that she could not bear.

Her stomach cramped and twisted as she looked around the street. Satisfied that he wasn't approaching she darted inside and quickly climbed the stairwell. She slipped her key into the battered lock and waited several long seconds, her head tilting as she listened for movement. Her stomach grumbled and she pushed her clenched fist against it to quiet the interfering noises. Sweat rolled down her back between her shoulder blades as she again felt the nagging pressure in her mind demanding that she not turn the lock. She was nearly sick with hunger and she needed more clothes for school. In the end that was what decided it, she didn't want to miss school. Selina wiped her sweating hands on her jeans before returning them to the handle. She gently turned it even as her mind railed against the act.

Cracking the door a sliver she listened again for movement. Hurry, hurry, hurry. She ran silently across the small kitchen and dropped down beside their rusted gas stove. Her knees hovered above the torn green linoleum as she balanced in a low crouch in front of the cabinet. She opened it, careful not to squeak the worn hinges. She swiveled on the balls of her feet as she maneuvered the stolen cans into her pack. She was up to eight cans when she heard his voice from the door. "Selina."

Her eyes flashed opened and she recoiled away from his hands, a strangled cry escaping her lips. She pushed back with her heels until her back pressed against the wall of the cabin. Bruce said her name again and Selina locked her eyes on him panting for air as she slowly came back to herself.

Bruce spoke in low, comforting tones to her as he waited for her to calm. "Selina, you're safe. You were dreaming. It's just us, here on the plane. Nothing is going to hurt you Selina. Just breathe. It was only a dream."

She looked at Bruce, able to make out the concerned lines on his face, even in the dark of the cabin. She took several deep breaths and tried to clear her head of the images. Bruce continued to talk in the same low voice and she just focused on that until she felt that she was in control again. She ran a shaking hand across her face as she relaxed away from the wall.

Bruce waited until he saw that first small movement toward him and then he reached out his hand. She took it immediately in hers and he felt the air leave his chest in relief. He fought back the urge to act. Just wait Bruce, just wait for her, give her some space.

She stayed like this a long while, gripping his hand in hers, drawing from the strength that seemed to radiate through his touch. When she finally spoke her only word was his name.

"Bruce." She squeezed his hand, her voice thankful, but still strained with emotion. He understood the importance of accepting her silent gratitude. His reply was a slight nod of his head as he opened his arms to her. She slid against him wrapping her arms around him as she curled against his chest. Bruce secured her firmly against him, wanting her to feel his arms and understand that she was safe and protected. He held her in silence, refusing the temptation to ask about the nightmare. They both had demons that haunted them. She would tell him eventually what hers were. All that really mattered to Bruce now was that she had turned to him for support when she needed it. She let him be a part of her fight. She realized that it didn't have to be her versus the world anymore. Selina didn't have to face down her dark demons alone. They had each other now and together they were a formidable combination against any adversary, real or imagined.

xxxx

Selina awoke slowly. She felt Bruce's warm body beneath her and realized his arms were still wrapped around her and she winced. Nightmares…Poor guy didn't know what he got himself into with me. She slowly started to untangle herself from him. She felt his arms tighten against her.

"Where do you think you're going?" His voice was alert and clear and she knew he had been awake for a while.

Selina winced again in complete embarrassment. Shit. How long had I slept? I hope it wasn't too long. Knowing Bruce's boy scout nature, it would be a safe bet that he had watched over her all the while she was out, using his presence to try and keep the dreams at bay...trying to stop the memories from returning. She was immediately thankful for the darkness of the room to hide in as her face flushed with shame at her weakness. She tried to disengage herself from him again and she felt a muscled thigh drop across her leg trapping her against him as his hand continued to rub gently up her back. She finally gave in and relaxed back into his body, sliding her cheek against his chest. She smiled as she heard his low rumble of approval and felt his hand ruffle through her hair. She pressed a kiss to his chest and his arm tightened gently in response. She asked quietly, "Where are we Bruce?"

He slid his other hand up her thigh rubbing a slow path across the smooth skin of her leg. "Ten thousand feet above the North Atlantic."

"How long 'til we land?" Selina nudged him lightly.

Bruce smiled. "We have about two hours left. It will be 6:30 am when we arrive in Nice. Just in time to see a beautiful sunrise over the Mediterranean."

"Sounds nice," she teased him lightly by pronouncing it niece as he had for the city Nice. She was successful in drawing a low chuckle from him.

Selina yawned and arched her back in a stretch. As she settled back against him Bruce sighed contentedly. Never much for flying, he decided that he could easily handle nine more hours of this. He also decided that the Wayne Lear would be receiving an update that included a cabin just like this one.

"What are the plans for today Bruce?"

Her simple question made him smile again. He enjoyed the fact he would get to show her places she had never been before. "Well I'm starving, so I say we cruise through customs, pick up the rental, and then find somewhere to have a fantastic breakfast."

Selina rested her chin on his chest and looked up at him. "Do you just happen to know where to get a fantastic breakfast in Nice?"

Bruce tapped her lightly on the nose. "I think I have something that you will appreciate, the Cours Saleya Flower Market. We will be getting there right when the vendors are setting up. We can find a café overlooking the ocean. The breeze off the Mediterranean will be in your hair." He traced her lips with his finger, "You will taste the luxury of the French Riviera. Believe me Selina, it will be fantastic."

She inhaled deeply as she looked at him. He was fantastic. So much so that it hurt at times just to look at him. Too perfect…. too good…too everything.

Selina pressed her lips to his, sliding her hands up his chest around his neck and into his perfect hair.

Bruce ran his palms along her sides as he let her pace them through what she wanted. Her mouth explored his, gently tugging his lip between hers. He breathed in her scent and murmured her name against her neck. She pressed harder against his chest, sliding her body against him. He felt her hands drifting down low on his stomach and he tensed in anticipation of her touch. His body felt electrified as he tried to contain the need she was building in him.

Selina marveled at the effect she was able to have on Bruce. His eyes were glazed with desire and his breath was coming in shallow pants as he waited for her. She realized then the control he practiced with her, his willingness to put himself second to make sure she was ready. She voiced a small confession bravely to him, "Bruce you make me happier than I have ever been."

He inhaled deeply and regarded her with serious eyes, "It's just the beginning Selina. I promise." As her mouth covered his again, he was left wondering if Selina Kyle had ever had anyone that loved her, really loved her for the person that she was. He slowed the movement of her hands with his own, deepening the kiss on her lips. He wondered if she had ever had a man make love to her. Bruce decided he was going to make certain he knew the answer to that question.

Selina felt the shift in him. His desire moved from a blaze, to a slow burn; from passion to purpose. She looked in his eyes and he smiled softly before asking her for the impossible, "Trust me Selina?"

She heard her own traitorous voice answer, "Yes." Then, she was rewarded for her trust. Bruce showed her what it felt like to be loved, respected and revered. He showed her that sex didn't equate to pain. He told her she was beautiful and she knew he meant it. He told her he needed her and she knew he meant that felt connected to him in a way that transcended the moment. He burned himself into her, marking her only for him through his patience and tenderness. These two things were difficult for him, so it made it all the more special that he had them with her. She asked him to forgive her and he promised he had. She asked him to trust her again and Bruce told her he had never stopped. He promised her anything she wanted and Selina told him she already had it in him.

Bruce gratefully accepted this as her truth.

They finished together, looking into each other's eyes as the passion burnt through them. He would never have to question again if she knew what it felt like to be loved—and neither would she.