It had been a few weeks since Apollo first made her appearance working with Batman. While that knowledge was kept quiet for a week or two, it eventually got out that Batman was working with another. Reporters must have conned some criminals to get the intel, since Apollo made the news headlines the next day.

Not that Evelyn minded the attention, no one knew it was her in Bruce's ear, feeding him information and intel. It was exhilarating to have another identity and knowing the good it does for the people of Gotham.

The one bad thing about Apollo though? The late nights and early mornings. Unlike Bruce, who just went to work when he wanted, Evelyn liked to keep a daily schedule. One that started at 8 am at Rosier Technology and ended at 4 am at the Bat Cave. Getting three hours of sleep was not something Evelyn enjoyed, especially since she loved to sleep.

This sleep change caused a 'minor' problem a few days after Evelyn started to work with Bruce. It was late, about 1 am, and it seemed the streets of Gotham were quiet. Evelyn had just finished up a new prototype of ear coms when she felt a wave of drowsiness wash over her. The last thing she remembers before passing out was the blue of the computer screens.

Next thing she knew she was wrapped in something warm and fluffy. Evelyn let out a content sigh as she snuggled into the soft bed. It was so different than the one she had at home—

Wait. Where the hell was she? Wasn't she in the bat cave? Evelyn sat up in alarm as she looked around the room. It was dark, the curtains drawn together as the door across from her was slightly ajar allowing a sliver of light to shine through.

"Glad to see you awake, Miss Evelyn. Master Bruce is waiting for you at the dining table." Alfred spoke as he poked his head into the room. Evelyn felt slightly weirded out that Alfred showed up as soon as she woke up. He always somehow appeared right on cue and Evelyn was starting to wonder if Alfred was also a superhero... or a superbutler.

"Thanks." Evelyn spoke, throwing her legs off the bed and leaving the dark room. Whoever had moved her there left her in her clothes but had out her hair into a low braid, Evelyn found herself liking the style as it kept her hair from frizzing. Evelyn moved throughout the house easily, the layout now imprinted into her mind. Evelyn got lost a few times at first when she would need to get a water, snack or something but eventually she got the twist and turns of the hallways down.

"Good morning Gloomy, sorry about last night. I must have crashed after finishing the ear com prototype." Bruce looked up when Evelyn entered the room, a spoonful of something in his lips. His perfectly soft looking pink lips.

Not that Evelyn looks at his lips or nose that curves slightly from being broken... or his deep blue eyes that can show so much emotion.

No, no Evelyn has not been looking at those things for the past weeks on end. That would be weird as their relationship is strictly professional.

Taking a seat and piling on a waffle or two onto her plate, Evelyn anxiously waited for Bruce to start talking as her thoughts ran wild.

"You can always stay here, Evelyn. You don't have to go home every night. Bring some spare clothes and put them into the room. It's yours now anyways." Evelyn felt the blood rush to her face. She was expecting their usual banter or witty remarks, not an offer to stay.

"I—uh, sure. Yes, I can do that. I'll bring some clothes after I finish working today." Evelyn quickly started filling her mouth full of waffle.

———

That interaction was about two weeks ago now, and Evelyn, as much as she hated to admit it, loved being at the Wayne manor. It was nice to have company, it wake up and know that someone was there to talk to. Her studio apartment, while nice and homely, just didn't compare. She was alone there with nothing but her thoughts and ice cream. At least here she had ice cream and company.

Evelyn hoped Bruce and Alfred didn't mind her intrusion, but she couldn't help but stay at Wayne manor longer and longer each day. She always managed to come up with an excuse to stay, making a new coding program, fixing Bruce up, hacking into some criminal system or some other bull shit answer. She was starting to suspect the two men knew she was making up reasons to stay and Evelyn wasn't sure if she liked that.

Like she wasn't sure she liked the butterflies that erupted in her stomach every time Bruce came near. Or how her mind goes blank when Bruce looks at her with his beautiful blue eyes. Don't even get her started on how she loathed her shaky legs every time Bruce put on his superhero outfit. It was absolutely maddening and Evelyn didn't know how to make it stop.

"I'm calling it a night, I'll be back in five." Bruce spoke low through the ear com, breaking Evelyn from her thoughts. His deep voice echoing around the wide cave. Evelyn felt her heart squeeze at the sound, she could listen to his voice for the rest of her life and never tire of the soothing sound.

What the fuck was wrong with her?

"Okay, I'll have some medical supplies ready." Bruce had got into a fight with a group of thugs and while the thugs were eventually tied up and readied for the police, they got a few good hits on Bruce.

A gruff reply was the only response Evelyn got before the line went dead. Leave it to Bruce to ignore his injuries. Evelyn rolled her eyes at his behavior, she would be waiting for him anyways, medical supplies at the ready.

As the fifth minute rolls around, not that Evelyn was counting or anything, Bruce came driving into the cave in his Batmobile. The top of the car sliding back, revealing the battered man inside.

"I finished the report for tonight, come over here so I can help clean you up." Evelyn spoke, seeing Bruce eye the computer screens. She knew he liked to finish his reports and findings every night. It helped him keep everything in order and helped him look back to past cases easily if he needed too. Bruce let out a huff before stalking over to the medical table. Evelyn grinned in victory as she followed behind.

Pulling down his uniform, Evelyn held her breath at the large purple bruises and giant welts covering his chest and abdomen. "Crowbar?"

"Yea."Evelyn sent a nod to Bruce before she began to work on his injuries, trying her very best to avoid looking at his very defined pectorals and abs.

"Do you think I do more harm than good?" Bruce questioned, breaking the silence between both people. Evelyn froze in her actions, before slowly looking up at Bruce in confusion. No way he thought he was hurting Gotham by throwing criminals into prison, right?

"Why do you ask?" Bruce shrugged while holding the wrap down as Evelyn delicately started to wrap his torso. That's where the majority of the welts resided, angry and purple. Evelyn gently skimmed her fingers across Bruce's skin as she circled him and Bruce had multiple reactions.

One, goosebumps formed on his skin. Two, he shivered and three, he let out a breathy exhale. Evelyn figured it was because of the cold in the cave, hell she had to bring blankets from home to keep herself warm at start. Not anymore though, as blankets magically appeared one night in the cave. She figured it was Alfred as he came down frequently but she didn't ever recall having a blanket with her when she saw him.

"The thugs today were good men, all regular city people until recently. They said their family," Bruce took a shaky breath, Evelyn gently placed her hand atop his in encouragement, "their family got uh— got killed by some stray bullets. I didn't even realize there was a family next door, I didn't think to see where the bullets went. I didn't think to see who got hit." Evelyn set down the wrap, slowly blinking as she thought over Bruce's words.

"Well—" Evelyn sat next to Bruce on the medical table, "—what do you think?"

"I think I don't know what I'm doing. I think I'm trying to make up for my past failures. I think I'm willing to die to prove a point." Bruce spoke defiantly, staring at the wall opposite them.

"You aren't going to know everything Bruce. You aren't expected to know everything either. You are human, a rich hero sure, but human nonetheless. You make mistakes and you learn from them. You plan and you adapt because that's what we humans do. I also think that dying doesn't prove anything. It means the bad guys won, they managed to pluck the thorn from their side and now have free range to do whatever mayhem they want. A heroes job turns easy when they die but it leaves their city in ruins. I know it may not seem like it Bruce, but Gotham needs you, Alfred needs you, and—" Evelyn took a deep breath debating if she wanted to finish her sentence. Saying it out loud made it open to rejection and Evelyn wasn't sure she could handle that. Especially not when she doesn't think she could manage being alone again.

Evelyn could be imagining it, but she swore there was an excited glint in his eyes as he waited for her to continue, almost as if he was holding his breath for her to say it.

"—I need you. You make me feel wanted, Bruce. You make me feel like I'm someone worth keeping around." Evelyn finished in a whisper.

Bruce felt his face drop at her sentence, who made her feel unworthy? He would hunt them down and make sure they never made her feel that way again. Not when the frown on her face made him want to do anything to see a smile on her face. He would buy her flowers, blankets, jewelry, clothes— anything at all if only she was happy. Because her happiness was his and he liked being happy with her.

"Why wouldn't I want you around?" Evelyn let out a broken laugh out and crossed her arms over her chest, her knees slightly pulled up on the table.

"My dad died when I was young, heart attack. My mother blamed me for it. I don't know why, I couldn't have prevented his death if I tried. I think she just needed someone to blame, to help ease the pain. I was an easy option. I turned to technology as a way to escape from her cruel words. That's why I became so experienced with it, I used it as my escape."

My mom always blamed me though, she never let me forget that I was the reason my dad was gone. I was the reason he left us, because who would want someone like me to stay. Why should someone have to deal with me when they could leave instead? My mom ended up overdosing sometime after, leaving me alone with my grandmother. I went to college, got my degree, began working as a tech consultant for a company. My grandma died two weeks later after I started."

I ended up leaving the company and starting my own. Rosier technology became my life and soul. I figured—" Evelyn took a deep breath, the truth about to be revealed to Bruce, "—I figured that if people didn't stay, then I would make sure my company would. I devoted myself to raising it up, working on it day and night to feel like I had something, anything to care for. I finally managed to make it, Rosier technology was a big success and yet, I still felt alone in the dark. Being here, with you and Alfred, made it better. Made it seem not so dark and lonely. I just worry you might change your mind and leave me too."

Bruce stared at Evelyn in silence for a few minutes. No words were spoken as both looked into each other's eyes. Evelyn, scared she just lost someone she cared for, Bruce, finally understanding why he instantly connected with Evelyn.

He felt the dark too, the never ending void of being at fault. Of being alive when he shouldn't be. He never thought to look into Evelyn Rosier, of her past when he found out she was Apollo and started helping him. He just knew her as the breathtaking girl he saw when he came back to Gotham.

She was leaving a coffee shop and passed by some homeless man, he was covered in dirt and grime, his clothes torn and disgusting. Yet Evelyn didn't turn her nose and walk the other way, no, she walked up to the man, dropped a $100 and gave him her coffee. She then proceeded to hand him a card and sent a gentle smile before moving on. Bruce did some digging and found out the card contained information about a home near by. It was for anyone to freshen up, find some nice clothes, job openings, and whatever else they may need to get their life on track. It was admirable to see someone work as hard as his parents did to help Gotham be better, to get those vulnerable off the streets and into a better place.

Bruce had never felt his heart squeeze so painfully watching the scene. It's what made him accept her proposal in the first place. It's what made his heart flutter and stomach twist. It's what Bruce liked about her. It's also why he felt the need to assure her he would never— ever dream of leaving her.

Evelyn was shocked when she felt arms wrap around her and pull her close to a hard chest. The warmth instantly melted her shock away and her arms acted on their own as they wrapped around Bruce.

"I will never leave you, Evelyn. As long as you stay, so will I." Bruce whispered into her arm, tears forming in Evelyn's eyes at his words. She clutched her fists together, her hands shaking at all the overwhelming emotions going through her.

In that moment, Evelyn knew it. The slight increase of her heart beat, the blood warming her cheeks. Her brain fogging up around the billionaire superhero.

She didn't know when the feelings first started, but she felt the intensity of them. The question of if Bruce's lips would taste as good as they looked. If his arms would wrap around her and hold her tight while his hair tickled her face. If their bodies would mold together as perfectly as they were now.

Evelyn was scared to think about what this would mean for her, for Bruce, and for their relationship. Yet, Evelyn couldn't help but wish for more.