arriving in s t y l e, Bruce || Helena

[Bruce Wayne]

Bruce // Helena

He was glad she said yes. Finally, and he didn't have to shower her with red and white hothouse roses. Alfred drove the Bentley in silence on their way to Helena's. He hadn't been sure how the Mayor would feel about he and Helena going to the banquet together. As far as he knew, it was a publicity stunt, that would mean nothing to the either of them. Perhaps that's what Bruce wanted everyone to think, but in all honesty, he hoped that this would be more than a public show.

"Nervous, Master Bruce?" Alfred spoke up from the front seat.

Bruce looked up at him, and smiled a bit, but didn't answer right away. The answer was obvious. Nervous because The Joker would be there. Of course, police and reporters were assuring Gothamites that there was no worry. Bruce gave Alfred a shrug, and continued to look out of the window. Helena lived in a nice neighborhood, he noticed, adjusting the bow of his tuxedo. A simple black and white affair, of course it was fitted for him, but he didn't want to overdo anything. He wasn't sure about flowers, so he opted not to bring any, figuring that Helena wouldn't go for that sort of thing this early in their relationship. If, you could call it a relationship.

He watched, looking at her brownstone, before getting of the car. He took a deep breath, checked his watch and straightened himself out. He was nervous, but he always was when he went out with a woman that was worth it. Worth whatever it was he had to give.

He ran the doorbell and waited, glancing back at Alfred, who in turn, gave him his usual fatherly smile.

Yeah..he was nervous.

[Helena Garcia]

Surprisingly, it took a lot less time for Helena to get ready then she originally thought. Not that it normally took her a long time, but with timing she wasn't sure if everything would fall together in time, and if it didn't well, it was bad for the host and hostess to be late and that certain was one thing that Helena didn't want to happen. She was a woman of timing and perfection and anything less annoyed her at herself.

Either way, thankfully everything was fine. She had left the prep for the hall in good hands, that she hoped they could finish all the arrangements, earlier that afternoon and no one called her to inform her about any issues or setbacks. And anything that had to do with getting ready had been readily handled as well and she only had to worry about fixing her hair up.

Armando had came and gone an hour previous with the final product of her dress, which she found herself liking the result as she checked herself in her mirror to make sure that the halter part was tied well enough, running her fingers against the choker part and adjusting it accordingly. It was silk, dark black silk to be more exact, that hung down from her neck. It was split down the middle in the front, exposing a line of skin from where it met her neck, all the way down to her navel. Though it wasn't falling open, a strap of silk wrapped around underneath her bust studded with square shaped swarvorski crystals, that kept it from exposing the rest of her. There was also a line of much smaller, circular stones set down on each side of the split in the front of the dress.

It was light and airy, the skirt, and all in all it probably was something that she would not wear usually. Usually she was more conservative with her attire, but this... She actually like it.

Now all she needed was her date and she was sent. Though, he wasn't due yet for another fifteen minutes. She was actually almost nervous as she did the final touch-up to her hair, but not at the same time, but for all the wrong reasons. Though at least, the bigger event of the day with the ceremony itself had gone over extremely well, without a hitch to be seen. It relieved her to no end that nothing had occurred, that security hadn't been compromised. Helena just felt that much more at ease even though there was still a nagging feeling to keep alert. Just because they had made it through, didn't mean they were just out of the wood yet, as much as her father tried to tell her that the Joker wouldn't be an issue, Helena knew better.

And there was the fact she hadn't told her father that she was going to be accompanying Bruce to the banquet. She wasn't ashamed that she was going with Bruce, she actually rather liked him, but she knew how her father felt about him. He liked him but didn't like exactly how he seemed to be a man who had his pick of women, and had a new one to every event or lunch or dinner. But, she reminded herself, she wasn't interested in that, she couldn't be. Business wise she would handle him, but anything other, she wasn't sure how exactly to go about it. Though, if it really was his habit of picking flavor of the week, did she really have anything to worry about? It wasn't like she was going to get attached to a man just by accompanying him to one dinner.

Distracted with her thoughts, she barely heard the doorbell ring as she put another bobbypin to help hold the pile of curls that adorned her hair and splayed out, until she heard again it. "Shit," she muttered, quickly moving out of the bathroom and into her bedroom, he was there and she still needed to put her shoes on. Skirting around the bed, she located the strappy heels, sliding her feet in them as she also made a grab for the items on her bed, her matching purse and shall. Draping the latter across her shoulders, she made a beeline for the door, but not before quickly checking her appearance in the mirror.

However, as she final made her way to it, and opened the door, Helena couldn't help a smile reach her lips. Bruce looked even better in a black tuxedo then in just a regular suit, she decided, but quickly dismissed the thought. "Hey," Helena greeted him softly, pulling the door closed behind her once she made sure that it was locked. "Long time no see," she couldn't help but quip with a half-grin, though it was only a few hours ago that she had seen and talked to him at the ceremony.

[Bruce Wayne]

Bruce almost rang the bell twice, but he figured she was taking some past minute primping time at his expense, that was fine. When she finally opened the door, he smiled at her, laughing a little.

"Took you long enough." he said softly, though he gave her his usual joking smile. She looked...amazing. Helena had picked a wonderful dress, and he thought it made her look...amazing. Wait, he said that already didn't he? He was glad he wasn't speaking out loud. Bruce, though usually a smooth talker around women, hadn't really learned how to talk around a woman he genuinely liked. Sure, he could talk free and easy around Rachel, but, he had known her for years.

He felt bad, for thinking about Rachel in these moments. He felt as though he were betraying her memory, but he knew deep down she would want him to meet a woman that meant something to him, even though Bruce would be lying to her about everything in his life. It was one reason why he hadn't ever dated seriously. His relationship would be built on lies. Where Bruce would be at all hours of the night. Where Bruce's cuts and bruises came from when he rarely went out of the country on vacation. It was hard, and he wasn't sure he could do that to Helena, even if she decided to believe he wanted to be with her in a serious, monogamous relationship.

He lead her to the car, keeping his thoughts silent and mental. He opened the door for her, and kissed her hand gently, "You look beautiful." he said softly, before stepping back so she could get into the car.

[Helena Garcia]

The grin grew into a smirk as he threw a comment back to match her own. For at least now she would push away her nerves and concentrate on what was happening right then and there. Had to remain positive and not let things worry probably more then necessary. "Not twenty minute late this time, so I think I'm getting better, no?" she queried, hooking her arm through his as they moved over to the car that he had arrived in.

A simple Bentley, and some relief flashed through her mind at this, though she didn't voice it. She was just glad it wasn't a helicopter docked out in front, or something similarly crazy that he had been known to arrive in to various functions. As he moved them along and stopped to open door for her, very much the gentlemen, she was just surprised further as he brought her hand to his lips.

"You don't look half bad yourself," she told him, a genuine smile reaching her mouth as she looked to him a moment, reaching out to nudge his bow-tie a moment to make sure it was perfectly straight. Then heading inside the car, she held the skirt of her dress down so that it didn't bunch up underneath her as she scooted inside, and sat down.

[Bruce Wayne]

He stood patiently as she fixed his tie and Bruce smiled at her, blushing a bit as they got into the car. Alfred smiled at Helena through the rear view mirror and pulled off towards the banquet. "I guess you're getting better. Next time we'll actually try for being less than five minutes late for extravagant events and casual business dinners." he said, matter of factly. He watched as the neighborhood slowly changed to downtown Gotham and he smiled at her.

"Are you nervous?" he asked softly, still holding her hand gently within his. He was glad he didn't wear the stupid gloves like Alfred suggested, he liked the feel of her smooth skin in his hands. He was sure everything would be fine, but if she were nervous, he would sooth them. He hadn't seen the banquet hall, but he knew the decorations and whatever else Helena picked out would be perfect, mostly because she would have it no other way.

"Are any of your friends going to be there?" he asked, curiously.

[Helena Garcia]

The man driving the car smiled at her, and Helena in turn smiled and nodded her head to him in greeting before her attention was once more torn to Bruce. "Hardy, har, har," Helena told him as he entered the car. There was an undertone of dryness even though Helena was amused, if the fact she couldn't help but smirk some. Though, she knew they weren't going to be more then five minutes late, but the joking was making her feel that much easier then she already felt. Yet, the mention of next time almost made her want to double-take, before she let the comment of fly over her head and into oblivion.

"Not really in the sense you'd think," she told him, honestly. Sure, she had a bit of worry for the Joker making a possible appearance. But there was something that put Helena a bit more at unease. Large crowds of people, where most that she really hadn't spoken to before. Grant it, she knew a good amount of people on Gotham that were on the higher end, like her. But most of the time she didn't bother trying to learn them better because half of them when all they were concentrated was on money. "Not a fan of large crowds, I must say," she with exaggeration hinting her words. "Too many people in this town just want to be your friend so they can get a hit at your bank account. Definitely not my cup of tea," she told him with a shrug of her shoulders. Most of which were going to be at the party and that went without sayin.

Helena however, did nod her head at him when he asked her about any of her friends. "Yeah, my friend Selina," she told him. "She'll actually be sitting at our table." And oh boy, that would be fun, she thought sarcastically. Not because Selina would be bothering him, Selina would be hounding her for information about the whole set up, especially since she had been under mining the whole thing for the past three days. Exhaling a bit, she adjusted the shall around her shoulders once more. "So... what about you, only friends of yours going to be here?"

[Bruce Wayne]

Bruce smiled at Helena's dry humor, but he was glad she was having a good time. He was also glad one of her friends would be there, so Helena would have more than one foundation of support for this event. He could tell from her father, that she had been placing a lot of pressure on herself to perfect this dedication, and he hoped that things went well. With her friend there, at least two people would be rooting for success, Bruce included.

"Well that's good. You can introduce us." he smiled brightly.

He could tell that she was worried about the Joker making his presence known, and truthfully, Bruce was too. It was why he made sure that his suit, tools, and belt were stationed near a warehouse next to the banquet hall, of course he'd purchased the vacant building, but no one needed to know that. He would be prepared to do what it took to protect the banquet, and Helena, if need be.

"Honestly, I'm not a fan of big crowds either." he said softly, shrugging a little. "I guess I got over it though." he glanced at her. He had, too, he figured. It seemed the more drama he had in his life, the more people he had to answer too, the more people wanted to take his picture and the more people thought they knew about him and who he was. It was a hard life to live, especially when you had something to hide. Did he have friends that were going to be there? No, not really. Commissioner Gordon and his wife might be there, but he would be on duty, so he doubted it. Instead, he answered, another lie to be told.

"Sure." he said, but it was a bland affirmation, Helena might be able to tell that he was lying, and Bruce wasn't sure that he cared.

[Helena Garcia]

Introducing was unfortunately... unavoidable. Not that she was worried for Bruce, no Selina would be fine for the most part, she was sure. It was just the matter of how much Selina wasn't going to let it drop that she did indeed end up going to the function with Bruce and not with her father. Not that she was complaining, things seemed fine for at least now, Bruce was definitely the opposite of the a horrible person, but she'd be having it run in her face for weeks no doubt. "I wouldn't worry," she told him.

Though, at least, she wasn't alone with not liking big crowds, too many people... Of course, there was also the fact that she hadn't liked big crowded arrangements like the one they were going because it always reminded of her of past doings. Bullets... Screaming... Blood... The mere thoughts that always made her skin prickle and cause a shiver to slide down her spine...

Clearing the fog that appeared in her mind, she tried to focus on the present and not the past, which was rather hard to do. "You kind of have to, huh?" she murmured, aloud, but quietly, tearing her hand from his and moving a strand of stray hair from her eyes that slid into her line of sight. Exhaling silently, she let her eyes drift out the window as he answered her other question, her hands dropping to her lap as her fingers gently picked at the fabric, thoughts still swindling her mind.

His 'sure' didn't too sure, however and she pursed her lips slightly. Well, at least she wasn't alone in that fact either of having a less then ample supply of friends if her suspicions were correct. But of course, Helena wasn't a people person really. She didn't like people all that much, well most people. Sure she'd talk to them, but anything more really... It was a hard deal for her, unless they stood out of the crowd. "So, what do you do when you're not enjoying the limelight at these functions?" she asked him when the silence in the car seemed to stretch, partially to fill the void and partially because she was curious.

Of course, she had a few inklings of what, if the testament of hearing about how he sailed off into the sunset with the whole Russian ballet wasn't quite so evident. He probably liked to sail if he wasn't the type to get caught up in just having a huge yacht to make himself look all big and powerful. And then there was the whole burning down his house, after being drunk supposively. Though she didn't dare ask about that. Wasn't her business to know.