Maria Helena Grayson (crossbow_bat) wrote in dc_nextgen,
@ 2010-11-29 03:20:00

Entry tags:

Mornings and pancakes
Maria was an aberration in her family, biological and adopted, in that she was a morning person. She woke up with the sun and was always in a good mood and full of energy. Uncle Bruce used to tell her to go back to bed or go find something to do when she woke him up at the crack of dawn by tugging on the sleeve of his pajamas.

This morning she was up early as always and in the kitchen making pancakes and dancing around the kitchen as she did.

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	old_windbat 2010-11-29 10:12 am UTC (link)
	That wasn't hard to imagine. Marissa was often brooding about something, and she didn't make a lot of noise when she wasn't talking. "I have one question for you, but you won't like it." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	crossbow_bat 2010-11-29 11:10 am UTC (link)
	"Shoot. I wear big girl panties and can take it." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	old_windbat 2010-11-29 08:53 pm UTC (link)
	"Who killed your parents?" She said they were killed, but never how. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

crossbow_bat
2010-11-29 09:01 pm UTC (link)

All teasing and joking drained out of her as if someone pulled the stopper in a bathtub.

"The Joker. It was a strike against Batman. Take out those he was close to. My parents were out on one of their date nights and got ambushed. Witnesses said they put up a fight, but were overwhelmed in the end."

She shook her head a little, trying to push back the memories of being five and being told your parents were dead.

"Needless to say I have no love of psychotic clowns."

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old_windbat
2010-11-29 09:45 pm UTC (link)

If it was ever possible for Bruce to put on a more grimacing look, there it was. He was just thankful that the current bunch of clowns weren't as capable as the Joker. But still, he felt for her loss. It reminded him too much of his own childhood.

So he was silent for some time. "I'm sorry." He truly wished she didn't have to go through that.

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	crossbow_bat 2010-11-29 09:49 pm UTC (link)
	"Thank you," she said with a small nod. "It sucked naturally, but overall I had a good childhood. Uncle Bruce made sure of it. He made sure I didn't forget them, but he wouldn't let it consume me. I couldn't have asked for a better guardian or parental figure." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	old_windbat 2010-11-30 01:40 am UTC (link)
	Bruce didn't really have anything to say in response to that at first. He wasn't the best when it came to this kind of thing. "I see." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	crossbow_bat 2010-11-30 04:39 am UTC (link)
	"Said the blind man who picked up a hammer and saw?" Her mouth really did runaway with her at times. "It's okay. It's the past. I can't change it. What I can do is live with it and move on. Which is what I do." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	old_windbat 2010-11-30 06:50 am UTC (link)
	"Good. You need that kind of attitude to be in this sort of business." That was something Terry needed to learn when he became Batman, and it was something Marissa still hasn't learned. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	crossbow_bat 2010-11-30 06:54 am UTC (link)
	"Did I hear that wrong? Was that a bit of approval?" (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	old_windbat 2010-11-30 06:57 am UTC (link)
	"Don't get too excited." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	crossbow_bat 2010-11-30 07:00 am UTC (link)
	"Oh I won't. I know better," she said with a grin. The car pulled up to the restaurant and Maria was never one to wait for the door to be opened for her. She opened it herself and climbed out. She waited for Mr. Grumpy. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	old_windbat 2010-11-30 07:09 am UTC (link)
	Bruce got out and straightened himself out. He offered his arm for Maria before they walked into the restaurant. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

crossbow_bat
2010-11-30 07:19 am UTC (link)

Maria smiled and took the offered arm. She knew how to act for every situation, this one being no exception. She would be the model of manners and politeness. The filter between her brain and mouth would be put into place and not everything she thought would come out.

She had always loved going out with Uncle Bruce and he would never tolerate inappropriate behavior.

"I will say it now so I don't forget, thank you for coming out. I appreciate it."

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old_windbat
2010-11-30 07:23 am UTC (link)

There was a long pause before he said anything in reply to Maria. "You're welcome."

He couldn't help that she was managing to get on his good side. She clearly knew how to act around Bruce Wayne. Still, Bruce wasn't about to welcome her like a daughter.

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	crossbow_bat 2010-11-30 07:28 am UTC (link)
	Maria wasn't looking to be accepted as a daughter, she was just looking for some small part of what she had with her Uncle Bruce and to be respected. She kissed his cheek. "You're not such a big grump as you'd like people to believe you are. Let's go eat." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

old_windbat
2010-11-30 07:39 am UTC (link)

He didn't know how to respond to being kissed on the cheek like that. It had been such a long time since anybody had done that sort of thing. Still, Bruce remained composed. He lead Maria inside the restaurant and to the table that had already been set aside for them.

A waiter approached and asked Maria what she would like to drink. Bruce was a regular, and he always got the same thing. There was no need to ask him.

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	crossbow_bat 2010-11-30 07:42 am UTC (link)
	She just smiled and walked into the restaurant next to him. "Sparkling water please," she said to the waiter with a smile. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

old_windbat
2010-11-30 07:46 am UTC (link)

"Yes ma'am," the waiter replied before leaving to get her the sparkling water.

And then Bruce and Maria were alone. There was a menu in front of Maria. Bruce didn't need one. Once again, he always got the same thing.

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	crossbow_bat 2010-11-30 07:47 am UTC (link)
	Maria looked over the menu. Standard upscale steakhouse fare. "Do you have any recommendations?" she asked. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	old_windbat 2010-11-30 07:49 am UTC (link)
	"The steak is good," Bruce replied. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	crossbow_bat 2010-11-30 07:56 am UTC (link)
	She looked at him and her eyes narrowed. Maria had grown up around a Bruce. She knew very well what the care and feeding entailed. "Let me take a guess, you always get the same thing?" (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	old_windbat 2010-11-30 08:17 am UTC (link)
	He arched his left brow. "Is there a problem with that?" (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	crossbow_bat 2010-11-30 08:22 am UTC (link)
	She smiled at him. "Not at all. I know some older people are set in their ways. It's completely understandable. I just think variety is nice." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	old_windbat 2010-11-30 08:25 am UTC (link)
	Cue the waiter. He walked over with Maria's sparkling water and placed it down in front of her. "Are you and your guest ready to order Mr. Wayne?" the waiter asked. Bruce looked at Maria. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)