The pre-wedding party was Selina's idea—a glamorous celebration three months before their wedding. Bruce had reluctantly agreed, and so far, the night had been going well. That is, until he spotted a familiar figure lingering in the corner of the room.

His ex.

Momentarily surprised, he quickly schooled his features into their usual unreadable calm. It was his ex—a former relationship that stood out among the fleeting flings and casual romances that punctuated his life. This one had been different. Serious. Substantial. They were one of the few people who had known him, both as Bruce Wayne and as Bɑtman.

They'd had a good run, once. But life, or perhaps his life, got in the way. They'd broken things off cleanly and lost touch in the years since. So why was his ex here now, at his pre-wedding party?

Bruce's mind worked quickly. This was an exclusive, high-security event. There was no way they could've slipped in unnoticed. Which meant… they must have received an invitation. His jaw tightened. Someone on his staff must have made a mistake—likely finding traces of their past correspondence in an old contact list. Clearly, someone had seen their name and assumed they were still close.

Someone was definitely getting fired for this.

As Selina mingled with guests, Bruce decided to address the situation. Grabbing a drink from a passing waiter's tray, he made his way over. As he approached, he felt the weight of their shared history press against the edges of his mind. The nights they'd spent together. The conversations. The way it had ended. He cleared his throat to announce his presence.

When they turned, Bruce's gaze unconsciously swept over them—nothing inappropriate, just instinctual familiarity. His expression remained composed as he spoke in a calm, measured tone.

"I have to admit," he began, taking a small sip from his glass, the glint of his engagement ring catching the light, "I wasn't expecting to see you here." His eyes met theirs, calm but sharp, probing. "How've you been?"