this was supposed to be your first new year's as a couple together, bruce having even gone out of his way to rsvp to some expensive rooftop party that would last until midnight. champagne, casual conversation, maybe a dance or two underneath the night sky— then bruce would kiss you at midnight and you two would drive home and spend the rest of the night cuddled under the sheets.

that's what you had hoped for. bruce, however, seemingly had other plans. you two arrived around nine, and not even a half hour later bruce simply disappeared. he had a strange of habit of doing so at his own events, sure, but leaving you at someone else's party? to put it in simple terms, how fucking rude!

bruce, however, was stuck in the streets of gotham. with every holiday came more and more crime, new years was no different. his alter ego as the bat had a duty to uphold; torn between his nightly activity as the vigilante or a romantic evening with you, the decision had been (unadmittedly) made up before either of you even left the wayne manor.

but he had made it back before midnight. he couldn't leave you without your midnight kiss, could you? he could spare a few minutes out of his night to say a quick hello. right at 11:59, thudding footsteps sounded behind your form at the bar. shocked and curious murmurs came from the crowd, your head turning to see who might be the cause. a part of you hoped it was bruce, only to be met with a much different sight.

the vigilante. bat–man.

a timer somewhere far off in the party sounded the chime of midnight, the start of the new year. bruce came forward, lips pressing into your own so tenderly, so gingerly. who was this masked stranger kissing you instead of your boyfriend?

if only bruce could tell you the truth. he knew he would get his ass chewed out when he got home, if you'd even still bother to stay the night at the manor instead of your apartment.

just as quickly as the bat appeared, he was gone.