when are you going to land?
Nothing about the modern sophistication of the newest Wayne Tower suggests it might be cozy, but on the best of days, that’s what it is for her. Comfortable. Safe. Tess feels more at ease in Bruce’s office than she ever did in Fury’s—though that comparison may be a bit unfair, considering that the last time Wayne well and truly intimidated her was years ago, with the aid of a voice changer and a hell of a lot of extra bulk. (There will never come a time the thought of earning Fury’s ire doesn’t send a little chill rippling through her.)
Today, Bruce’s office isn’t comfortable—it’s empty. He’s late. Not enough to jeopardize an 8 o’clock if he had one, or anything at all, really, but late for him. He’s not scheduled to jet off to any meetings at the start of the day, but that might be more to her benefit than his; it means that when Bruce finally drags himself in, spine ramrod straight, body radiating the taut, subtle kind of pain she’s learned to recognize (and ignore to the best of her ability in herself), Tess lasts all of ten seconds before she’s following him inside his office.
This is either gonna be a shitty conversation, or a useless one. Tess shuts the door behind herself gently and goes for it anyway. “You look like you got mugged by Superman,” she says quietly, and okay, it’s not that bad, but the way it feels—that’s something else entirely.
