#like who’s surprised at espresso on this list. not a single soul

[roeswater]

may on repeat 🫶🏻

[ellana-ravenwood]

“My fake boyfriend is a billionaire ?!” - Bruce Wayne x Fem!Reader

Synopsis : After a few shitty weeks of everything going wrong, you somehow find yourself faking a relationship with the one and only Bruce Wayne. 

That’s it. I did it. After 3 years posting stories on this platform, I finally succumb to one of the biggest fanfiction cliché of all time haha. The infamous fake boyfriend trope. And I really hope you will like it : 

My masterlist : @ella-ravenwood-archives

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The Gap Year of Disaster

Today, you were an utter mess, and you couldn’t care less.

You know, this kind of days where you wish you would just have stayed in bed ?

Where everything goes wrong and you just want to hide under your blanket and pretend you don't have any responsibilities ?

Well today…Today was most definitely this kind of day.

It was suppose to be your first day at an exciting new job and you were so psyched about it, that you hadn’t been able to sleep all night. 

You finally fell into a deep slumber during the very early hours of the day, and…

Of course you woke up late ! You didn't have time to take a shower, or to do your make-up nicely or even to brush your hair. But worst of all you didn't have time to get coffee !

When you got out with your bike….it was pouring outside. Ah but of course, because when one thing goes wrong everything has to follow. Everything WILL go wrong. Murphy's law or some stupid things like that !

It's in those moments you wish you had a car ! Because when it rained in Gotham…It felt like Noah was ordered to built another ark !

So, sleep deprived, soaked, in a bad mood and looking like a mess, you managed, by some miracle, to arrive at your job on time.

Only to discover that this wasn’t at all what you were expecting. It was NOT what was promised to you, which was experience in an exciting workplace and a way to make the most of it. 

Instead, it was a desk job where you ran errand for everyone. Amazing. 

This was supposed to be your first try at “real life”, this was why you took that gap year from college. 

“I want to find myself, find who I really am !” You told everyone around you, ignoring those who were negative and telling you you should finish your study first. 

Now, as you were stuck in a tiny cubicle with an endless list of coffee orders you had to get for everyone else, you felt like maybe they were right, and that this wasn’t quite the way you were going to “find yourself”. 

Then again, wasn’t it through hardship that this sort of things unlocked ? Wasn’t it with great determination and knowing how it was to struggle, that you were going to thrive ? That’s what they said in TED talks dedicated to “success”...

So far in your life, things had been rather normal. Not particularly easy, but not hard either. You grew up in a small town in New Jersey, no troubles on the horizon. You then moved to Gotham for college as you had a scholarship for Gotham’s University, and as you were about to start your third year you sort of questioned wether or not this was your path...

One of your favorite professor told you to maybe take a gap year. A few semesters off, to think things through. Taking advantage of it to do some soul searching and try to know what you really wanted and...It sounded wonderful ! 

That’s when you started to have job interviews in many different fields, and it took you three months to finally find something. Three very stressful months of wondering how long you could live off of your measly savings, and wether or not you’d have to move back in with your parents (anything but that !)...Not a very good start to that gap year for sure. 

And when you landed what you thought was going to be a great job, things definitely were looking up ! Ah, but the fact that you were chosen while you had NO experience and such, should’ve been your first warning that this was too good to be true. 

You were trying to stay positive though. Maybe it was only for the first day ? Maybe their coffee person was sick or something ? It’d get more interesting later ? Yes. Yes let’s keep a positive outlook on everything. 

Except right now, as your entire morning was made of you walking up and down the building (the elevator was not working, but of course), to the coffee shop at the corner of the street, and bringing back orders for people, you didn’t feel in the mood to try and stay cheery. 

And the worst in all that ? You didn't even get ONE cup for yourself…This “real life” thing was not starting very well. 

And so here you were, during your lunch break, looking like a mess, bag under your eyes and still wet from the rain (your trips up and down the street for coffee runs not helping drying yourself off), your morale at its lowest..And…

"That'll be 3 dollars and 50 cents for the large latte with triple espresso shot, m'am."

Catastrophe. 

Proof that things could ALWAYS get worst. 

As you were looking through your bag, you couldn't find your wallet !

Did you leave it at home ?! Maybe. 

People at your work gave you the money to buy them coffee (and not a single tips, bunch of cheapskates). And you didn’t notice you were missing that oh so essential part of your daily life...Your credit card. Or any type of money. 

Damn it ! 

“Um, excuse me miss, that’s 3,50 please ?”

“Oh yes yes, um, you know what I just-” 

“Here, miss, you dropped this.” 

As you were about to explain that in fact, you didn’t need coffee (even if when you asked for it you might’ve mentioned it being a question of “life or death”), too embarrass to admit you didn’t have the money to buy it, a...very handsome man handed you a twenty dollars bill. 

You were a hundred percent sure this wasn’t yours. You never carry lose cash like this. A quick look to his kind deep blue eyes, and soft smile, and you realize...

Oh. Great. A total (very handsome) stranger took pity of you. 

You probably looked even worst than you felt. You were about to say this was a mistake, but before you could, he gave the bill to the barista, and left with a last smile to you, taking his own cup of coffee away with him. 

Damn. You didn’t have time to say “thank you”. He vanished as fast as he appeared, disappearing in the crowd of the busy coffee shop. 

“Here’s your change, m’am.” 

“Ah you know what ? Keep it buddy. Thanks for the coffee.” 

“Wow, thanks !” 

You were pretty sure that barista never had such a big tip, and it oddly made you feel better, to make someone else’s day like that. Your grandma did always say that you found true joy from helping others...

Oh, yeah, ok, you just helped someone out, why was the universe so angry at you ?! 

As you turned around and started to leave, almost at the exist of the shop, mood a little better after this nice encounter with a (again, handsome) stranger, and the barista, you see him. 

Him. One of the reason you sort of decided to take a gap year. 

Him. 

Your ex-boyfriend, Eric, who cheated on you with your friend Monica. Needless to say, it wasn’t a good memory. And you hadn’t seen neither him nor her since you left college, especially not since you heard they actually got together. 

Your FRIEND. With your BOYFRIEND. And it went on for a while, before you finally discovered it (that day was as shitty as today...). 

Oh. And of course Eric wasn’t alone. She, was there too. The one you thought was your friend, and who stabbed you in the back like that. Both of them discarding you like a dirty old sock. 

Great. Really. Awesome. This day was going from “bad” to “please kill me.” 

“(Y/N) !” 

He looks surprised to see you, although also a little pleased. And it makes you want to punch him in the face. You don’t care if it’s because he wished things ended another way, they both betrayed your truth and then never even tried to talk to you again afterward. 

You’re not sure you would’ve forgave them, but at least, it would’ve shown they still cared about you in a way. Nobody chooses who they’re going to fall in love with (that, you’d soon discover for yourself). But she was your best friend. And he was with you for over a year. 

She’s a little more awkward than him, and smiles, clearly embarrassed. You always knew she was a bit of a coward, if she wasn’t, she would’ve face you, right ? 

And that’s when it happened. The decision that would forever change your life.

In this great moment filled with despair and awkwardness.

From the corner of your eyes, you saw that nice stranger who paid for your coffee. The handsome one. He didn’t leave the shop, but instead went to seat at a table that was a little further away than the rest of them. 

His eyes were glued to his phone, and you thought : “Well, fuck it, all this can’t get any worst right ?”

You were sort of hoping that, since he had been nice with you once and offered you those twenty dollars without knowing you (although you were very aware it was probably just pity), maybe he could help again ? 

Maybe it was the fatigue, the fact you were getting sadder and sadder, that you had a terrible day, and that you just saw two people you loved and who threw you away like you meant nothing (oh but not before being super fake to you, pretending they WEREN’T cheating behind your back)...maybe it was a combination of all of that, that made you act crazy. 

But here you found yourself, sitting at that stranger’s table, and saying, as he looked up from his phone clearly surprised : 

“How are you guys ? As you can see, I’m great.” 

You don’t dare to look at the handsome stranger, and hope he’ll be too stunned to say anything, and you can make your ex-friend and ex-boyfriend feel embarrass enough they’ll leave quickly. But then Monica says something that makes your heart skip multiple beats : 

“You...You know Bruce Wayne ?!” 

You turn to the man who gracefully paid for your coffee, and your eyes go wide. Fuck. Fuck. FUCK. How did you NOT recognize him ?! Of course. Chiseled face, beautiful blue eyes, a suit that was definitely worth your entire year’s salary, a very charming aura...

Your hazy mind full of “fuck this day” didn’t register that THE Bruce Wayne, was the one who helped you out. How did you miss that ? His face had been plastered everywhere in Gotham for the past year, since he came back to the city, in fact. 

You hear yourself wish with all your might to be struck by lightning this instant, as the two assholes who hurt you so much are looking at you expectantly and are not about to live (of course, they just met celebrity BRUCE WAYNE !! Could someone be as unlucky as you were today ?!)

And that’s when you hear a chuckle, a beautiful deep chuckle, and finally turn to look at Bruce. He smiles at you, and takes your hand, saying : 

“Honey, who are your friends ?” 

Your brain go full “ERROR 404″, not quite able to grasp the fact that THE Bruce Wayne just ran with what you were trying to do. How ? How was this possible ? You initially went to sit with him in the hope that Eric and Monica would see you were totally ok and with a hot date, not quite sure still yet how you ever thought this was a good idea and...

It was turning out alright ?! 

HOW ?! 

“Oh um, I’m..Eric. And this is my gir...This is Monica.” 

What a piece of shit. Not even brave enough to call her his “girlfriend” when he cheated on you with her for months and months. You glare at him, unable to stop this gut reaction. 

And that’s something Bruce caught. 

In fact, as soon as you sat down, avoiding looking at him and nervously looking at those two people, Bruce sort of knew you were in an uncomfortable situation. One that made you take an irrational decision. 

And oh, he didn’t like the look Eric and Monica gave you. Like they felt superior as they caught you in a bad moment. Bruce hated, people who thought they were superior to others... 

And you clearly seemed in distress and in need of help so...He ran with it. 

Bruce had to pretend to be someone he wasn’t enough that it felt natural, to run along with what your hazy mind thought was a good idea. 

“Nice to meet you, are you friends with-” 

Damn it. He realized he didn’t know your name. Quick thinking saved him, and he managed to keep his tone even, as to hide his hesitation : 

“My love ?” 

His hand around yours felt warm and reassuring, and you still couldn’t believe that, not only a total stranger, but THE Bruce Wayne was helping you out like that. Especially after you had such a bad day. 

Him calling you his “love” made your exes feel very awkward, and they shake their head “no”, suddenly pretending they’re very busy and have to meet up with someone. They leave the coffee shop, clearly stunned, whispering things to each others that you knew were probably : “how did she get a guy like him ?!”

You can’t help but glare at them some more...But then your hand feels cold again, and you realize Bruce let go off it. Well. Duh. Of course he would. 

You turn to him, your feature softening, and say : 

“Are you an angel ?” 

Ah yes. Your defense mechanism. “Humor”. 

He chuckles, and says : 

“Well, I’m afraid not. My butler would think this is very funny. But thank you.” 

Awkwardly, you rub your neck, your free hand nervously turning your cup of coffee clockwise in your palm. You don’t really know how to end this, what : “thanks for that” and leave ? 

“Thanks for the coffee. And for um...Saving my ass, just there.” 

He smiles, and wow hello white teeth and charming dimples ?! 

“You’re very welcome. They looked like they were jerks.” 

“Haha oh you have no idea.” 

“Glad I could help.” 

“Thanks again. Really. This means a lot, especially since we don’t know each others. Well, I know you. Everyone in Gotham does haha. And ok I’m going to leave now, my lunch break is almost over and I don’t want to make this even more awkward.” 

You start to rise up, but he holds you back by catching your sleeve, and says : 

“Actually miss…?”

“(Y/L/N). (Y/N) (Y/L/N).”

“Miss (Y/L/N), you are kind of saving my life right now.”

“…I am ?”

A flash blinds you. Not a lightning, a camera flash. You turn, just in time to see a guy hastily hiding a camera and running away. 

“What the...” 

“A paparazzi. Good timing, for once.” 

“Huh ?” 

You wish you had some witty come back, or would just know what to say. But you’re confused. And this has been a really weird day. 

“I am sorry if this will seem forward, or like I helped you wanting something in exchange. But I promise I will make it worth your while if you just sit back down and listen to me for a few minutes.” 

You sit back down. More because you’re unsure your leg can still support you in this moment, than because he asked you to. With a smile he continues : 

“Thank you. So. Let me explain a little, and again, sorry if this is too forward. If you don’t want to help of course, I would understand. I’m about to ask you something rather odd, I guess. And I’ll clear things up with paparazzis. I also promise I did not help you with your “friends”-”

“They’re not my friends.” 

“I figured that much. And I promise I didn’t help you with them and ran with whatever you were trying, just so I could ask you this.” 

“Ask me what ?” 

“Well, you see…it’s arranged marriage season.”

“What ?”

“Every year, every single rich family try to make me marry their single daughters. It’s a very tiring season, but I’ve never been able to avoid it…I thought about having a fake fiancee before but could never find the right person.”

What he says does not register with you. His clear proposal doesn’t hit your brain. And you just stare at him, waiting for him to keep going. But he doesn’t, and by the way he looks at you, you slowly starts to understand where he’s getting at. 

You gasp, now pretty sure this is all a dream (or a nightmare) and say : 

“And I’m the right person ?”

“Well, yes. You seem to be a...“normal” person.”

“…Thanks.”

“In that case it’s good. It’s very good. It means that if I’m dating you, a woman that has nothing to bring me, then it must be true love.”

“Wow, stop with the flatteries already mister Wayne, I can’t handle it…”

Ah, your slight wits are back. Good sign that you’re regaining your senses. Everything that happened in the last ten minutes still feel like a bad dream, but you’re back in reality now. 

“No no no, I didn’t mean it in a demeaning way ! But it’s just, you’re not rich, and you’re not famous or have political ties. You’re just a regular person. So they won’t think I’m trying to trick them, even if I am, do you know what I mean ?”

“Gotcha. My broke ass person cannot bring you any value, so it must be love and not just an arranged thing they can break. Cool.”

There’s a slight silence. And you find it a little fun, to play a little bit with the famous Bruce Wayne. He seemed so confident and cocky on TV, you never thought you’d be able to make him look so guilty. 

“I’m sorry if I offended you.”

He says, clearly meaning it. But you shake your head and smile at him (and oh why does he feel his heart tightening slightly at your smile ?), and reassure him instantly (you feel a little bad, actually, to mess with him while he did just really do a huge favor to you while he had no obligations to) : 

“Haha, just messin’ around with ya Mster Wayne. I’m not bothered by it, it’s the truth. I’m really broke, and I don’t think you could find more “regular” than me right now. So, and because you really did save my ass from an extremely displeasing experience back there. And also because you allowed me to see those assholes’ face of surprise and “how did she manage that ?!”, tell me more about your plan, and let’s see if I can help you back.”

And so Bruce starts to explain to you how, every year, this beginning of Fall is the worst time ever, as it’s a moment where everyone seems to want to marry off their daughter. And of course, Bruce Wayne is a good “party”. 

The plan was fairly simple. You’d fake a relationship with him, so he could avoid all of this, and in exchange...Well. You’d gain a lot in exchange. 

This is how you started to really feel like you had fallen into a “romcom” by accident...You and Bruce, became an actual living trope. 

************

“And then when the “marrying season” is done, you can break it off.”

“I ?”

“Well yes, I can assure you you’ll gain quite a rep if you break up with me haha.”

You raise an eyebrow, unsure you like that sort-of overly confident side of him. But you can see something behind his eyes, like a slight unsureness as he looks back at you, trying to see if you’ll agree or not.

“I don’t really need a “reputation”.”

Breaking up with THE Bruce Wayne himself. For sure people would talk about it a lot, and maybe it would help open some doors for you ? But you felt a little odd taking advantage of this like that. 

Seeing that he hadn’t convinced you quite yet, he adds : 

“Of course, I will pay you.” 

What kind of Pretty Woman sort of nonsense was this ?! You were about to protest when he added, realizing how he sounded : 

“I mean, you ARE doing me a great service. You ARE going to have to act, you know ? An...actual job ? And I will be honest with you, it won’t be easy, to find yourself in the public eye. I think it definitely justify a salary.” 

Put that way, you had to admit that, well, yeah it sort of did. Especially since you knew how crazy tabloids were about Bruce Wayne. Becoming his “girlfriend” would definitely put you on the front lines. 

“And it would truly help me tremendously.” 

Your grandma always said it : “True joy comes out from helping others !” So. What if you benefit from it a little ? If it helps you financially, and you can get a little network out of it ? First rule of Alchemy (what a weeb) : “equivalent exchange” ! Plus, he did really help you with your coffee, but also with Eric and Monica so...

And hey, this gap year was meant to help you find what and who you wanted to be. Help you go through this little twenty-something crisis. And this ? Living a literal romantic comedy cliche by faking being someone’s girlfriend ? Well, it definitely felt like the kind of adventure that could help you figure things out.  

With a smile, you finally nod and shake his hand, not knowing quite yet in which mess you actually put yourself into...

Briefing. 

Like every “secret mission”, this one too needed a “briefing”. 

A little meeting to put all the rules down, and the goals too. 

And here you were, feeling very out of place in a huge conference room in the biggest and tallest building in Gotham : “Wayne Tower”.  

The concierge stared at you for a very long time, when you said you were there to see Mister Wayne. No “nobody” like you ever called for his boss. 

Suspicious, as it was his job, he called security on you...Until it was finally cleared up that you DID have a meeting with Bruce Wayne ! 

Both the concierge, and the security guys, stared at you as you left to take the elevators they indicated to you, wondering who the hell had the kind of credentials to go all the way up there to see their boss ?! They didn’t recognize you from anywhere, not a model, not a famous politician or CEO, just...A regular person ? 

That was odd. And they noticed, it was odd. Which you assumed was what Bruce was aiming for, but it felt so awkward, to walk through this huge hall under their scrutiny. 

You finally arrived on the right floor, and oh look, some more staring. 

From his secretary, this time. She was used to see women coming to see her boss. But they’d usually wear Prada, and have plunging necklines full of pearls and fanciness. They weren’t...like you. 

You felt like it was easy, to know that you were just a “normal” person. You were definitely not wearing any designer clothes, and you were pretty sure the way you carried yourself made you super obvious. 

Hence all the staring. You could clearly see in her eyes, that she was wondering who the hell you were... 

She had her answer when Bruce came out of his office, and made a gesture as if he was going to throw his arm around your waist, and kiss you (which made you downright panic). But then, he looked awkwardly at his secretary, and instead just shook your hand. 

Something that DID NOT go unnoticed by his secretary. 

You saw how her eyes widen, and how she clearly hitched to take her phone out and call everyone...and you realized Bruce did this awkward thing because he knew his secretary, and her tendency to be a little gossipy. 

You’d discover later, in fact, that he hired her entirely because he knew if he said something, she would pick up on it and it would help him control rumors and such. Clever. 

For the moment though, he took you to a large conference room with huge windows. 

“I’m sorry for the weird “hello” back there, I wanted Shirley to think I was embarrassed to display affection to you in front of her. Usually, I do not mind at all. So doing it would make her think that-”

“I’m someone special to you.” 

“Exactly !” 

He smiles widely as you understood his plan (not sure how you felt about it, then again, that’s why you were here for, making sure you knew where both of you stood in all this), and then tells you he’ll be back in a few minutes. 

You have time to feel anxious and stressed before he finally comes back. 

“Sorry for the wait.” 

“Oh no, I bet you’re a busy man.” 

“Yes well. Anyway. Let’s get to it shall we ?” 

“Yes.” 

“Ok. So. I thought we’d settle sort of a little contract, so neither of us ever feel uncomfortable ?” 

“Sounds good, mister Wayne.” 

“Yes well first, please call me Bruce.” 

“Only if you call me (Y/N).” 

Oh and you two were still on the path of “romcom cliches”, with this conversation. He smiles, nods, and continues : 

“Ok, then I thought we could-” 

And so your fake relationship started, with some little ground rules. Like he could only kiss you after you gave him permission, if you ever felt overwhelmed everything would be called off, etc etc. 

Most rules were in your favor, to be honest. And WOW the paycheck he was going to give you for this little farce...Hey, maybe this gap year was finally gonna get interesting ?

Meeting the Little Buddy. 

It was sort of necessary. By then, Dick had been his son, officially, for a few months. He wasn’t calling him “dad” yet (and Bruce didn’t particularly want him to, at the time...ah but everything change one day, right ?), but they were already family. 

And it was a needed step. 

It wasn’t in the little “contract” you made, and honestly you could’ve refused to meet him but...Well, you liked kids. In another life, it felt like you could’ve been a teacher (A/N : AH, like in this story ;) : “Can you be my dad’s girlfriend, please ?” ). 

And you’d feel awkward, to fake a relationship and not ever meet his boy. 

The first time he saw you, it was at the Wayne Tower, and his eyes widened as he exclaimed : 

“Wow you’re so pretty ! Are you Bruce’s girlfriend ? You’re too good for him, you know.” 

You could feel your heart melt, how adorable this little guy was, right ? You chuckled, and almost full on laughed as you saw how vexed Bruce was by the comment. 

Not that he thought he was too good for you, no, he was just a little unhappy his son was stealing the show, and thought he couldn’t land someone like you...Oh but that, you couldn’t guess at the time, of course. 

“Nice to meet you, Dick. I’m (Y/N). And...I’m not really his girlfriend.” 

“Can you be mine then ?” 

You laugh again. You and Bruce had decided to tell him the truth, Bruce assuring you that kid was good at pretending too. You answer : 

“No, I’m saving him from marriage proposal.” 

“Oooooh !” 

Good at pretending. Dick had no idea what you were on about, but he was very good at acting as if he knew. 

It’s only way later, that he finally got it. By then, he already accepted you as : “his dad’s girlfriend”, and even knowing the truth, there was no way to change his mind. And to be honest, out of everyone, little Dick Grayson was probably the most aware of what the situation truly was. 

He had a knack, to notice how people felt. 

A “family” outing.

Two months in, and it was going GREAT. Faking a relationship was actually pretty easy. All you had to do was hanging out with him (and he was very nice to hang out with), and when a paparazzi was around, quickly kiss his cheek, or hold his hand, or let him put his hand in your hair...All those cute things new couples do. 

Today was one such small date. 

You could see Bruce was nervous, though.

After hanging around with him that many times, you started to know him a little better. Started to know he wasn’t really that persona he portrayed publicly.

He was actually quite a dork. What a pity, nobody else would ever know his real self...Yet, it made you happy you were one of the few in on the secret.

“Ok, out with it mister, what’s up ?”

He looks at you with such surprise in his eyes, as if it was the first time someone guessed what he was feeling...and, well, yes. It was. It was the first time someone who wasn’t Alfred got it. Someone realized something was on his mind. And asked him about it, didn't just ignore and move on. Actually cared to know. 

“I-Um...”

“Well ? Come on, I think literally nothing can surprise me by now, given you know, I’m faking a relationship with a billionaire, and it’s like, my job now.”

He smiles, and he couldn't possibly know how soft his look was, as he gazed at you.

“I...well, people don’t quite believe in us because-”

“WHAT ?! With all the “dates” and kisses and lovey dovey shit we did ?!”

He chuckles at your reaction, loving how honest you always were, and adds :

“The problem apparently is that you weren’t seen with my son yet, so many don’t believe we’re serious.”

“Oh...”

You met Dick. Because it felt like a necessary step to yours and Bruce’s scheme. And you knew he knew this was all fake...But neither of you wanted to confuse the boy in any way so he was kept mostly out of the plan.

“I talked to him, and it’s actually really up to wether you’re comfortable with it or not. I know he wasn’t part of our contract, and I should’ve probably thought about it, I’m sorry. But um...If you’re ok with it, we could..Do things with him, too ?”

Bruce is really nervous; And you’re pretty sure no one but you (and maybe Alfred) ever saw him like that. It’s kind of...sweet. But you let the silence linger for too long and he hurries to say :

“You really don’t have to ! It’s ok if they don’t think we’re that serious and I get some proposals. I can manage ! You’re still a great help right now. It was just an idea. Dick is a very social kid, he would go along with anything and loves to do activities outside. He would be fine. But if you’re not then we can-”

“No. No no it’s...It’s ok Bruce. The few time I saw him, Dick did seem absolutely a peach to be around. And I always have fun with you, so sure, let’s organize a little something and show those bastards we’re totally real.”

You chuckle a little, your smile and carefree face making his heart skip a beat, for some reasons...Bruce also decided to ignore how happy it made him, to know you were always glad to be with him, and instead, he smiled and settled a date.

************

And here you were. In one of Gotham’s biggest park, opening a basket full of delicious sandwiches made by the one and only Alfred. Pretending to have a great family outing.

“Hey, hey look !”

Dick was absolutely amazing, at acting as if you were really a thing. As if you were really a “family”. Right now, he was doing flips and cartwheels, demanding your attention with avidity.

Bruce made sure to always hide his face from pictures (he was GREAT at noticing where paparazzis were hiding, a life of practice, you assumed), as he wanted to keep as much as he could his son’s privacy (especially after he made all the headlines when he lost his parents).

It was quite adorable. And...You were really having fun.

Dick was such a lively kid, and he was full of talents. The food was good, and it was so comfortable around Bruce. It felt so natural.

This wasn't all that bad. To fake being a family. A good use of your gap year, really. 

You purposefully decided to ignore the glint in the boy’s eyes. The way you sort of suspected for him, this was getting real, and not only pretend.

You and Bruce purposefully ignored it, actually. And you both felt shitty for it. Because not only were you risking to break that little boy’s heart when it was all over but...It was too hard to accept that maybe, maybe he was right.

And that all of this ? Might’ve not been as fake as you’d love to repeat yourself.

First Official outing. 

First gala. You were terrified. So far all you had to do was hang out with Bruce in the afternoon, there and there. It mainly consisted in him buying you coffee, and keeping the addiction to caffeine real, while talking about anything that would come to your mind. The conversations between you two was always fluid and pleasant. 

Or you’d go out with him and Dick, to do some fun things like mini-golf or catching a movie. Nothing too big and scary. It was mainly just you guys, no one else. 

It seemed like he knew where the paparazzis would be (most likely because he was “anonymously” tipping them off himself), and he’d take you on random short dates when he had time in between his work, slowly fueling the rumors Bruce was not a heart to steal anymore. 

And that he was dating a “commoner” ! (He hated this name for you, while you really didn’t mind that much). 

And this gala, was what made it completely official. Finally. It was your idea, to take things “slow”, and hang out with him and his son BEFORE hanging out in public areas like this. 

It was clever, really. To make it seems like you were trying to “hide” your relationship by being low-key, to then finally announce everything in public like that, at such an event. 

Bruce went to get a drink for the both of you, and you were looking around you, horrified at the mere idea that someone would come talk to you. 

But for some reasons, nobody seemed to dare. Maybe Bruce made sure that people would leave you alone ? Even as if you were clearly the talk of the evening, all eyes on you, and not even trying to be subtle ? 

You knew he did the same with little Dickie. That he made sure he was safe from the paparazzi and that no unsolicited journalist would come around him.

Thinking of it, where was the little one ? Usually, according to Bruce, whenever there was a gala he would spend his entire time near the food table, eating as much as he could, and he would come home feeling nauseous because of it...Haha sounded like Dick alright. That kid was so-

Oh oh.

Who was that sleazy looking gal talking to him ? He seemed so uncomfortable, yet too polite to brush her off...Oh no, she wasn’t one of them, was she ?

Without thinking twice about it, wether it was your place to do what you were about to do or not, you resolutely walked towards them.

“-Think it’s because he relates to you ? As both of you lost your parents in horrific situations, you know ?”

“I-I don’t know m’am.”

When you saw Dick’s distressed face, and his eyes slowly filling with tears, there was no doubt in your mind.

This woman was not supposed to be there, and was definitely not supposed to talk to that child...

This woman was a - shiver of disgust- tabloid journalist.

Your blood boiled as you saw her take a picture of the teary eyed Dickie, and you were standing protectively in front of him before you could even think about it. When you felt the boy clutch to your sleeve, hiding behind you and holding on for dear life, you knew you wouldn’t regret it.

“Can I ask you why you’re talking to that boy, please ?”

“What, it’s illegal to talk to fellow guests now ?”

“Lady, you’re well in your thirties. He’s eight. You have no right talking to him. Not only is it weird, but I know what you’re doing.”

“Oh, and pray tell, what am I doing, lovey ?” 

“You’re trying to get a story out of him. And you should be ashamed of yourself. He’s eight ! And from what I heard, you were asking some very disgusting things back there !” 

“I-”

“Shut up.”

Your words came out harsh and determined, and the woman was so shocked she stayed silent for a while. You crouch down to Dick’s level, and ask : 

“Are you ok, my little buddy ?” 

He nods weakly, and then burst into tears as he launches himself in your arms, clinging to you tightly. You turn your head towards the woman, glaring at her so fiercely she doesn’t dare to take a picture of the scene, even as she knows she could sell them for a golden price. 

“You should be ashamed of yourself. He’s just a child !” 

The woman was about to say something else, something you knew would fuel your anger further, when Bruce arrived, and it was clear from his face that he was not happy. 

A quick look to you holding his crying son in your arms, and to the lady with the camera in her hands, and he understand what happened. With a cold voice you never heard him use before, he says : 

“I suggest you leave the area now, before I force you to.” 

There was something almost scary, in his demeanor. Almost like...No. Impossible. In any case, you didn’t worry about it much, drawing soothing circles with your hand on Dick’s back, trying to calm him. 

People around quickly stopped staring as they met Bruce’s assassin glare. It was not secret, that he was very protective of his son. And of his new girlfriend, apparently. 

You picked the little boy in your arms (Dick, at the time, was still so tiny), and Bruce comes closer, trying to soothe him too. And it really looked like all this was real...

Dick fell asleep in Bruce’s arms shortly after that, and was still there when it was time for the gala official pictures. Not wanting to wake him up, for once, Bruce allowed people to photograph the boy, as long as they did not frame his face. 

He laid his free hand on the small of your back, and just like you got used to those past months, you pretend to be head over heels for him and have one of your own arm around his waist.  

“Would you please allow me to kiss you on the cheek, for the cameras ?”

His question is so sweet, softly whispered in your ears. And you felt like a tease tonight, and maybe a little tipsy too. You tell him : 

“On the cheek only ? Let’s give them a show no ? Let them forget about what happened with Dick.”

Of course, you’re only joking, but there’s a light in Bruce’s eyes you haven’t seen before and...It disappears quickly. He chuckles, of that low chuckles that would charm anyone in the world, and says :

“I don’t want to force you to do anything you wouldn’t want to. Actually kissing me, I realize, might be too much.”

You know he caught on your joke, but you can’t brush off that light in his eyes that ignited when you suggested to kiss him...You don’t know why, and it feels you’re not controlling your own words, as you hear yourself say :

“Oh because kissing you would be such a horrible thing wouldn’t it ? Oh my, you’re only one of the handsomest man in Gotham, a rather attractive fella, how could I handle kissing you ? So disgusting !”

Your tone is teasing, and a little bit challenging. He catches on that, too. He answers : 

“But I am merely here to serve. I will do as you wish. You only have to say the words.” 

His smile fills your vision. His face. And the way he softly holds your waist, even as his other arms is carrying his son (the man was BUILT). And you think...Well, fuck it ! It was time for the first (fake) kiss, right ? 

Right here, in front of the cameras, where everyone was seeing you. Making it go full circle. Making it “official”. 

“Kiss me then, if you dare.” 

You simply say. Releasing a breath you were unaware you were keeping in. And he feels his heart squeeze, and as if he’s sweating a bit. When was the last time he was nervous about kissing a woman ? 

He couldn’t remember. 

And then he kisses you, the flashes of cameras slowly fading away as his lips melt onto yours. 

Wow. What a perfect, and nice, first kiss. 

As fake as it might be.

Your room. 

Your room at Wayne Manor was bigger than your entire apartment. 

You and Bruce decided that sometimes, so you wouldn’t raise any suspicion, you’d sleep at the Manor. Paparazzi were so on top of everything, it would seem weird if he was in a “committed relationship” and you never slept at his place. 

So Alfred settled a room for you. 

Oh. Alfred ! You met him not long ago, and he was the best ! 

It felt like he could magically guess what you wanted when you wanted it, and magically appeared with that warm cup of tea you craved, or that meal you’ve been thinking about all day. 

But beyond that, he was genuinely nice and made sure to make you as comfortable as possible. He showed you around, and his conversation was so pleasant ! 

You could actually see a lot of Bruce in him. Or, rather, it was evident that Alfred had raised Bruce most of his life, because they had a lot of similar mannerism, and were both kind and caring (Ah, imagine if Superman knew what you thought of Bruce, how crazy it’d sound to him eh ? But of course, that you’d discover way WAY later). 

You never went to explore much when it was time to go to bed, too afraid to get lost. This place was huge, and you never quite had a good sense of orientation. 

One could only wonder, what would you have discovered if you ever dared to wake up during the night, and explore his home ?

Build a Bear. 

Sometimes, Bruce really had to wrack his brain for original date ideas. Ever since he came back to Gotham, his dating days consist of pretending to sleep with every model in the World. 

He’d take them to fashion shows, to galas, to charity events...All very public places, unsuitable for a “serious” relationship like he was hoping to make yours and his pass for. 

Enter : Clever little Dickiebird, who always had an idea (and who might’ve been the best wingman someone like the Batman needed...that, of course, he’d discover it way, WAY later) :

“You can take her to a build a bear !” 

“Build...a bear ?” 

“Yeah, you know. You go and you make your own teddy bear !” 

“I do know, I took you to get Chester - the name of Dick’s favorite plushie toy now, and maybe with which he slept-. But...For a date ?” 

“What ? It’s cute and intimate !” 

“Huh ?” 

It has been a long time, since Alfred Pennyworth had to hold his laughter in that hard, and try to stay impeccably neutral. And there, faced with his master Bruce, who was known as the “ultimate womanizer”, the “perfect playboy”, and who was currently taking advice from his eight years old son...It was really hard to keep a straight face. 

It was also incredibly adorable. Especially how Bruce seemed to genuinely listen to the little one, unaware that he seemed actually way too interested for things just to be for his “fake relationship” to be more convincing. 

Not that Alfred was going to tell Bruce anything. 

“Dick, you know (Y/N) isn’t really my girlfriend, right ?” 

The way the boy talked about taking you to a date, felt to Bruce like he was forgetting this was all fake. And it was important to remind him.

But Dick had to invoke all the efforts in the world to not roll his eyes as to say : “sure she isn’t”, by now, it was oh so obvious to everyone but you and Bruce that there was a very real thing forming between you two. 

Instead, he said : 

“But you’re suppose to make the public really believe it right ? If you take her to build a bear, I can assure you they will think you guys are the real deal.” 

Bruce pondered this for a little bit, and realized that his son was right. It did seem like a cute and intimate date to bring your girl to, even if she was your fake girl...

Ah. Bruce forgot his own words. “Dick is great at pretending.” He is. He really is. Just like right now, he was pretending his idea was completely innocent, while he knew it would bring you two ever so closer. 

That whenever you’d see those bears you were going to build in your home, you’d think of one another. And remember fondly of the memory. 

And oh. Oh that boy was right. 

Your bear was sitting proudly on your couch, and every time you saw it, you remembered how clumsy Bruce had been, filling his own bear up. And how cute he was, carefully thinking of his options. 

And every time Bruce saw his own bear, that Alfred, for some reason, settled in the Batcave on the “trophy shelves” (and for some reason Bruce didn’t take it off of it...), he couldn’t help but think how he had genuine fun that day. 

Genuine fun, for the first time in what felt like ages. And how your smiling and giggling face didn’t seem to leave his mind, whenever he saw that bear...

Conniving traitors. 

“We both agree, he’s in love with her right ? He’s just too dense to realize it.” 

“Oh yes, young Master Richard, he definitely is. And he is dense, at times.” 

“Should we do anything ?”

“No more than what you’re already doing.” 

“Which is ?” 

“Which is continuing to push them in the...Right direction.”

“Oh ! I get it ! I’ll keep going Al’!” 

“And I’m sure you’ll make miracles, young master.” 

Dick’s smile to the old butler was so pure and happy, that Alfred had a hard time keeping his composure once again. 

And oh. Oh how he wish they were right, and that his Master Bruce would FINALLY allow himself to be happy... 

Rumors and Truth 

Bruce was just a tiny bit older than you. 24, according to his wikipedia page. 

And you couldn't help but be a little jealous, as you were looking at the page to re-enroll yourself in Gotham’s university, knowing he was done with college.

Then again, he was obviously a genius and would’ve been done faster than you anyway, even if you were the same age, since he finished his PhD just the year before, while most people don't even START their doctorate until they're around 23/24. 

Mmmm. Made you think. Was this just yet another rumors about the man ? 

Maybe not, after all it was proven he started college at age 14, and in Ivy Leagues ones, all across the world. 

From Cambridge, to Oxford, without forgetting La Sorbonne (A/N : by the way, this is canon haha, Bruce really did start college that early and went to many different places, and honestly, is anyone surprised ?). 

This wasn't really something you absolutely couldn't believe, compared to other crazy rumors about him. And you knew he WAS smart. 

By then, you couldn't count how many things were circulating about him, and how hard it was to know the truth from just plain old rumors. 

He had over a thousand lovers, he had MORE than one PhD (impossible, right ?), he had died once but survived somehow, he was part of a cult, he often lost his status as a billionaire because he gave so much money to charities and such, but his companies meddled in so many areas that his bank account was always filled more and more…

Honestly that last part didn't really surprise you. You saw him gave his money away to things he cared about (like education and medical care) without a second thoughts, so the fact he constantly oscillated between "billionaire" and "multi-millionaire" didn't really surprise you, not when you knew him like you did now. 

You totally trusted the rumors that said that by now, he gave away more than he currently owned. It sounded like him alright…But how to know the truth from the downright crazy ? Did he really have a PhD or was this just an addition to how special and different Bruce Wayne was in Gotham ? What kind of PhD did he have anyway ? 1000 lovers, really ?!

So many questions. And not a lot of answers. Even if you grew closer (as friends, of course), Bruce was still somewhat of a mystery to you. 

He never really tried to dismiss rumors, even the bad ones (unless they touched his son). Which made you wonder if they were true or not. And you really, really, for some reasons, wanted to know more about him...

“Is something the matter ?” 

He asks. Oh goddamn you, day dreaming on one of your regular “coffee date”. 

You shake your head, sipping on your drink and say : 

“Was just thinking about...Tabloids.” 

“Ah.” 

He frowns. For understandable reasons.

“I was just thinking about wether some rumors were true or not.” 

“What do you think is not true ?” 

“I don’t really know, and you never really say a rumor is false so it’s hard to know.” 

“Do you want to know anything in particular ?” 

Bruce knows it’s dangerous, to let you enter his private life like that. There’s a reason, after all, why he never dismisses any rumors. 

It helped build his fake persona, and take away any suspicions that he might be the infamous Batman. 

But he felt weak, around you. As if he just wanted to please you, no matter what. Sometimes, he felt dangerously close to just tell you : “ask me anything and I’ll tell you the truth”, even if it meant revealing his night activities...

Crazy, right ? 

He knew it was. And that he shouldn’t let it happen. Yet here he was, asking if you wanted to know something. Craving your attention. It felt so unlike him. But...You seemed to unlock a certain part of him. 

The one that didn’t die with his parents, and remained hidden. The one that was the old little Bruce, full of hope, honesty and happiness. Full of wish for the future...Even if he knew there was none. 

“How was college, for you ?” 

You hear yourself asking, really wondering if it was true he was 14 when he started, and if it was...How different you guys were, right ? You were 21 right now, and taking a gap year after two years of college...When he was your age, he had already finished a master (or even maybe two). 

"My college years were actually pretty boring, and unlike some rumors say, weren't particularly wild. I was really young."

"Ah, I heard the rumors."

"Those are true, I'm afraid haha."

"Afraid ? You're a genius !"

Which is why you found, more and more, his "himbo" persona to be odd. WHat was Bruce Wayne trying to hide ? Mmm…

Bruce recognized that look in your eyes. The look of someone who was onto something, and it was too frightening to let it happen. So he said :

"Yes well, I feel I missed a lot, during those years. Which is why I make it up now hahaha !"

His boisterous laughter seemed genuine, and totally fooled you. You couldn't always be on top of everything eh ? And this, did answer your question about his himbo persona…Oh, Bruce was good.

And he knew it. He trained for years, to make sure nobody would ever even suspect him to be Batman.

But he had to be careful with you. He knew it. It was obvious. You weren't that easy to fool…

The Day Batman saved you. 

The fact he had to be careful with you was confirmed not long after. When, as Batman, he came to your rescue.

He should’ve known, that even with a voice changer, and a mask covering most his face, plus a demeanor that was completely different from his usual one, you’d still get suspicious...He should’ve known because he, by then, knew you quite well. 

But, what ? Was he suppose to just let you get mugged ? 

He couldn’t. 

Even if in the grand scheme of things, it would’ve been better, and he would definitely intervene if it got too rough...He couldn’t. 

He couldn’t bear the thought of you getting hurt, or feeling distressed.

He knew this was stupid. That he shouldn’t get so attached. That muggings weren’t really his area of expertise, that to stop them, he had to hit the big bosses. He knew. Small thugs weren’t his target. He had a much bigger vision. And rationally, he should be somewhere else right now. 

Yet he couldn’t resolve himself to. Because, and that was a dangerous thought and feeling, he was in l- 

“Why are we spying on your girlfriend ?” 

Dick’s voice takes him out of his reveries, good. It WAS getting dangerous. Still keeping you in his field of vision (you were slowly going back to your apartment, a few minutes still, and he could leave to do other things knowing you were safe and sound in your home), he answered :  

“We’re not spying on her, we’re making sure she’s safe. And she’s not my girlfriend, you know that.” 

“Oh yeah ? We’ve been following your “totally not girlfriend” since the night started, awfully looks to me like we’re um, you know, stalking her.”

“We’re not.” 

“Suuuuuuuuuure.” 

Bruce gives an annoyed look to his son, who had way too big a smug face right now, and says : 

“The night is calm, if something comes up we’ll go. But right now, it’s alright. And it has been made official, that she and I are a couple.” 

“Fake couple.” 

“Fake one to us, not to the public eye.” 

“Ooooooh !” 

Connections were quickly made in the boy’s head, and he understood why they were following her. After all, this was Gotham. And if THE Bruce Wayne had ONE known lover...Well, it was easy to know it’d attract some nasty business. 

Dick was about to make a smug remark of which he had a talent for, when it happened. He pointed at you, fear in his eyes, and Bruce focused your way again. 

“Stay here.” 

“What why ?! I wanna help her too !” 

“Because she’s too smart not to put two and two if she sees you with me. She knows us in our day lives. She’ll recognize us for sure, if we’re together.”

“Oh...”

“Just stay still, ok ?” 

“Ok.” 

Without a second thought, Bruce jumped down in the street down below, under Dick’s worried eyes. If anything happened to you, he knew his dad would never be the same again. 

And he knew he couldn’t bear to lose yet another person he cared about. Even loved. Yes. Yes Dick loved you, as if you really were part of his family...

The months of “faking” family outings made it so. Your worst fear happened. Dick was getting attached, hardcore. And he really hoped you and Bruce would figure out you were actually in love with each others before the end of your “contract”, and before his sometimes very dense dad would decide to let you go...

For now though, he was anxiously looking at Bruce making his way to you, after he spotted a suspicious group of men genuinely stalking you. 

************

“Hey pretty girl, can we talk ?” 

You stop in your track, turning around, cursing yourself for not having the instinct to just take off running. Oh. But you can see at least one of them has a gun. You can’t run faster than a bullet... 

“Ah it is you, isn’t it ?” 

You don’t answer, knowing what they mean. Bruce sort of warned you against this. But you didn't take his warnings seriously, and here you were, going home at night, something he definitely told you not to do. 

You just couldn’t sleep that night, and needed a walk...And here you were. 

“You’re gonna come nicely with us, right ?” 

“I dont��� think so.” 

Uh ? You’re pretty sure that weird robotic voice wasn’t yours. Even if that’s exactly what you wanted to say. And that’s...oh wow. 

That’s when you see him. Batman. 

Immediately, the atmosphere grow even tenser. And you can see the thugs who wanted to take you with them fearfully looking at him. 

“This has nothing to do with you Batman, leave us alone, we didn’t do anything wrong !” 

“It has everything to do with me. Leave.” 

“We have to-You don’t understand. We have to take her to-” 

“Nowhere. Leave.” 

Even if he was protecting you, you had to admit that, that dude was frightening. He had his back to you, and even then, he looked so intimidating and tall and broad...

Bruce was tall and broad too. But he was soft and sweet, not scary at all.

“OH MY GOD LOOK OUT !!” 

One of the thug had a gun pointed at Batman. Right at his head. He didn’t have the time to enforce his helmet yet, and if he shot around his mouth, he was done for...

A rock coming out of nowhere hit the thug right in the face. 

Coming out of nowhere ? To you, maybe. But Bruce knew that this was little Dickie’s doing. “Robin always has Batman’s back”, he said often...

For the time being, the one taking his gun out being knocked out triggered a “fight or flight” reaction in the others, and as two took off running (and were mysteriously hit by rocks too, knocking them out), three decided to attack Batman. 

Bad move. 

Very bad move. 

In a matter of second, it was over. 

He turns to you, and it’s hard to discern any emotions with his lighted eyes and mask. He asks : 

“Are you alright, (Y/N) ?” 

“How-How do you know my name ?”

“Well, you’re Bruce Wayne’s girlfriend, right ?” 

There was no hesitation in Bruce’s voice as, as soon as he pronounced your name, he knew he messed up...but he trained himself to think quickly. And this “fake” relationship was a perfect excuse, of course. Everyone in Gotham knew about you two, by now. 

“Oh, right, ok.” 

You seemed a bit disappointed, and Bruce couldn’t quite understand why...

It only hits him later, as he was going to bed, why you looked like that. And it made hi heart beat widely. Because he was pretty sure that it was because you sort of hoped Bruce talked to “Batman about you...Oh...Oh this was getting dangerous. 

But of course, Bruce had a reputation to be the one funding Batman’s gadget (a really good cover for the fact he was actually Batman). So they’d know each others...

But right there and then, as he just saved you, you felt so stupid, hoping that Bruce would’ve talked to you to Batman. Why would he ? How the hell would your name even show up in a conversation between Bruce Wayne and Batman (but oh, if you knew you occupied his thoughts many times, and who he really was, maybe you’d feel less bad ? It was, in a way, Bruce talking about you to Batman, right ?). 

You smiled weakly and shyly at this impressive being in front of you, and thanked him one more time. He nods, smiling too (oh ?), and bid you farewell. 

Ah. But Bruce didn’t notice your eyes go wide, as he took off with his grappling hook, and you caught the side of his face in a certain light...

Fake ?

"You know, he smiles more when you’re around.” 

Dick tells you once, you look at him curiously, as he continues : 

“And before you say it’s “all pretend”, let me tell you there’s a difference between this smile and the fake one. Look, that’s how he pretend.” 

On that note, he looked at you and smiled widely, exaggeratedly, but his smile didn’t reach his eyes. And it was so like how Bruce portrayed himself in public, that it made you chuckle. 

It also scared you a little. 

Not because there was a possibility Bruce did smile more around you, but because as that little boy was being silly, and now imitating his adopted father further and oh so perfectly...You felt a surge of love for him. 

And that wasn’t good. 

Because the day, which was coming soon now, you’d have to “dump” Bruce Wayne, you wouldn’t be able to see that little one again...why would you ? 

It’d be too weird, right ? Someone like you, once “broken up”, would have no reasons or ways to ever interact with billionaire Bruce Wayne or his son ever again. 

That little boy was the sweetest child you ever met. He suffered a great loss so early in his life, and there he was, making you laugh and being nice by saying you made his dad genuinely smile. 

It hurt, to know that one day, you wouldn’t see him again. That he’d grow up, and you wouldn’t know what he became. 

You were sure he was destined to become a great man, and you wished you could see it...No. No this was bad. This was so bad. 

“I mean it you know.” 

His little voice brings your attention back to him. 

“I think you make him happy. With you, it feels he can be himself. He laughs more, really laughs. And it’s often that he tells me “oh this makes me think of (Y/N)” and calls you. He doesn’t need to call you for the fake relationship thing, right ? Yet he does. That means something. I think he likes you.” 

You shake your head, smiling at this little boy’s wild imagination. No way. No way was THE Bruce Wayne falling for you in any way. Were you guys becoming real friends ? Sure. But it definitely stopped there. Right ?

Oh but if only you knew Dick had a knack to see this kind of things, and to guess people’s real feelings. If only you knew, that yes, Bruce was starting to fall for you...It would make the next episode way less painful for you. 

“Catch me dead before you catch me catching feelings” - You to yourself, a few days before starting a fake relationship with THE Bruce Wayne. 

“Fuck you” - You to yourself, almost six months in faking a relationship with Bruce Wayne. 

This was...bad. 

Soon enough, you and Bruce will break this entire deal off, you will “dump” him, and you’d go on your separate ways. And...

This was bad. 

Why ? WHY COULDN’T YOU JUST HANG OUT WITH THIS AMAZING CHARMING MAN AND THAT’S IT ? Why ? WHY DID YOU HAVE TO GET OUT THERE AND CATCH....

Catch...

Catch those body shivering “feelings”. 

Not just for Bruce though. But for the little buddy too. 

You felt yourself fall for Bruce slowly, and as if it was completely out of your control. But you also felt like if Dick wasn't in your life anymore...You wouldn’t feel whole again. Like he was sort of your son, too, by then. 

This was so bad. How did you get yourself in this mess ? What was that FIRST rule you gave yourself when all this started ? 

Right, “Catch me dead before I catch feelings”. Damn it. 

Thanks GOD the “marrying season” was finally coming to an end. Both you and Bruce settled you’d wait a few weeks after it to make your break-up official, so nobody would be tempted to cancel any wedding plans to try and force their daughter onto him.  

And it couldn’t happen soon enough. 

Being around him now, faking being in love, was torture to you. 

Kissing him knowing he felt nothing. Holding his hand in public while you knew in your heart he was just putting a show still. And hanging out with him feeling that you had absolutely no chance of this ever evolving...

It hurt.

It hurt so bad. 

And you were slowly hoping you never agreed to being his fake girlfriend. Being a living cliche, the money and the fame were REALLY not worth the heartache. 

So not worth it...

The end...?

"Well mister Wayne, it has truly been a pleasure to be your "girlfriend" haha. Seriously, I had a lot of fun, and a little revenge on life. You know, I saw Eric and Monica not long ago. They tried to become my friends again, knowing I was with you. It was great, to ignore them like they ignored them. You’re right, they’re really not worth it. And honestly I still don’t think we’re even after they hurt me like they did but...In the end, they looked so outraged. Win-win, really. Thank you very much."

"Thank YOU, for playing along and doing more than you bargained for. You really saved me a lot of hassle and…I had fun, too."

Your taxi was pulling in front of the Manor, and honked as he parked. Clearly, not a very patient driver.

"Well, see you around, Bruce ! If you're not too busy, you know…I kinda consider you a friend by now ?"

"Me, too."

Bruce lied. A "friend" ? No, it couldn't cover and explain all his feelings for you. A "friend". How ridiculous.

As you walked away, giving him a last smile, Bruce felt a pang in his chest.

A painful and yet happy one. A longing one. One that told him that "friend" wasn't what he wanted to be…Not anymore…

But was there really a future for you and him ? Probably not. His nightly activities would get in the way. You deserve more than the life he could give you. Being his "fake" girlfriend, you only took part in his public matters. Part in a fake world full of nice things, that was far from his actual life.

"Friend", he wished he could be more to you than this.

But he knew.

He knew that for your own good, he had to stay away. And oh, oh how he wished he could be more than just your "friend" or "fake" boyfriend. 

Yet he watched as you walked away. Without doing anything. 

He watched you leave, and felt the hole in his heart expand a little more. But didn’t try to catch you, or stop you from leaving. 

And your taxi was already far, now. On its way to Gotham. 

"So you gonna run after her oooor…??"

Dick's little voice takes him out of his reveries.

“Mmm ?” 

“(Y/N). Are you gonna run after her, or stand there looking like a sad puppy for the rest of your life ?” 

“I do not look like a sad puppy.” 

“Yes you do, and you know it. Come on dad, why are you doing this ?” 

This was the first time Dick called him dad. Which didn’t go unnoticed to Bruce. It meant...It meant something was definitely happening. He felt it in his heart. Something that was dangerous. Oh so dangerous. 

Hope. Like the “old Bruce” had. Hope. Full of it. Before his parents were murdered in front of him, for no reasons. Meaningless. 

Hope. 

To have a family again. Ah. But...Being with you was impossible. And Dick would be enough. He would. He was already enough... 

“How long are ya gonna torture yourself exactly ?” 

That boy was too smart for his own good. Bruce said : 

“I’m not. I just...I can’t be with her.” 

“I cAn’T bE wITh hEr !! ...Why ?!” 

“You saw what happened, when it was made official we were together. She almost died.” 

“And you saved her. Your point being ?” 

“Dick...”

“Don’t -he takes a mock Bruce voice- “Dick” me mister ! You’re afraid to be happy, and I won’t have it. You gave me another chance to have a family. A dad. And I’m not about to let my dad punish himself for feeling good. You told me yourself my parents would like for me to be happy. Well yours would too, you big idiot ! So now, you listen to me.” 

Dick, meaning business, jumps on the stairs’ bannister to sort of be on eye level with Bruce, and says, pointing his finger at him : 

“You take one of those fancy useless sport car, and you run after her. Capish ?” 

There’s a moment of silence. During which Bruce is unsure of what to do. And then...Then he smiles at his son. 

His son. 

“Capish”, he simply says, and he rushes towards the garage’s entrance, under Dick’s happy look. 

Success. 

Bruce’s car was leaving the estate, when Alfred joined Dick at the front door. 

“You did it, Master Richard.” 

“I hope I did !” 

“Oh you did. You did. Thank you. Thank you for taking care of my son...”

Dick turned to Alfred, who couldn’t keep a straight face this time. Small tears gathered in the old man’s eyes, and sweet little Dick did not hesitate one second before jumping into his arms and giving him one of his famous “Grayson special” hug. 

It’s real. 

Back to square one. 

You. A bad day. Looking like a mess (this time not because of the rain, but because you cried a lot). Your gap year almost over and still not knowing who you were. With no coffee, but at least, you had a tub of ice cream. 

You already missed Bruce. And Dick. And Alfred. 

You couldn’t believe those six months of “faking” would end up meaning so much to you, and feel so devastating as they ended. 

You wish you had never met Bruce. And that you’d been ridiculed by Eric and Monica, that your life would still be pathetic...Pathetic maybe, but at least, your heart wasn’t completely shattered. 

You don’t hear the hurried knocks on your door, at first. Entranced by your own sadness. It’s only when they become loud and insistant you react. 

You really hope it’s not a journalist. They sort of tried to talk to you so many times, since you “dumped” Bruce...You knew he made sure that they’d stay away, but some were particularly persistent. 

Including that awful woman from the charity, who was asking Dick those horrible questions. “Vicky Vale”, was her name, apparently. What a witch. 

Clearly, the knocking wasn’t gonna go away, so you stood up, settled your tub of ice cream on your coffee table, and went to the door, ready to fight if need be. 

But there was no need for fights. 

At least, not in the literal sense of the term. 

“Bruce ?” 

He seems out of breath. Incredible, given how in shape he was. He doesn’t really leave you any time to say anything else, as he blurts out :

“I was wrong.”

He blurts out out of nowhere, and you’re even more confused. Before you could ask what was all this about, he adds : 

“I was wrong. When I said you were the right person because you were “normal”. You’re everything, BUT “just a regular person”. You’re the most fantastic woman I’ve ever met. You decided to help a total stranger just because. I know I helped you before, but it doesn’t compare to what you did for me. Especially on a matter that seems so silly to me now. You put yourself in a very awkward position for someone you didn’t even know. In front of the public, for a guy like me. You knew I was a “playboy”, and that I could very well use you. Yet you still put up with it. You accepted my son, even as you didn’t have to. Even as, just like me, you are so young. You were nice to Dick, even if all you needed to do was pretend. You’re...You’re...You’re just something else entirely. It feels like you know me, the real me. Like you can read my very soul. Like you’re the only one for me. I’ve known for a long time. I ignored it because I was afraid of what that meant but...but a certain little one made me realize this was time. It’s time to move on. It’s time to allow myself to be happy. And so, here I am.”

Was this...it ? The point of your gap year ? To discover that finding yourself...Meant finding your soulmate ? 

It sounded silly. While at the same time, not. Because you felt it. You felt it deep within you. From the moment Bruce handed you that twenty dollars bill, fate was in motion. 

You meeting Eric and Monica wasn’t bad luck. It was the opposite. It was the Universe’s push towards your real Destiny. 

Towards Bruce. 

“You’re not saying anything. Is this bad ? Or does it mean I blew your mind away ? I’m clearly hoping for the latter...”

Over the months, you discovered how huge of a dork Bruce Wayne could be. Even as if there was often a darkness right behind his smiles. Deep within his eyes. You discovered he wasn’t always this cocky arrogant man he portrayed himself to be while in public. How he was actually pretty funny and oh so empathetic. How...How so many things, the list seemed endless in your mind. 

And it only added to everything, that he looked so unsure. And so you smile. You just smile at him. And everything you feel is in that smile. 

You don’t even realize you’re holding each others now, and that you’re kissing...

It’s not pretend this time. 

A real first kiss. 

Though maybe all your kisses until now weren’t as fake as you pretended them to be. 

In any case, this, right now, is a real kiss alright. 

A real one. 

Full of all the pent up emotions. Free of all the fear and hurt you both felt as you realized you were in love with the other one, yet you thought things were all “fake”. 

Because it wasn't fake. It wasn’t. 

“I love you.” 

You don’t know who said it first. You, or him. You felt so in sync, that it didn’t matter. What is sure, is that you both said it. Before you closed the door to your apartment, leading him in. 

Before you spend the night in each other’s arms.

Bruce not even thinking about going out as Batman..

For the first time in years, he decided to fully embrace being happy. 

“You always told me my parents would wish for me to be happy, well yours too !” Dick said. And oh, he was so right.

By the way, I’m Batman. Surprise. 

“It’s not like I didn’t know, you know.” 

“Huh ?” 

Oh. Oh the delight to see that surprised expression on Bruce’s face. It was quite a rare one, really. And as he finally gathered the courage to tell you who he really was, risking losing you in the process but wanting to show you his full self...

It was particularly delightful. 

“Busted you on that night you saved me. As if I wasn’t going to recognized that jawline.” 

“Wait, really ? I really thought you bought my lies !” 

“Well now, you know not to underestimate me.” 

“I...Do.”

A natural smile reaches his face, and he approaches you, pulling you to him, and laying a soft kiss on your lips. Feeling fully accepted and loved, like never before. And he could see you-

“Oh NO EWWWWWW !!!” 

You pull away from Bruce’s kiss (noticing his slow grumble, displeased to lose  your warmth), and look at little Dickie (your son too, now !), staring at you two, looking disgusted. 

“Get a ROOOOM !!” 

This makes you laugh. A lot. And oh. Oh how would you ever guess, in that moment, that one day, this “get a room !!” said in such a disgusted tone would be the trademark of your children (SIX OF THEM) whenever they’d see you and Bruce display any sort of affection to one another ? 

You couldn’t guess, of course. But even in that moment, as you softly laughed, in Bruce’s arms, while looking at your son now making exaggerated noises and acting silly, you knew this...

This was what you’ve been looking for during this gap year. 

This was who you were. 

Right there. 

At the heart of a loving family, even if right now, it was just the three of you (four, let’s not forget Alfred !). 

The end. 

_________________________________________________

And here we are. I hope you liked it ? I feel particularly nervous about this one haha. Don’t hesitate to leave a little comment and reblog :),  It’s always greatly appreciated, and encouraging :D. Thanks in advance, and see you soon with a new story ! 

[p1harmonyofficial]

[📰] A Day in the Life With P1Harmony, K-Pop's Most Optimistic Rookies: 'We Want to Be Artists'

By Jessica Oak

Over the past few months, P1Harmony unveiled their debut album Disharmony: Stand Out, premiered the box office movie P1Harmony: New World Begins with Amazon Music, and released an onslaught of rip-roaring dance videos. It's safe to say the new boy band has made both their incredible talent and their charm clear.

Billboard Korea was invited to join their packed, day-to-day activities to see how members Keeho, Jiung, Theo, Intak, Soul and Jongseob are navigating the fast lane to success and their infinite dreams.

As a quiet Sunday evening dawns on Seoul in the third week of November, Billboard Korea is greeted by the highly-energetic, freshly debuted K-pop group during a short break. In the midst of the seemingly endless hours that accompany K-pop star schedules -- especially those for new acts -- P1Harmony has just returned to their label headquarters from filming what would be their last televised performance of debut single “Siren” on music program SBS Inkigayo.

They’re all still in their customized stage outfits, now sipping smoothies and reviewing their recorded live performance on their managers' mobile devices before driving off to another scheduled appearance.

“I usually drink coffee, Americano with extra espresso shots, but I can use some sugar today,” Jiung, 19, says in his deep voice. His pleasant smile is seen through sips of an Oreo smoothie, the popular choice among the members (minus Keeho, who opted for chocolate, and Theo, who chose a strawberry flavor). “We definitely poured a lot of energy at Inkigayo.”

As seen on Inkigayo, the group’s collective ability to deliver pitch-perfect vocals through the intricate and hardcore choreography for “Siren” has been one of the key factors that led to early mainstream recognition.

With big puppy dog eyes and a lisp that occasionally slips in, Intak, 17 -- who is largely considered to be the main dancer of the group by fans, despite P1H saying they would rather not define each members’ roles -- further explains their efforts. “We are a little bit exhausted from putting in so much energy to our last performance," he says. "I think we all wanted to make a lasting impression and give our fans everything.”

Pointing to his shoes, the group's 19-year-old leader Keeho jokingly adds, “I think I danced too hard, my toe hurts!”

Keeho is Canadian-Korean, and is the most easygoing -- as well as the wittiest -- member of the group. His humor is unguarded, but his intentions are kind. His welcoming personality is often what seems to break the ice during interviews.

Youngest member Jongseob, 15, whose palpable maturity is both endearing and somewhat eerie, quietly adds that he, too, felt his moves were “much bigger and stronger” than usual. We later learn that behind his politeness, there is a super-talkative, introverted child prodigy with big ideas and a big smile.

Soon enough, the room inside FNC Entertainment headquarters starts bustling with staff members, which means it’s time to get ready for the next event. The group is rushed to get prepped and each member starts rotating into the makeup chair in an almost-robotic way, as a seasoned artist would, taking turns for their hair and foundation to be retouched.

“I have a big mosquito bite on the left side of my face,” Keeho reminds his two makeup artists, “Who gets bit by a mosquito during winter?” He turns to the group to laugh, “It is not a pimple, I promise!”

When asked if there are certain stage habits they've adopted since debut, Keeho quickly answers, “I make sure I have nothing in between or on my teeth and floss my teeth with a Q-tip so it doesn’t ruin my makeup.” Immediately, the whole room erupts in laughter. Keeho is clearly the funny one, but when you mention this to Keeho, he disagrees and says, “We all try to keep our moods up so we are constantly saying silly things. Theo is hilarious, too; he's just shy.”

Soon, P1Harmony heads to the Lotte Theater located in Jamsil, Seoul, where they have been coming for weeks to have small fan-meetings of less than 50 people due to COVID-19 social-distancing restrictions. They arrive just in time at 7:00 p.m. when the movie ends and, minutes later, are ushered into a crowd of overly excited fans -- all of whom are holding its gigantic cameras, ready to flash away.

They're holding these meetups at the movie theaters because P1Harmony is the first K-pop group to ever have released a feature film prior to their debut. The new and unconventional strategy, created by P1Harmony's management agency FNC Entertainment to help them stand out in a hyper-competitive industry, proved to be exceedingly effective. Not only did the full-length sci-fi movie help them gain traction in Korea thanks to co-stars that included some top names in entertainment, but it gave them the opportunity to be exposed on a global platform like Amazon Music when a 20-minute highlight version made its international debut.

Just a few feet from the front row of movie seats, the boys each take turns sharing their feelings about its promotional activities of “Siren” coming to end. They then do a short fan-focused skit (Jiung and Theo makes hearts and piggybacks each other upon fans requests randomly picked out from a box) and promise to come back with more music ASAP.

As a farewell gift, the boys go all out for a surprise performance of the Disharmony b-side track “Butterfly” and an encore performance of “Siren,” despite a less-than-ideal stage. Without any special lights or fancy backdrops, the narrow carpet strip between the first row of chairs and the movie screen was not the most flattering space for a boy-band performance, but turned out to be a supremely enjoyable moment of the night: P1Harmony's in-sync step coordination, balance control, spatial awareness and general collective optimism helped them manage through their gesture-heavy choreography (without anyone getting punched in the face) in what's a nearly impossible, vulnerable experience to see from any K-pop act.

Afterwards, Theo takes the mic, and asks the crowd their one last question: “Do you think we’ve improved since our first showcase?” The fans shriek, “YES!”

As we are walking to their cars, Jongseob says, “Soul is always wearing his ginormous skull rings -- he's a rockstar at heart -- and they usually end up hurting someone during our dance practices.” He's still out of breath and completely drenched in sweat. “But somehow, we managed to dodge getting hurt so I guess that was a success!”

Soul, the half-Japanese, half-Korean 15-year-old innocently looks up and nods. Soul rarely talks, but in his defense, it's not because “he doesn’t care,” but because he’s an “observer.” According to Soul, he gets more thrilled by watching his members having fun. Keeho confirms, “Soul is so protective of us; very loving and compromising.”

“It’s always so satisfying when we can perform in front of an actual audience, because we rarely get to meet our fans in person due to the current situation,” Theo, 19, shares while speaking up for the first time during this interview. “It is unfortunate that we don’t get to do it as much as we would like to, although we have live online meet-ups almost every week.”

Despite his shyness, Theo is more comfortable being in an intimate setting with his fans, while also trying to be more outgoing and giving -- his way of expressing his gratitude. While occasionally unreadable at times, Theo was one of the only members who consistently posed for the cameras throughout the one-hour fan session.

“Theo can come off the wrong way at first, kind of like Soul," explains group leader Keeho. "But once you get to know him, which takes some time, he is probably one of the more detail-oriented and caring members. He remembers what you said or what you like, and will have it ready for you when you’re least expecting it.”

On their car ride back to FNC, the boys are understandably exhausted, but no one is complaining or expecting to rest. Instead, they light up at the idea of dancing more. Since COVID-19 has limited most of what would normally make them busier with appearances and concerts, Jiung says they usually cap the night off by either going to dance practice or making online content. Tonight, they are going to practice.

While it's a typical K-pop rookie answer to say that their nights will be filled with rehearsing, our skepticism is proven wrong. Starting after dinner around 11:30 p.m., their dance practice is going to be an all-nighter. Jiung and Intak have been coordinating their moves for a short TikTok video for almost 50 minutes.

“We ended our debut promo but we are doing a follow-up promo for 'Nemonade' and have a number of special projects and collaborations coming up,” Jiung teases for his upcoming promos. “We seriously have so much to practice that we haven't had much personal time. We only go back to our dorms to shower and sleep.”

“You'd be stunned if you saw our dorms right now,” Keeho tells us. “We have a group chat where our individual chores are listed, but that list hasn't been updated since Oct. 14. Our moms help us out here and there but that's a whole other conversation.” Jongseob chuckles and suggests that they should play a card game of BANG! tonight so the loser can clean what's most urgent and in dire need of attention: the sink.

But besides chores, what does P1Harmony do during their off-hours?

The first to answer is Jiung, who carries himself with serene confidence on and off stage, and is perhaps one of the more collected and determined members of the group. He has very specific personal preferences (he loves raw garlic, can’t be cooked) and indulges in multiple hobbies (reading on a wide-range of subjects, sketching “to take things off his mind" that results in near-perfect replications) and gets consumed watching videos on “solo camping,” noting that one of his many goals is to go camping alone one day.

“Our personal needs and time are important, but all of that right now is secondary,” Jiung says. He stresses that he and his members are more focused on finessing their craft and is trying not to lose sight of their ultimate goal, which is to be recognized for their musicality. All the members have writing credits on their debut album.

They say their hard work ethic and long hours are purely driven by their excitement of finally being able to do what they've been dreaming of for years. The group’s debut didn’t go exactly as planned, getting postponed multiple times for several reasons, so one can only imagine their buildup of determination.

Keeho adds, “We love doing online meet-ups. It’s so much fun and it’s the only way we can interact with our fans right now, but at the same time we are kind of worried that we will be, or I will be, known as the ‘funny’ one, and wonder if we could ever be taken seriously as musicians.”

Nonetheless, he is flattered that people find him funny and enjoys watching fan-made memes of himself -- some of which have earned hundreds of thousands of views on social media.

Now, in full-out leader mode, Keeho squarely shares, “The only reason why we are so motivated is because we just love singing and performing. I can confidently say, on the behalf of our members, is that the six of us are here because we want to be artists; we want to deliver our message and emotions through our music, and we don’t want any of that to be overshadowed by our other activities.”

So, what about P1Harmony’s music?

“Of course, we want to inspire and have a message that our fans can relate to," Keeho says. "But what matters to us the most, is that we are genuine and make music that feels like ‘us’ at that very moment." Jiung adds, “I want to make music that can remind us what mind state or what type of emotions we were feeling at the time.”

Keeho agrees. “Our music defines us. We want to be sincere, and hope that our sincerity translates to our fans worldwide. I think it’s important to make music that touches us first; music that feels true to ourselves," he says. "We are all very opinionated, involved and talk to each other a lot about what we feel when we are writing our music.”

Although the group is at most times in high spirits, they admit they have concerns about their future. When asked if the idea of failure or self-doubt ever devours them, they are all remarkably positive and dedicated.

“I get worried about failure, but I try not to focus on our results right now," Intak says earnestly. “I think it’s a process, and whatever the outcome may be, what matters to me the most is enjoying this [learning] process and being humble and grateful for every little achievement we establish as a group.” However, he is adamant to “to make an indelible mark in history.” “I want us to be remembered as a prominent musical figure in history. I want to touch the world; I want to move and impact people with what we do. I want to go on-record with Billboard for this!”

“I also worry,” continues Jiung gleefully, looking more ecstatic than ever despite the heavy subject. “I think about our failure, but I have this gut-feeling we are going to do well. We all have this crazy, enthusiastic vibe, and are pretty much convinced we are going to be awesome. I think we lift each other up and have high hopes because we have no doubt when we are making music.”

Jongseob jumps in to clarify: “We don't think about failure at least when we are in our creative zones.”

“No offense to Intak,” Theo says peacefully, “but I don’t care for results. I don’t want to change the world. I don’t want to be pressured to make a difference, because we set our own standards and that’s what matters the most. I’m just happy to be singing and performing right now.”

“Yeah, you know what, I am not concerned [about failure] at all,” Keeho continues with his mischievous smirk. “I always say, ‘We are destined for greatness,’ and I truly believe it. We are going to be legends!”

And after spending a full, exhaustive day with them, at this point, we believe it too.

[readbeneaththelines]

The Hideway Pt 1

A/N: this is for my Little Dragon @kwonnansi. I started this on my old blog, and I wanted to restart it just for her. I hope you enjot this once again love!

You run a small, off-the-beaten path coffee shop that lets its patrons have a place to Hideaway and find some peace and quiet. One night, The Kwon JiYong visits close to closing. Will this spontaneous encounter grow into something more?

Characters: Kwon JiYong x Reader

Warnings: Fluff, smut later on, a wee bit of angst down the line

Word Count: 2241

credit to the owner of the gif

Looking through the small shop’s front glass door, you flicked the outside light on. The last few customers of the night trickled in, greeting you with tired smiles and mumbled hellos. As each customer sat down, you would weave your way amongst the tables , put on your biggest grin and ask for their order. It was these late nights that you loved the best. Solitude in your coffee shop and the light chatter of couples ending the evening together. 

“Y/N”you turn your head as you hear someone call your name. It was a regular customer who’s favorite spot was the worn golden Jeliff Sofa. Her legs were curled up under her and she had her jasmine tea balanced on her lap. “Come sit with me a second, girl you need a break!” 

Her bright smile and childlike giggles got to you every single time. Shaking your head, you set the last order down for a cutsey couple and headed to join Hae. “Only you could get me to take a break, Hae.” you spoke as you took a seat beside her. “It’s because you know I won’t take no for an answer, and you love me.” She nudged you with her shoulder, a hearty laugh bringing a smile to your face. “Yeah, I do love you. Seeing your my best friend since I moved here.” The two of you talked as the final customers left. 

“I better get ready to close up, Hae. Why don’t you call me tomorrow and we’ll have a girls’ night?” She rose up and wrapped her arm around you. “This will be a girls’ night you’ll never forget.” Setting her cup on the counter, she half-skipped out the door, waving to you over her shoulder.

You set about cleaning the shop, sweeping and wiping down tables when you heard the storefront door chime. You popped your head around the door, seeing who was invading the quiet surroundings. A tall lean man was standing in the doorway, a newsboy hat settled low on his brow. His legs were long yet muscular, the black denim hugging every line. He kept his head low, the light jacket almost like a blanket wrapped around him.

“May I help you?” you managed to get out as your eyes trailed up and down his lean frame. “I’m sorry, were you about to close? I was looking for a new coffee shop and I had never been in here before.” His voice was a soft tenor tone, almost too quiet to really hear. You made your way into the open space as you kept your eyes on him. He gazed up at you under the brim of the cap, watching you as a prey would be wary of its predator.

“Well then, welcome to The Hideaway. I'm sorry though, I was just about to close.” When he lifted his head a bit more, you instantly realized who it was when you saw those eyes. “But I can stay open for you. I always have time to convince a new customer to become a lifelong patron.”” A crooked smile curled at the corners of his mouth. “Well, we will just have to see how good your coffee is before I can make that kind of commitment.” And thus began a journey that both of you would traverse together.

You offered the vintage overstuffed chaise to him, handing him the handwritten list of drinks and pastries you offered. After looking over the menu, he chose the house specialty with an order of the miniature honey cinnamon croissants. Sitting back in the chaise, he crossed his ankles and leaned his head into the cushion. You smiled to yourself as you headed for the espresso machine, pulling the freshly washed parts from the drying towel and putting everything back together. Getting quickly to work, you wondered why he chose your small new coffee shop as a new place to try. You never advertised, only garnering new customers by word of mouth, and the name was an apt description of the place. It was a quaint little shop hidden away from the main street, a little ‘dive’ so to speak.You would have to know where it was to find it, but you preferred it that way. It offered your patrons a chance to get away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. An escaped to just sit back and find some peace and quiet. 

“May I ask you a question?” you ventured, looking over the pastry display in his direction. He sat up and turned towards you. “Shoot” he replied.

“How did you find this place? I mean it’s off the beaten path and not very many people would know it was even here. So I was just curious how you found out about it.” His lips curled into a full grin. “I have my ways of finding things I like, and coffee is something I like very much.”

You returned his grin, gathered up his drink and croissant onto a tray and carried it over to him. Setting it down on the small table before him, you bowed and turned away. While he sipped the coffee and nibbled on the pastry, you could her faints mmm’s and umhm’s echoing from his direction. “Does it suit your taste?” you asked with a hint of humor.

He nodded enthusiastically, wiping at his mouth with the back of his hand. When you saw the small happy face tattoo, you were confident that he was who you thought. “Excuse me, Mr. Kwon?” 

His head snapped quickly in your direction. Surprise and worry, the mixture of emotions, etched on his forehead. “Shit” he mumbled under his breath. 

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you. I had an idea it was you when you first entered. You may be able to hid under a hat and mask at night to most people this late, but your eyes gave you away. Your little tat just confirmed it. But please, don’t worry, I’m not going to tell a soul that you were here. This place is called the hideaway for a reason. So if you like it enough, you are welcome to come here as often as you like, close as you want to closing time and I will always make time for you” you watched his expression change from shock, to perplexed to amused as you continued talking.

“You knew who I was? Damn, usually I am bombarded when someone figures it out.” he took a sip of the coffee and turned his body towards you. Patting the seat beside him, he motioned for you to sit down. “So why would you be willing to help me keep my identity a secret? Me coming here could bring you crazy amounts of business.” You nodded in agreement, then choosing your words carefully you began talking.

“True, if people knew that you came here, they would flock to my doors for a chance to catch a glimpse of you. But then this place would lose the purpose of its name. I want this to be a place everyone can come to and escape from the insanity out there and have a little peace and respice. So, no. I won’t tell anyone of your coming here. So, if you decide that my hand-roasted coffee and homemade pastries are good enough for a second and third taste, then you can come here anytime and enjoy them without all the crazy fanfare you usually get. I want you to feel as relaxed as the next customer. Besides it would be nice to have some company occasionally as I’m closing up shop.” 

Pushing his hat back onto his head, his bright eyes gleamed and smiled with his lips. “You have no idea how much I would appreciate that. And yes, both your coffee and pastries deserve another try.” Taking the last drink to empty the cup, he set it on the saucer then stood up. You rose with him, realizing just how tall he really was compared to you.

 Both of you reached for the saucer at the same time, fingertips brushing over each other as you felt a warmth fill your cheeks. You gathered it quickly, clearing your throat as you stood back up. “Thank you.” he half whispered as you turned to make your way to the counter. “How much do I owe you?” he asked, reaching in his back pocket for his wallet.

“Nothing Mr. Kwon. Consider it my treat. Besides I enjoyed the company.” you gave him your most genuine smile, which he returned effortlessly. “Well then I shall see you again, Miss.” he cocked his head to the right, looking at you with question. “I didn’t catch your name.” You lowered your head, hiding the bashfulness that had overcome you suddenly. “It’s Y/N.” you murmured softly, your face turning redder as he chuckled at your small soft reply. “Well Miss Y/N, it was a pleasure meeting you. Would you mind if I came by again in a few days?” 

“Of course not! About the same time? If so I’ll try to remember to keep the door unlocked, even if the closed sign is showing.” you walked beside him to the door, your hand reaching the handle before his. How about I call when I’m on my way? That way you can lock up and be safe until I get here.” you nodded, thanking him again for coming, and held the door open for him. “It was a pleasure meeting you Mr. Kwon.” He stopped midstep, looking directly at you. The seriousness in his eyes had you swallowing hard. Had you said something wrong? 

“Please call me Jiyong or Ji. Mr. Kwon makes me feel old. Besides if were going to be talking more often, I prefer to greet each other with a bit of familiarity.” With that, he tipped his hat to you and smiled, walking out into the dark night. Stopping a few feet away, he looked over his shoulder, “Be safe getting home Miss Y/N, and lock that door right away.”

As soon as he was out of sight, you collapsed into one of the soft chairs, your head resting in your hands as you let out the breath you seemed to have been holding since he walked in the door. 

Holy hell! Y/N you just had the experience of a lifetime. And he wants to come back! 

You pinched the inside of your arm, yelping at the invasion of pain. At least you confirmed it wasn’t a dream. The Kwon Jiyong had just visited your coffee shop, and was planning on returning again! Thankfully you knew that what you had said was true. You would never mention this encounter to anyone, and you would always treat him with respect and kindness. He needs a pace to hideaway sometimes, and your Hideaway was going to be that place.

Remembering what he said about locking the door, you rose from your seat and turned the deadbolt. After another thirty minutes you were finished with your closing duties and headed out the door. The night air was cool and the sky was full of stars. You checked, then rechecked, your surroundings before making your way down the small alleyway into the street. There were a few stragglers wandering about. You weaved your way through them, your small apartment your final destination for the night. You replayed the last two hours over and over in your head, a faint smile plastered on your face. Before you knew it, you were on the steps that led to your building. Sluggish and tired, you made your way up the steps and down the long corridor to your doorway. You were caught by surprise to see a small bouquet of flowers and a handwritten note on the floor. Looking around, you noticed no one watching and you picked up the flowers and note.

Thank you for tonight. It.was a pleasure to meet you. You do not know how much I appreciated an actual conversation. The coffee was delicious and I definitely will be back. Ji

You couldn't help but clutch the flowers close to your chest, their sweet aroma filling your head. Folding the note, you placed it in your pocket and opened the door. You set to finding something that would make a suitable vase for the flowers and placed the note in the top drawer of your dresser. 

After a long hot shower, you pulled on your pyjamas and sat on the edge of the bed. You were far to excited for sleep, and even if you tried, you just couldn’t get the reality that you had met and conversed with Kwon Jiyong out of your mind. 

Another hour passed before your eyes closed and you drifted off to Dreamland. It seemed as though no time has passed before your phone's alarm was going off and you were being pulled out of a deep sleep. Rubbing your eyes, you looked at the time, shaking your head as you gathered enough energy to clber out from under the warmth of your covers and into the kitchen. 

As your made your coffee, the reality of last night came back to you, and immediately you were reenergized and awake.

No one said that he would come back today, Y/N. He does have a life outside of your coffee shop.

@min-shookga-yoongi @beautifulseoulliar @agustd-suga-yoongii @astronomyturtle @aspaceformyself @dreamyoongi @holy-yoongi@trashkazuya @maxinaptak @micky1518 @rosiemilas @karri570

@seoulsunshineandstories @kwonnansi @xjamlessparkx @berryjam17

@kingsuckjin

[travelphilosopher]

After a restless night, Nola and I eventually headed out about 9 a.m. for Keswick. The plan to walk around the Haystacks area looked fine as I like a bit of a challenge when I walk, but the reviews were a little varied in that some said it was difficult and others said it was easy but challenging. I would soon find out myself and decide who was right. The drive to Keswick to have breakfast was surprisingly quick and easy, without the need for google maps, although Nola insisted on having it on. That’s the thing with a generation brought up on technology in that they are sometimes afraid to use instincts and signage. As a child I was always the navigator with the road atlas in hand and watched out for road signs; sometimes that’s still the best way as phone batteries can die, and cellphone reception is never guaranteed. After the Grasmere incident (no phone reception) I’m much happier with physical signage and a paper map now. The scenery was breathtaking on what was more or less a straight road from Grasmere, plus it was a clear day. It was market day in the town of Keswick when we arrived, but I forgot this is a sleepy town and many cafés don’t open until 10 a.m. until I spotted my favourite place; the Cornish Bakery and I stopped looking up reviews for the best place to eat breakfast in Keswick.

Breakfast was a cheese and mushroom croissant with an espresso, and I grabbed a vegetable pasty to take out for my lunch, and off we headed to Buttermere, and what a journey it was! Most of it was a single country lane elevated in the winding hills, and as beautiful as it was, one had to keep an eye on the road for cars speeding in the other direction. Being out in the countryside is good in many ways, especially when there is no technology. The car park only took cash (all proceeds go to support the National Trust), and the tiny hamlet consisted of a couple of pubs and farms, with a population of less than 150 people. The lake is about 1.5 long and the paths seemed well laid out as we made our way towards Haystacks, apparently Wainwright’s favourite summit and is where his ashes were scattered.

The lack of sleep was catching up with me now, and that’s one of the downsides to being a light sleeper in a shared dorm. We walked around the lake, and looked for signs but there weren’t any so we asked fellow walkers and those who were stopping for a break. That’s one thing I love about walking as you can strike up a conversation immediately, but sometimes out of necessity. The women we spoke to had come from Black Sail, another hostel and one hesitated when asked about the summit of Haystacks and said the walk was challenging and it was windy. I recall her words, ‘ Take lots of breaks and take in the views,’ something I had already decided was excellent advice having seen the gradient of the climb. No one actually likes to put others off by saying it’s hard or dangerous, but sometimes you need to to be honest rather than have the need for bravado.

The sun beating down on you actually makes walking up a gravel path much harder, but at least there was no rain, as each step seemed like hard work. It reminded me of my time in Namche Bazaar (Nepal) when it took me a nearly two hours to climb a very steep slope. Each precious step and breath took an enormous amount of energy. People took their dogs for a walk on the path, and not everyone was heading for Haystacks it seems as there were other crags too. I regretted not having done more research on the walk, but as there was no wi-fi in the hostel building (except for two lounges) I didn’t have time to do much, and it wasn’t a walk I had personally planned to take. I took lots of breaks as I realised I was not as fit as I used to be, and I was tired as I hadn’t had a full night of sleep for three days now. Trying to ascend a steep and rocky summit when you’ve only had sporadic spates of sleep is not recommended as a slip of the foot when you lose concentration can lead to permanent injury. Nola went on ahead and occasionally waited for me, as I took more time to take in the views. The valley was pleasant, but to be honest I had seen better and it takes a lot to impress me. What did concern me were the growing number of rocks bundled in black tarpaulin I was passing. That meant rocks were loose and could be dangerous. I crossed a small waterfall where I drank some water, and as much as I wanted to take a photo, it was on a very narrow and slippery ridge, so that’s a memory that will have to remain in my head.

A steep ascent

Rocks bundled up in black

Nola coming down Haystacks

Walkers always greet one another as they pass, and some groups must have turned back as they never caught up. I don’t blame them as the guides are slightly misleading as the climb is moderately steep and sheer which means you don’t get any views unless you stop and turn around. At this point I was wondering whether I wanted to reach the summit, and the abundance of bundled rocks and a strong wind that the woman had warned of led to the decision not to ascend. I began, and then I head someone in a group coming down who gave a few little screams, and I saw those halfway up scrambling. I’d already done a fair amount of scrambling, more than I expected and as the wind howled, I decided not to go any further, although Nola was by then halfway up. I decided to wait for the next walkers to arrive and send a message up with them to tell her to meet me at the pub, and sat and ate my pasty.

No one appeared for quite a while until a couple came into sight, but the man declared he wasn’t going to climb any further and they turned back. I waved to Nola, and pointed down and hoped she’d figure out I was going back down. She decided to come down to get her sandwiches that I had been carrying, and gave me the car keys after agreeing to meet in the pub. She was younger and fitter, and also hadn’t been on a long walk the day before. This isn’t a walk you do if you’ve done a four hour walk the day before, another thing the guides omit to tell you. The walk is an all day thing after a rest day, or a short stroll at the most.

Apparently (according to guides and others) the descent is easier once you reach the summit, but by this point I didn’t trust the guides I had read and I was too tired to attempt it safely. At least if I went back the way I came I knew what to expect, and it wasn’t an easy descent as the gravel path was loose, and the parts that required scrambling meant getting down on your bum. On the way down I saw a family of a couple of kids and their mum, and heard them say, ‘Ask the lady to take a photo of us,’, the lady was me! I had passed them about an hour ago on the way up, and they were very young children and I remarked at how well they had done. I naturally took the photos for them, and slowly descended. The people I had passed on the way up and who had been behind me were no longer on the path. Most it seemed had done enough and made their way back down. It took me about 1.5 hours up and the same going down, and I was surprised at how few people were on the path, but more were walking around the shores of the lake.

The path just below the approach to Haystacks summit

I was quietly relieved to be on flat ground again as I found and sat by Peggy’s Bridge which we had been looking for as a marker (but in fact we had begun the walk in the opposite direction). I ate the remainder of my pasty and looked forward to my next goal; The Fish Inn for a glass of chilled white wine, preferably Sauvignon Blanc, but at that present moment in time I would have settled for anything cool. I felt as if I had achieved something getting as far as I had, as I was on the summit path, but due to the wind pushing me down, I knew scrambling alone was not wise. I don’t need to prove anything to anyone, nor to tick something off the list. I once had a bucket list when I had a cancer scare, and I ticked off most of the things already. Now I know it’s a case of being brave enough to do the things you want or not to do things you don’t want to, and know you are accountable to no one but yourself.

I walked back via the south shore of the lake; I didn’t know how far it was, but apparently the lake is 4.5 miles in total. Again, as I hadn’t read up on the area, I didn’t know what to expect and the path back was definitely more challenging with an unexpected tunnel (take a torch or use your phone!) to navigate with several winding paths across rocks and roots of trees. This actually was my favourite part of the day as the views from the shoreline were clear and breathtaking. I  was however glad to  hear the chatter of people as I entered Buttermere an hour or so later. There were about twenty people packed in the tiny main road, obviously waiting for the bus, as I hadn’t seen a soul, only sheep for the past hour.

Tunnel on the Lake Buttermere path

I made it back to the pub for teatime while the sun was still scorchingly hot. The pub was bustling with walkers and their sticks and bags piled up on the outside patio, and I joined them to make the most of the views and the sunshine. I ended up chatting to a couple with their dog and swapped a few tales and was glad to hear they were having a rest day, as they agreed you need them to be able to fully enjoy the more challenging walks. They told me they had a caravan and that they come to the Lakes each year, so they knew the area well and gave me some ideas of where to try next, and what to look out for. I do like to listen to real experiences because you can ask questions, as I often find in written reviews people like to boast, or omit the things that people should be aware of, and so you have to take them with a huge pinch of salt if not a fistful.

The spectacular view from the pub was of several green peaks; nothing like my old days in SW6 where the view was a slew of buses that passed by and the park opposite. Nola found me without the need for a cellphone, and declared she had a craving for ice cream. As most places close at 5 or 5.30, we made an attempt to see if she could get last orders and she did, just as they were bringing the tables and chairs back in. Now the question was where to have dinner? I suggested Keswick as it had more pubs to choose from and we had to go through there anyhow. We settled on the Dog and Gun which had good reviews and it was busy which is always a good sign. I spotted another pasty shop while sitting down outside, and made a mental note to visit it should I find myself in Keswick again, and briefly glanced at the chalkboard menu on the way back to the car out of curiosity.

The view from the Fish Inn with a glass of wine in hand!

It was still light when we got back to the hostel and we wondered if there would be a new bunkmate. I had helped Jane, the Geordie move from a top bunk to a lower one before we left as she had nearly fallen off the ladder that morning, and being on the bottom bunk, I held my breath when there had been a long pause when she was hanging off the ladder. Both Nola and I were a little tired, and both had the task of packing in order to check out the next morning. It simply wasn’t practical to do it in the morning as three of us were all checking out. By now we were used to some kind of routine; one take a shower while one stays in the room to pack, and to charge the phones from the single socket as much as you can. It was a bit of a military operation, and Nola had to have the rental car back in Kendal by 10 a.m. so she needed to be all set to go by 8.30 and that wouldn’t have been possible with three others getting up and getting changed and packed at the same time as 10 a.m. is the official check out time.

It was Thursday and I noticed the food cubby holes looked packed, so more people must have arrived ready for a long weekend. I had decided to do a short walk to the caves and Ambleside and then get the bus back to Grasmere on my last day, and did a little research online before I went to sleep. The dorm was full again, but I never actually saw who the new bunkmate was, I only heard her come in late. I was hoping to get a bit more sleep that night, but realistically wasn’t counting on it.

*In hindsight looking at the photos, the fells and valleys are stunning. As Buttermere is a little out of the way it is quieter, but if you rush to walk you miss the views. I’m glad I didn’t rush, but I was tired. Save the walk for a time when you can enjoy it!

The Lake District ~ Day 3 After a restless night, Nola and I eventually headed out about 9 a.m. for Keswick. The plan to walk around the…

[charllieeldridge]

31 Best Places To Visit in France: Culture, Cuisine, Wine & Nature

With so many places to visit in France, it’s no wonder that it has remained one of the most touristed countries on the planet – with over 82 million people visiting the land of food, fashion, romance and wine each year.

France is blessed with natural beauty, a rich history, intricate architecture, iconic art, world-class grape-producing vineyards and a deep passion for life.

France has long been a foodie and wine-lovers paradise, but dive deeper beneath the cuisine and viticulture and you’ll find a place with welcoming people, a long-standing sophisticated culture and an intoxicating romantic ambiance that seduces almost every person who touches down in L’hexagone.

In this article, I’m going to list many of the best places to visit in France, but because the country has so much to offer, I’m going to break the places up into 5 categories: History, Wine, Food, Nature & Culture.

Here’s a bucket list of all of the best places to visit in France!

Places To Visit in France For History

With the first written records of the history of France dating back to the Iron Age, and inhabitants that have gone as far back as Gauls, the Aquitani, and the Belgae, it’s no surprise that France is a place where people flock to witness living history.

Walking around a medieval village in France can feel a bit like you just stepped out of a time machine and despite the nation’s growing population and exploding number of visitors, there are still pockets of France that move at a contiguously slow pace.

Here are some of the best places to visit in France for history-buffs:

1. Saint Malo, Brittany

This city is actually part of the English Channel and it is one of the most conspicuously picturesque historical places to visit in France.

There is plenty of well-preserved architecture to see here, including Fort National and the Malo Cathedral, but there is also a rich history of pirates and seafarers that once ran this town.

In the middle ages, this was an important port and today it sees more and more tourists every year who come for fresh seafood, historical ambiance and delicious local cuisine.

To get to Brittany, your best bet is to check out Brittany Ferries who offer convenient cross Channel ferries to France, with the widest choice of ferry crossings available anywhere.

If you’re in the UK, you can depart from Portsmouth, Plymouth or Poole and travel to Cherbourg, St Malo, Caen, Le Havre or Roscoff for a direct Channel crossing to France.

Best Tours in Brittany (click to view tours):

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2. Le Mont St Michel

Built on an 83-meter high granite cliff that juts out of the bay of Normandy, the island town of Le Mont St Michel is truly a sight to behold.

An important pilgrimage site for over a millennium, it’s no surprise that this is one of the best historical places to visit in France, featuring the Benedictine Abbey with the statue of the arc angle (said to have visited the country in the 8th century) placed triumphantly at its precipice.

Le Mont St Michel, simply put, has a particular magic to it.

Make sure you climb the cobbled steps to the top of the abbey where you can enjoy the expansive views over the sea and the surrounding countryside, as well as the ancient medieval town that sprawls out on the landscape below.

3. Espelette

Famous for its castle and many traditional houses, the views of Espelette are extraordinary. Also known for the spicy pepper of the same name, Espelette has wowed visitors for centuries, both with its spice and its sights.

Try to time your visit for fall, when the leaves change and the town comes alive with autumn colours. Particularly if you can make it here for the last week of October, you’ll be able to experience the pepper festival!

4. Yvoire, Rhône-Alpes

This is without a doubt one of the most beautiful places to visit in France.

Stretching over the vast shores of Lake Geneva, this 14th-century medieval town boasts a lovely garden, countless flowers and fruits, a vast maze of cobblestone streets, fascinating historical architecture and a “back-in-time” atmosphere.

History buffs shouldn’t miss Visite d’Yvoire, the Garden of 5 Senses, Helionaute and La Chataigniere. But everyone who visits Yvoire should simply get lost in the labyrinth of back streets, stopping only to pop in for a quick pastry or a delicious espresso.

Best Tours in Yvoire (click to view tours):

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5. Bayeux

For history and historical tapestry, visitors will be wowed by the Bayeux Museum, which gives you an up-close and personal look into art history in France.

One particular piece in the museum is nearly the length of a football field and has some of the most intricately embroidered and well-preserved tapestry you’ll ever see.

Outside of the museum, the tiny little town of Bayeux is notorious for producing delicious French pastries and it also boasts a gorgeous cathedral and a lovely old quarter.

To try some of Normandy’s famous local brandy and a traditional Normand meal, head to L’Assiette Normande restaurant, which is located just up the road from the Cathedral.

6. Colmar, Alsace

If you’re looking for history and romance all wrapped up in a small package that looks a bit like Venice, don’t miss Petite Venise in Colmar, or the charming streets in the inner city.

Its proximity to the German border gives Colmar a unique position in history as it has been handed back and forth between the French and the Germans for nearly 1000 years.

This historical hot potato game has left Colmar with a unique blend of German and French influences that can be seen within almost every aspect of the city, including the architecture, food, traditions and language.

Here you can indulge in beer, schnitzels and pretzels one day, and take a wonderful food and wine tasting tour the next.

7. Sainte-Mère-Église

Another of the historical places to visit in France, Sainte-Mère-Église was the first town to be liberated by the Allied Forces on D-Day.

You can visit Sainte-Mère-Église throughout the year, but many like to come on the anniversary of D-day when you can celebrate its anniversary with the locals. You’ll find food in the streets and enjoy the festive atmosphere.

8. Avignon

With over 4 million tourists visiting the city every year, Avignon is without a doubt one of the most popular historical places to visit in France, particularly when compared to other places in the south-eastern part of the country.

Pretty much anyone who heads this way has to stop in Avignon. This UNESCO world heritage site was first founded in the early 6th century BC and features the unmistakable Palace of the Popes, as well as many other historical sites.

Now best known for hosting the largest annual arts festival in France, Avignon also boasts a medieval bridge, leafy plazas and open squares, world-class restaurants and an endlessly charming old town.

A great way to see the ramparts of the historical quarter is by hopping on a boat tour down the Rhône river.

Best Tours in Avignon (click to view tours):

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9. Gordes, Provence

Because Gordes also hosts an amazing wine festival at the beginning of August and an almond festival in Spring, I could have easily placed the city under the “best places to visit in France for wine” or the “best places to visit in France for food” instead, but there’s just too much history and medieval architecture here to move it out of the historical category.

Arguably the most picturesque hilltop village in the country, the terracotta-roof homes and ancient church towers of Gordes huddle close together, precariously teetering on the edge of a sheer rock cliff above the Vaucluse Plateau.

The spectacular view of the village from afar looks like something straight out of Game of Thrones.

Don’t just get lost inside of the town itself, be sure to head out on the plateau for sunset to see Gordes truly alight with a golden hue as the sun dips into the horizon.

Be warned though, during summer months this tiny village is bursting at the seams as visitor numbers rise along with the temperatures and accommodation prices.

Places To Visit in France For Food

French is one of the best cuisines in the world and it seems to always conjure up images of fine dining, fine wine and borderline pretentious portion sizes, but dig deeper into this land of culinary fusion and you’ll find that the soul of French cooking is found in the ingredients themselves and the techniques used to prepare the dishes.

The flavours are sophisticated, but not overly complex and often focus on creating a harmonious dish that elevates a single featured ingredient.

Don’t be fooled into thinking that every French restaurant is high-end dining either. You’ll still find some cheap little gems (even in Paris) and definitely don’t miss the informal bouchons of Lyon or the budget bistros of Bordeaux.

Here are the best places to visit in France for foodies:

10. Grenoble

Tucked beneath the towering Alps in southeastern France, Grenoble has boldly taken on the flavours and ingredients of its Swiss and Italian neighbours, with wonderful Swiss-Alpine and Italian influence found in many of the dishes here.

Grenoble has been blessed by a position at an intersection of cuisine and this has attributed to its gourmet excellence, which has slowly been perfected over the centuries.

A place fringed by walnut orchards which produce more than half of France’s total annual harvest, it’s no surprise that the plentiful nut is found in so many of Grenoble’s tasty pastries and decadent desserts.

For the best restaurants, don’t miss the city center where you’ll find countless patisseries and fine dining restaurants like the wonderful La Madelon. But don’t worry, not everything is at the top-end of the spectrum here.

If you’re visiting on a budget, there are a few cheaper hotels in the city and the large student population definitely helps bring down the food costs, creating a market for more budget-friendly eating options like Barbecue Damas and Green Mango ice cream shop.

11. Lille

Located in the far north of France, it’s no wonder why there’s so much Flemish influence in the cuisine here, with beer and hops frequently appearing on the ingredients list for many dishes in town.

There are also wonderful chocolate shops spattered throughout the village. Basically, if you’re coming to France for food, you’ll want to come to Lille and truly treat your palate to some of France’s most unique and flavourful cuisine.

If you’re into meaty meals like beer stewed beef, meat and veggie terrines and fantastic fresh seafood plates, then Lille may just be your culinary paradise.

Foodies should definitely stop in at A L’Huîtrière if they’re looking for seafood, but also the aptly named former butcher’s shop of Le Barbier Lillois makes for a great dining out experience.

Best Tours in Lille (click to view tours):

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12. Dijon

When a town is literally known more for the food it creates than for being an actual place, you know it’s going to be one of the best places to visit in France for food-lovers.

As the capital of wine-crazed Burgandy, Dijon has constantly been listed amongst France’s top culinary destinations and of course, you can enjoy mustard alongside wine all day long here.

If you’re in Dijon for the food, don’t miss the garlic butter snails, andouillette (sausage made with pig intestines), and the world-famous dishes of coq au vin and boeuf bourguignon (both are tasty red wine-based stews).

For a gourmet night out, don’t miss Le Bistrot de Halles and Le Pré aux Clercs.

Best Tours in Dijon (click to view tours):

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13. Paris

I was actually having a really hard time trying to figure out where to put Paris on this list. The city has great wine, rich culture and of course, a lot of history… but Paris really is a foodie paradise, boasting a smörgåsbord of pâtisseries, fine dining restaurants, street food and brasseries.

The growing number of tourists has really started to tarnish the city’s culinary reputation with some restaurants abandoning their French traditions in an attempt to please foreign visitors.

This is why it’s so important to find your way off the beaten culinary path and into some of Paris’s forgotten foodie back streets.

If you’re looking for an authentic eating experience in this touristy capital, check out La Maison des Frigos, Le Foyer de la Madeleine, Chez Louisette and Saint Germain’s best-kept secret – L’Etage de Pastavino.

There are endless fun things to see and do in Paris. Many people even choose to spend just a weekend in the city enjoying the open-air museum, fabulous food and wonderful sites. Click here to learn how to spend the perfect 2 days in Paris. 

Best Places To Stay in Paris:

The best value available in Paris is with Airbnbs. Find apartments that have local owners who can show you around to the local spots and introduce you to Paris through a native’s perspective. There are literally thousands of Airbnbs in Paris, so to choose the best ones, Click Here and read all about the best Paris Airbnbs for all budgets.

Best Tours in Paris (click to view tours):

☞ Click Here to see 700+ more tours in Paris.

14. Lyon

Be ready for bouchons in Lyon. These are tiny, lively and delightfully low-key restaurants found throughout the city. Their popularity exploded in the early 1930s when an economic downturn caused wealthy home-owners to fire their well-trained local chefs, who then retaliated by opening up their own restaurants to serve the less affluent in the city.

These tiny little restaurants have flourished through numerous ensuing economic crisis’ and are now one of the main reasons that people visit the captivating village of Lyon.

Similar to Grenoble, Lyon has been at a culinary crossroads, but the difference here is that the varied influences are more domestic. Today, the cuisine draws its inspiration from Beaujolais, Provence, Burgundy, and the Alps which all culminate into a savory mix of flavours that have given Lyon a culinary identity all its own.

Don’t miss the wonderful bouchons like Chez Georges and Cafe Comptoir Abel where you can try some of the city’s most famous dishes, including quenelles de brochet (skinny dumplings floating in a savory crayfish sauce).

Best Tours in Lyon (click to view tours):

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Places To Visit in France For Wine

Currently the second-largest wine-producing nation on Earth (next to Italy), France is clearly one of the best countries in the world for wine-lovers to visit.

You really can’t go wrong when the very names of French cities conjure up images of lush reds and bright whites before you are reminded that these are actually cities and not just grape varieties.

From the hills of Bordeaux to the vineyards of Champagne, these are the best places to visit in France for wine:

15. Bordeaux

The very name rolls of the tongue in such a way that you can’t help but to think of wine. Bordeaux is found in the middle of the Gironde region which is where some of the country’s best vineyards are found.

The city itself boasts France’s longest shopping avenue, but that’s not why you’re coming to Bordeaux is it?!

You’re here for du vin and right on the city’s doorstep are some of the most famous wine-makers in the world – including Bordeaux Superieur, Entre-Deux-Mers, Medoc and Saint-Emilion.

For some lesser-known vineyards, check out d’Arsac, Beau-Site, Bellevue de Tayac and Bonnet.

I highly recommend taking a wine tour in Bordeaux so you can learn more about the history of viticulture in the area and explore the many cellars that dot the countryside before arriving safely back at your hotel with the help of a designated driver.

Top-Rated Tours in Bordeaux (click to view tours):

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16. Burgundy

You’ll likely leave this place with your teeth turning the color of burgundy (the word describing the color itself is named after the deep red wines found in the region). There are just too many different wines to taste here and it’s one of the best places to enjoy a wine tour in France.

Bourgogne, as it’s said in French, is located between Auxerre and Sens in Southeastern Paris and was actually owned by the English after the Hundred Years War all the way up until 1477 when it rejoined with France.

Today it boasts a lot of important historical sites, but again… that’s probably not the main reason you’re going to visit Burgundy.

Wine enthusiasts and sommeliers have flocked to Burgundy for centuries to sample some of the world-renowned wines and tour the beautiful vineyards. Without a doubt, if you’re into wine, this is one of the best places to visit in France.

Top-Rated Tours in Burgandy:

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17. Champagne

Home to the endemically titled grape variety of the same name, Champagne is arguably one of France’s best places to visit for wine.

The sparkling white that made the town famous is a true French delicacy and its consumption is to be taken very seriously. Savoring the tingle on the tongue and standing in reverence of the original wine-makers is almost mandatory here.

Prepare to bring your wallet along if you plan to do tastings and buy bottles in Champagne. It’s no surprise that while the cost of a bottle here is slightly less than you may find at home, it’s still a very expensive beverage.

Top-Rated Tours in Champagne:

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18. Bergerac & Duras

Benefiting from a warm and temperate climate, the wines of Bergerac and Duras are actually a very important part of the cultural and culinary history of the Périgord Agenais region.

The vines here produce excellent reds, whites and rosés and all are best enjoyed on a wine tour with one of the many operators in the area. A guided visit to the cellars and farm-to-table restaurants in these vineyards is a must and when you’re done sipping sumptuous vintages, you can explore some of the nearby medieval villages.

19. Provence

Blessed with Michelin starred restaurants, olive groves, cyprus forests, fruit trees and lush gardens, Provence has long been famous for its herbs and wine the world over. 

This sun-kissed paradise in Southeastern France is as indulgent as it gets. I’ve already listed Avignon in this post (which is within the Provence region), but other places like Aix-en-Prevence, Cassis and Bandol also add to the allure of the area.

For wine, it’s best to come in April to September when all of the wineries are open for tasting. Head to Clos Sainte Magdeleine where you can try two wines for 12 euros, or try one of the older vineyards like Mas de Cadenet which has been producing wines since 1813.

If you’re looking to take some bottles home with you, The Maison des Vins de Côtes de Provence in Les Arcs-sur-Agens has over 800 different wines to choose from and the staff there can help you pick the perfect bottle souvenir.

Top-Rated Tours in Provence (click to view tours):

☞ Click Here to see more tours in Provence

Places To Visit in France For Nature

Despite often being overshadowed by its more famous traits such as wine, cuisine and historic villages, France is still an excellent place to visit if you want to experience nature.

From the towering powder-white peaks of the Alps, to the depths of its deepest gorges, through its hilly interior and along its jagged coastline, France is blessed with a natural beauty that, while sometimes ignored, is hard to forget once you’ve seen it.

These are the best places to visit in France if you’re interested in nature.

20. Mont Blanc

A kind of Bermuda Triangle located at the border between Italy and France, Mont Blanc is the tallest mountain found in Western Europe and has been host to numerous tragedies including skiing fatalities, tunnel fires, plane crashes and avalanches, making it one of the deadliest peaks in the world.

If you’re a mountaineer though, this 4,810 meter high peak will probably call to you. For the less adventurous, you can view the snowy behemoth from Chamonix, where most visitors base themselves to do day trips to its foothills.

21. Chamonix

Sitting at the foothills of the great Mont Blanc, Chamonix is a skiers’ paradise in the winter and a hikers’ heaven in the summer months. With a long history of winter athletics, the city was rebuilt for tourism when it hosted the first-ever Winter Olympics in 1924. Since then it has grown in popularity and boasts some of the best powdery slopes found anywhere in Europe.

If you tire of the mogul-clad mountain slopes, head back to town and pop into one of the many Michelin starred restaurants that line the main road. In the winter, Chamonix comes alive with the fever of winter sports and everyone is talking about their latest run over a delicious glass of wine or a warm cup of coffee.

Top-Rated Tour in Chamonix:

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22. Aiguille du Dru

Actually situated within the Mont Blanc mountain range, this comparatively small peak (at 3,750 meters high) is still an impressive sight to behold. With its steel grey granite rock face and jagged peaks, this mountain has been a formidable challenge for mountaineers since its first summit in 1878.

23. Étretat Cliffs

Found amongst farming villages in the northwestern region of Normandy, these picturesque cliffs have inspired painters, artists and writers for centuries.

The natural arches and jagged “needles” jut out of the Atlantic Ocean and offer visitors a striking visual, as well as a good opportunity to suntan and swim in the nearby pebble beaches.

24. Gorges du Verdon

This 700-meter-deep river canyon is spectacularly placed in the shadows of the French Alps and stretches for 25 kilometers in length through the Alpse-de-Haute-Provence range.

This is arguably the most beautiful gorge in Europe and thanks to the breathtaking turquoise-colored water and the dramatic topography, it’s a wonderful place for swimming, rafting, fly fishing, rock climbing and paragliding.

25. Scandola Nature Reserve

This is definitely one of the best places to visit in France if you want to enjoy nature and outdoors. Scandola Nature Reserve is found on the jagged, red stone French island of Corsica. Taking a boat from the coast, you can explore countless coves, grottos and caves which are as pristine as you’ll find anywhere on the continent.

If you tire of visiting the dramatic cliffs along the coast, consider popping into one of the lovely coastal towns near Scandola, which provide a vivid glimpse into day-to-day life on the island as well as some delicious food.

Top-Rated Tour in Scandola:

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26. Pic du Midi d’Ossau

Lost for millenia inside of the great French Pyrenees Mountain Range, Pic du Midi d’Ossau reflects its beauty on the mirror-like waters at its base. The best views of the jagged peak are likely seen from Boulevard des Pyrénées which lies 55km north of this unmistakable natural wonder.

27. The Camargue Salt Flats

These pink-colored salt lagoons are found within The Camargue, an area best known for being the largest river delta in Western Europe.

The flats and lagoons get their fuchsia color from a salt-eating organism known as Dunaliella salina, which emits a red pigment while absorbing energy from the sun.

Strangely enough, it also turns the birds pink! This is a great place to spot pink flamingos as well as (white) Camargue horses. All-in-all, the Camargue Salt Flats are a fascinating place to visit in France.

Learn more about the unusual side of France including myths, stereotypes, unique art, and untold secrets in this blog about offbeat France.

Best Places To Visit in France For Culture

In some places, it just seems easier to mingle with locals, to indulge in culture and to understand French traditions and their way of life.

Here are some of the best places to visit in France if you’re interested in learning about and experiencing the culture:

28. Nice

Get lost in Vieille Ville, with its rustic, medieval atmosphere and iconic historic buildings all lining a delicate network of narrow back roads and tiny alleyways. Here you can enjoy delicious food and meet local people going about their day-to-day life. It’s easy to become instantly immersed in the culture of Nice.

For a little bit of art history and an understanding of its effect on local culture, check out the Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art. This striking marble building is a great example of Neoclassical architecture and was first inaugurated in June of 1990. Inside you’ll find a collection of ten galleries all spread over 370,000 square meters.

Top-Rated Tours in Nice (click to view tours):

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29. Versailles

Versailles a small city on the on western edge of Paris. It has actually now been swallowed by the enormous sprawling metropolis within the Ile de France region.

Only really visited for the enormous royal palace complex and gardens which were built by King Louis XIV, this former hunting lodge is known as The Palace of Versailles or The Château de Versailles (best seen with the amazingly rated tour below) and was the location that the Peace Treaty was signed between Germany and the Allied Forces which effectively ended WWI.

Although the palace is undoubtably Versailles’ most notable historical site, this is a great place to experience French culture and cuisine.

Be sure to also check out the Cathédrale Saint-Louis (located in Quartier Saint-Louis neighbourhood), Église Notre-Dame, rue de la Paroisse and Hôtel de la Préfecture, which features a brilliant façade opposite town hall and make sure you reserve a table at La Magnette or La Table du 11.

Top-Rated Tour (by far) in Versailles:

30. Eguisheim

This area could have easily appeared under the “Best places to visit in France for wine” category, because after conquering this village, the Romans cultivated some of the nation’s best wines at its doorstep. Eguisheim is famed for producing delicious Alsace wines, but the viticulture isn’t the only culture you can enjoy here.

Stroll between the timber-framed buildings of this quaint little town and you’ll quickly see why it was voted France’s favourite village in 2013.

The locals here are extremely friendly and recent archaeological finds suggest that there have been inhabitants here since the Palaeolithic Ages.

With a human history dating back over 2 million years, it’s no wonder this is such a great place to experience culture, although today it’s of the French kind, with plenty of great restaurants, cool leafy plazas for people watching and of course, the delicious wine and pastries.

31. Conques

The complete lack of modern restoration in Conques has left this tiny village as one of the most untouched examples of Romanesque architecture in the world.

Nestled tightly amongst the towering green mountains of the Midi-Pyrénées, the village itself has countless narrow alleyways and a maze of historic streets all enmeshed inside a quaint UNESCO World Heritage site.

Inside you’ll find Abbey-Church of Saint-Foy, which itself is a UNESCO listed site and plenty of cute cafes, busaries and patisseries to keep your taste buds tingling.

Spend some time in a cafe and you’ll see the comings and goings of locals who have been going about the same business for years. The day-to-day life in Conques seems to have remained as unchanged and intact as the architecture that the town is famous for.

32. BONUS! Paris

Okay so Paris just had to make it on this list twice. Despite being overrun with tourists (over 15 million foreigners flock to the romantic capital each year), Paris really is a haven for culture. You can’t miss the Louvre, Musee d’Orsay, Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris or Basilica du Sacre-Coeur de Montmartre.

Give Paris a little bit more time than you had planned, because even though you have to dodge your way through the crowds, the city tends to over-deliver.

So Many Places To Visit in France, So Little Time…

While this list of places to visit in France is relatively long and detailed, it’s by no means exhaustive. There are hundreds of hidden villages, lost valleys and vast vineyards that are waiting to be discovered in this romantic nation.

Even though the country isn’t huge at 643,800 km², you could travel here for a lifetime and still have much to see.

There are so many things to do in France! Take your time here, slow your pace and enjoy the things that make it so wonderful. The French have a lust for life and if you can try to fall into that rhythm, you’ll have a better time here.

What is your favourite place to visit in France? Did we miss it? Share with us in the comments below!

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Build-Outs By The Numbers: 2017’s Hottest Cafe Trends

Broadsheet Coffee in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Summer has turned to fall and so too do we return from our #liveauthentic outdoor excesses and retreat into the reflective warmth and safety of the indoors. As we sit upon the hearth aglow with autumnal embers, we can’t help but stroke our grey beards in pontification, as we have done thricely now, over the summer now past, a summer that was the Build-Outs of Summer, Edition Seven.

And between sips of brandy heating over candlelight, as we check the ticker tape detailing the series of intrigues that took place between June and September, we can‘t help but feel a warmth. Is it the fire? The sweet elixir? No. It is the beloved memory of the Build-Outs returning to warm our very souls. And it is this sensation, this Indian summer of Build-Outs, that we want to share with you, that you may remember what was and hope for what may be yet again.

Fox Loves Tacos in Washington, D.C.

Overview

This year’s Build-Outs of Summer saw a whopping 39 cafes in total. An impressive number, no doubt, but it is actually only the second most Build-Outs in a year, falling four behind last year’s 43. Unlike last year, though, the East Coast has the lion’s share of this year’s 37 North American builds; along with the east’s 15 cafes, middle America was represented by 12 cafes and surprisingly, only 10 for the West Coast. But even those numbers don’t really tell the full story of just how east-heavy this year’s Build-Outs were. Other than Cutbow in Albuquerque, NM and Hygge in Missoula, MT—which is arguably in the west anyway—the westernmost of the middle America build-outs is in Elmhurst, IL in the eastern part of the state. If the country were divided equally into thirds, the breakdown would go 27, 11, 1 for east, west, and middle, respectively.

For the first time in the three years of cataloguing the Builds, LA did not register the most entries. This year, that honor is split between Seattle and Washington, D.C., each with three. Following closely behind with two each are Kalamazoo and Marquette, representing four of the five total Michigan entries this year, which ties the state for most along with Washington.

Roadcase Coffee in Honolulu, Hawaii.

Breakdown by Population

At Sprudge, we talk a lot about how really good coffee is happening everywhere in the United States. And it is more than just hippy-dippy, everybody’s cool, let’s all be friends talk, and this year’s Build-Outs bears that out. Of the 36 US entries, the average population of the cities represented is 393,000, putting this conglomerate Build-Out city at 47th largest in the nation, just ahead of Tulsa, Oklahoma. But this number is a bit inflated due to the multiple entries from above-average cities like Seattle and DC. The median population, 132,321.5, wouldn’t even break the top 200 US cities; it would be somewhere between Surprise, Arizona and my hometown of Carrollton, Texas.

US city populations from this year’s Build-Outs.

Cafe Stats

Continuing the trend from the two previous years, shops that roast their own coffee comprise over half of this year’s Build-Outs, totaling 23 of the 39. But in a reversal of the previous years, multi-roaster cafes weren’t better represented than single-roaster shops, losing out in a big way five to 11.

For 21 of the Build-Outs, this was their first cafe space. Of those 21, 10 will roast their own coffee, six are single-roaster, and five are multi-roaster; no companies opening their second location are multi-roasters.

Machinery

It is no surprise that La Marzocco is the most represented espresso machine manufacturer in this year’s Build-Outs, because they are always the most represented, due almost entirely to the preponderance of Lineas. Of the 17 total LM machines listed this year, 11 were some manner of Linea including one Mini (which I begrudgingly included in the tally even though it really feels like the rest of the Lineas in name alone). But what is new this year is the rise of the Synesso. With 10 total this year, the Seattle-based espresso manufacturer has jumped from the back of the pack all the way up to second. Even more impressive, the nine Hydra MVPs comprise the second most used machine. In previous years, pretty much every podium spot went to La Marzocco. Synesso is one of the first to successfully challenge them.

Ferrari Barber & Coffee Co in Cincinnati, Ohio.

For grinders, Mahlkönig is king yet again. Both for espresso and brewed coffee, the German grinder manufacturer outnumbered every other brand combined. The 34 total Mahlkönig grinders quadrupled that of the second most used grinder manufacturer, Mazzer, who had a total of eight, all of which were used solely for espresso.

And if you thought the EK43 was the grinder de jour this year, then you’d be right. And wrong. But mostly right. With a total of 14 instances of EK, it is the most common grinder in this year’s Build-Outs, and the eight dedicated to brewed coffee were also the most of its kind. But the honor of most used grinder for espresso this year goes to Mahlkönig’s PEAK. Could you argue that the PEAK is basically just the EK in a more counter-friendly body? Sure, but I’m not gonna. PEAK wins.

Story and Soil in Hartford, Connecticut.

Batch Brew’s Back ALRIGHT!

Continuing the trend from last year, batch brew coffee is easily the most popular of the filter options again this year. Of the 28 shops that responded with their brewed coffee setup, 18 had batch brew on offer, with 13 only offering batch brew. Pour-over, it would appear, is losing momentum. 15 shops stated they had some sort of pour-over offering, but only 10 were pour-over only. And of those 10, six had some sort of automated pour-over system, a la Marco SP9, Poursteady, etc.

Conclusion

So what does it all mean? Is there anything that can be gleaned from this crop of brand new cafes? Since gerrymandering and wild conjecture are kind of my forte, allow me to proffer a few thoughts. The overall theme appears to be a scaling back of concept. New coffee shops no longer appear to be in an arms race to see who has the shiniest new toys. In just about every category, cafes were trending towards functionality and efficiency. The Linea being the most popular espresso machine is no surprise; it’s a workhorse and is consistently on the top of the list. But many of the same praises can be said of the Synesso Hydra. Inside and out, it’s a straightforward, reliable piece of hardware.

Additionally, cafes appear to be moving away from the multi-roaster model, deciding to stick with a single supplier or roast for themselves. This was most true in established shops opening new locations, who appear to be settling into what works best for them as a business. But the multi-roaster torch is still being carried by the newbies. Managing a guest roaster program—especially one that rotates frequently—can be quite a bit of additional (and some would say unnecessary) work, so the trend toward single roaster may be due to pragmatism.

Quills Coffee in Louisville, Kentucky.

And of course, the continued automation of filtered coffee is the smoking gun in my case for cafe efficiency. Hand-poured coffee, while still quite popular, is being overshadowed by consistency and automation. There will always be a place for manual pour-overs, but if this current trend is indicative of anything, its place will be as a small part of a brew program, not the majority.

One thing that we can say without much worry of wildly misrepresenting the truth is that specialty coffee is not just for the hoity-toity, Ivory Tower metropolitan socialites. It’s everywhere. Half of the shops we profiled in this year’s Build-Outs come from cities whose populations don’t crack the top 200 in America.

There’s no need to speculate: specialty coffee is the new normal.

Drift Coffee & Kitchen in Wilmington, North Carolina.

Zac Cadwalader is the news editor at Sprudge Media Network and a staff writer based in Dallas. Read more Zac Cadwalader on Sprudge.

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