What's a Marriage?
“It’s not fair,” cried Thea, “It isn’t!” She had been like this for over an hour. She was lying on the bed inconsolable as though her sister’s life was ending.
When Moira said as much, Thea replied, “That’s because it is!”
Oliver shrugged, “I kind of agree,” he said, “For the record.”
Serenity turned from her mirror and gathered her skirts behind her. “Thea, would you please stop crying?”
“I can’t!” she whined. “You’re too young! You just graduated!”
“Your mascara is going to run,” said Serenity as she kissed her sister’s forehead. “And you’re going to get your mascara on my dress.”
“You can still run,” said Oliver, “We can buy a one-way ticket – fake your death.”
“And then what?” asked Serenity, “Thea marries him? Because that is what will happen if I don’t.”
This set Thea off again. The tears came harder.
“She loves Roy. I won’t do that to her.”
“Is everyone ready?” asked Raisa from the hallway. “The guests have arrived.”
Serenity straightened her back and took one last look in the mirror. She didn’t feel twenty-three years old. Her hair was pulled back in a tight French twist and although there were no wrinkles in sight, she felt like she had aged a decade overnight.
As the group walked towards the garden of the estate where the wedding would take place, Oliver turned to Serenity one last time. “It’s not too late,” he said again.
Serenity kissed his cheek, “Ollie. It’s been too late for twenty-three years. Today, I’m getting married. I’m going to try. Please try with me.”
“Okay,” he said.
“Are you ready?”
“Shouldn’t I be asking you that question?”
“I accepted my fate long ago. Try to act pleasant. We’ll all suffer if this looks forced.”
Her brother gave her away. And she had her last moment as a Queen before she turned to look her almost-husband in the eyes. She said her words and then there was a ring on her finger and suddenly she was married, and receiving thanks, and dancing and then she was in a limo to her new home.
She unzipped her dress and looked at her husband in the mirror.
“I’m sorry,” he said.
“I am too. But this was the only way. We both would have lost everything. Your company is too important – and so is my brother’s.”
He looked her in the eye, “It makes me no less sorry.”
She never thought that it would happen this way. She thought that she would marry Darien, have Rini and become Queen, just like her mother.
She never thought that Darien’s plane would never make it to Boston, again.
She never thought that she could never have married him in the first place.
She never thought that she would be engaged before she was born.
She never thought that should would be marrying Bruce Wayne.
_
She woke up alone in their bed. It was only half past eight. Sitting up, she thought of what she had to do in order to sell this – to make people believe. If she went out today with some other socialites, she could try to sell it. She texted a few friends, including the governor’s daughter to meet her for lunch. After she showered she threw open the large two door closet that Bruce had had readied for her. Out came her favorite Christian Siarano feather mini-dress and a rose gold Valentino belt.
“It’ll do,” she said to herself as she leaned into the mirror and applied a coat of her favorite matte red lipstick. Thanking her genes again for her perfect complexion she lightly powdered her face and applied a brow gel to keep her thick white brows in place. She finished it off with a neutral matte shadow combination and mascara. She slipped a new pair of white strappy heels. She threw her gold metallic Chanel flap bag over her shoulder and strutted out the door, whipping a pair of gold frames on her face as she ignored calls from Alfred for breakfast.
“No time,” she replied, slipping into the driver’s seat of her white Range Rover.
She didn’t see that Bruce was watching her from the front room.
_
Oliver came over for dinner that night. Serenity thought it might be because he didn’t trust Bruce. He claimed it was to check up on her. Either way she was calling bullshit.
“To what do I owe the pleasure?” asked Bruce stiffly as they cut into their steak.
What the hell?
“Just checking on you two – and Gotham.”
Bruce barely twitched but both Queens noticed.
“And you, Sere?” asked Oliver, “What did you do today?”
Serenity smiled slightly, “I went to lunch with Mina and Natalia.”
“Natalia?” Oliver questioned, pretending not to notice Bruce’s irritation.
“The governor’s daughter. We went to UPenn together.”
“Ah,” he replied.
As they saw him out, Serenity with a big hug, Bruce with ambivalence, Oliver looked at Bruce and said, “See you soon.”
Serenity furrowed her brow as her brother sped away on his motorcycle. “That was weird.” She turned to Bruce, “How do you know Ollie, anyway?”
“We’ve worked together in the past,” Bruce answered without commitment.
“Oh,” said Serenity.
_
“You better treat her right,” hissed Green Arrow as he glared at the black-clad man in front of him.
Batman glared at him in annoyance.
“Treat who right?” asked a woman in red, white and blue.
Green Arrow hesitated but then plowed on, “This asshole married my sister!”
Wonder Woman laughed loudly, attracting the attention of the fastest man alive who zoomed over in – well- a flash.
“What’s so funny?” he asked, “Did the Batmobile lose a-“
“I wouldn’t finish that sentence if I were you,” warned Batman.
“I’m serious!” cried Arrow angrily, “She’s my little sister. And she’s fragile. And sweet. And she deserves way better than you!”
Batman’s brow rose behind his mask, “It was me or Lex Luthor. Glad you would have preferred Luthor.”
Green Arrow turned a little green before looking away in anger, “I would have preferred her dating and choosing her husband herself.”
The Flash frowned, “Dude when did this even happen?”
Batman didn’t reply and Green Arrow glared at Flash.
Flash became serious for a moment, “She’s a very, very special girl. It takes a lot to have as much love inside your heart as she does.”
“Just don’t hurt her,” growled Arrow before leaving in annoyance.
_
“Serenity! This way!”
“Miss Queen!”
“Mrs. Wayne! Over here, please!”
Serenity turned, and posed again before smiling brilliantly and placing her left hand at her hip to show off her diamond.
“At least pretend to be happy, Bruce,” she whispered through her teeth before, “No one but our families know this was arranged.”
She could feel Bruce’s annoyance as he allowed her to move in close so he could put his arm around her waist.
“Hello! Gulianna Rancic from E!”
Serenity smiled and laughed, “I know who you are, of course.”
“It’s such an honor, Miss Que- er Mrs. Wayne. Wow, that will take a lot of getting used to!”
Serenity laughed politely, “It’s a great change.”
“So, who are you wearing tonight, Serenity?”
“I’m wearing a Dior gown tonight, Gulianna, and Bruce is in Armani, if you were wondering.”
“As the host for tonight’s Gotham Academy Scholarship charity event, is there any chance we’ll be seeing any of your items up for auction?”
“Absolutely!” said Serenity vehemently, “You’ll have to wait and see!”
“It was so lovely to speak again, Serenity.”
“It was a pleasure, Gulianna.”
Serenity began to lead Bruce away.
“For someone in heels as high as yours, I don’t truly see how you move so fast,” Bruce said drily.
“I hate these interviews more than I hated being called to standards for drunk dancing on tables.”
Bruce looked at her.
“I’m joking!” she exclaimed, “Well- sort of.”
“S!” came a voice to her left as they finally entered the building.
Serenity turned and smiled so brightly, Bruce thought her face would crack in half.
“Mina! I’m so excited you came. How’s your boyfriend?”
“Duh, tying me down, how do you think? Anyway, where are your manners? Aren’t you going to introduce me your beefcake husband? Also, what the hell, S? No wedding invite? I was supposed to be your maid of honor. What am I supposed to do now? Be a godmother? I only like kids when I can return them.”
Bruce thought whoever this was, she was either stupid or stupid.
Serenity rolled her eyes, “Mina, this is my husband Bruce. Bruce, this is Mina Aino, my best friend from boarding school,”
“And before that, biatch,”
Serenity glared, “She lacks manners and dances on tables without underwear.”
“Hey! That was one time! Anyway it’s your fault I wasn’t wearing underwear you-”
“Let’s not tell that story, Mina,”
Mina leaned towards Bruce conspiratorially, “Has she told you about the time she got arrested for skinny dipping in the reflecting pool in front of the Lincoln Memorial?”
“Shut up!”
“No way! Who else am I supposed to tell all your party girl stories to?”
“How about all the friends you don’t have?”
Mina gave a look of mock affront, “That’s harsh, and you’re a mega bitch.”
“Where’s your boyfriend anyways?”
“Oh Barry? Who knows? He’s an idiot.”
“Truly made for each other then,”
“There he is now,”
A red haired man came to stand by Mina, “Nice to see you again, Serenity! It’s always nice seeing Mina’s best friend.”
Bruce wanted to stick needles under his fingernails more than he wanted to spend any more time with Barry Allen.
“I was in fact saddled with this difficult responsibility.”
“She’s totally lying,” complained Mina, “Have I ever told you how we met, Barry?”
Serenity groaned as the group walked towards their designate table, “This blonde creep was totally harassing Sere and she was getting pissed off so I kneed him in the balls.”
“Mina is failing to mention she used to date said blonde creep.”
“That was eons ago! We were like 14. Besides I broke up with him and dated Adonis. Man was he hot,” she fanned herself.
“Hey!” exclaimed Barry, “Sitting right here!”
“He was hot right, Sere?”
Serenity bit her lip before nodding and shrugging, “What could I say about a 6 foot 2 piece of bronzed muscle.”
“I know right? Why’d I break up with him again?”
“Clingy, emotionally unavailable, small penis.”
“Oh. I remember, now. So small.”
Barry turned towards Bruce, “I don’t want to hear this conversation. Hey- is that Wonder Woman?”
Gliding in with purpose was a raven haired woman in a fabulous strappy gold dress.
“Duh, she’s at our table, see?”
Sure enough there was a place card with ‘Wonder Woman’ on it.
Kill me, Bruce thought, Just kill me now.
“Do you think she does shots? Let’s ask,” wondered Mina, “I bet I could drink her under the table.”
“You know,” said Serenity, “You could but then you would dance on tables and I know you’re not wearing underwear. Again. What would the Paps say when you do your number if you accidently flash someone?” asked Serenity sarcastically.
“Who said it would be accidently?”
“God help us,” groaned Serenity.
_
“The last item for tonight is item 27 the Diamond Necklace,” began the auctioneer, “An 18th century diamond necklace designed for Marie Antoinette. Bidding starts at fourteen million dollars.”
Paddles began to wave themselves into the air.
Including Mina.
“Mina, please,” Serenity said, “You and I both know you would never wear that.”
“But you would,” Mina said, “And I haven’t gotten you a birthday present yet so-”
“Are you kidding me?” Serenity groaned.
“Do you like this necklace?” asked Bruce curiously. He personally didn’t see the appeal. It was beautiful, yes, but it was a large piece of jewelry, and weighed quite a bit. He wasn’t sure how it would look on a delicate necklace like Serenity’s.
“I have enough diamonds.”
“That isn’t an answer.”
“Yes, I like the dang necklace,” Serenity sighed, “It reminds me of a pearl one I once had.”
“Eighteen million dollars. Do I hear nineteen? Nineteen million? Going once-”
Bruce raised his paddle. The entire roomed turned to watch in surprise. Bruce Wayne had not bid on a single item the entire night.
“Nineteen to the generous host, nineteen. Do I hear twenty- twenty million?” He looked to the other bidders who all backed down immediately. “Going once- Going twice- Sold for nineteen million to Bruce Wayne.”
Applause.
As if he hadn’t just spent enough to fund the entire school on a diamond necklace.
Why had he gotten married?
_
“You’re needed at the Watchtower, Sir,” came the solemn voice of Alfred in his Batcave.
“Serenity didn’t see you did she?” Batman replied gruffly as he readied himself to reply to his summons.
“The young Mistress is with the young Miss Queen tonight.”
“Notify me when she returns.”
“Yes, sir.”
As he walked towards the Founder’s room of the Watchtower his irritation grew. He hadn’t done half as much for Gotham as he would have liked in the last few weeks. Serenity spent a lot of time out with her friends, but she usually stayed in on the evenings. It made it hard to slip out without her knowing. After all, he couldn’t say that he was having late nights at work too often, or she would probably get suspicious. She wouldn’t think of him as Batman – probably that he was cheating, which would open an entirely different can of worms.
“What do you want, Superman?” Batman asked gruffly.
“We’ve got two new recruits and we’ll need to vet them at the highest level before they are sent into the field.”
“Fine,” Batman ground out. As he sat, a set of tall women walked in. They were both statuesque blondes. One had waist length hair, tied back in a big red bow. The other had her hair in-
“Are you kidding me?”
“What?” asked Superman.
Batman sulked quietly, “Nothing.”
The silver haired one smiled knowingly. “Batman,” she said, “I hear you’ll be interviewing me.”
Oh for fuck’s sake.