fandomhighdorms | The Gym, Tuesday evening

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The Gym, Tuesday evening

Bruce was at the gym, beating the living hell out of a punching bag. Nine years ago on this date, Bruce's life changed. Two years ago on this date, Bruce left Gotham to start training for a war on crime and hadn't been back since. He couldn't return until he was just about ready. Every moment until then was to be spent preparing for that day.

He called Alfred to make sure flowers were put on their graves and in Crime Alley per tradition. It hurt to not be there once again, but that was how it had to be for nowAnd so Bruce felt the need to take that hurt out on an inanimate object. It wasn't really making him feel better, but at least it served as a distraction. For now, for tonight, that was enough.

[OOC: Open, if anyone wants to deal with a kid with issues on the worst day possible.]

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Jaina had already been down here once today, but she needed a life, and was therefore back again. When she saw Bruce, though, she hung back for a minute, waiting to see if he wanted company or if she should try another gym.

It took Bruce a moment to realize that there was somebody else there. When he did, he stopped punching the poor bag for a moment to give Jaina a nod. "I hope you're not planning on using this bag. There may not be much of it left when I'm done with it."

"I can do without it," she said. Till tomorrow. Then withdrawal would set in. She stepped closer, daring to ask, "Bad day?"

"The worst day. Every year," Bruce said, punching the bag again for emphasis.

Given her current major issue, she could kind of figure out what that meant. "Anniversary, huh," she said, not unsympathetically. "Is the bag helping?"

"You're quick on the uptake," Bruce noted. "And it's helping a little. Not as much as I'd like." He would need some punk criminal to help him as much as he'd like.

"Yeah, well, some dates are bad," Jaina shrugged. "Need somebody to hold that for you?" You know, the tiny girl holding the bag he was beating on.

"Do you have some kind of enhanced strength or toughness?" Bruce checked as he took a step back from the bag. "You can hold it if you don't, but it might not be comfortable."

"I can handle it," she said, standing on the other side of the bag and putting her weight against it. If she went flying, this was going to be embarrassing. "Have at it."

Fortunately, Bruce didn't have super strength or anything. He was still hitting the bag very hard, though. "Thanks. Do you offer to spot people in bad moods a lot?"

She did step back on the first hit, but repositioned herself so she wouldn't go sliding around after that. "No. I'm usually the one in the bad mood. Figured I should give back."

"So you're in a good mood today, or did I just beat you here?" Bruce asked between punches.

"Beat me here," she told him honestly. "Though I don't have a specific reason to try and destroy the bag today, really, so it's a good thing you did."

"The rest of the equipment and the janitorial staff appreciate it, I'm sure," Bruce said.

Jaina paused, which might have been hard to tell over any hitting. "I never realized someone had to clean up the ruined equipment. Maybe now I really will be nicer to it."

"It's their job. In a school like this, it has to be expected," Bruce said. "And if it wasn't at first, it must be by now."

"Probably," she said, "especially with you here." Since she was on the other end of the bag being hit and all, having to reposition her feet for better traction.

"To be fair," Bruce said, taking a quick step back to straight kick the bag and see how Jaina reacted to that, "I usually take it easier on this stuff. Today's special."

There was a little 'oof' sound from the other side of the bag, but Jaina stood her ground. "So what is today?" she asked, totally aware she might not get an answer.

"Nine years since my parents were murdered in front of me," Bruce said simply before stepping forward to hit the bag very hard.

That time she had to step back from the bag, coming forward a moment later to catch it again. There wasn't much she could say to that. So she went with "I'm sorry." At least it was true.

"Thank you," Bruce said, allowing Jaina enough time to get settled back in before resuming his punching. "I figure this is the healthiest way to deal with it today. Focus all of that pain on something literally built to take it."

"That's what it's there for," Jaina said. She kind of figured just holding the bag was kind of a workout, too. "And punching bags are replaceable."

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The Gym, Tuesday evening

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