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Renee has reserved a table in a quiet corner of the bar, and had it kitted out with a white tablecloth, a candle and even a flower in a vase. She's going to do this right.

And "right" also includes a button down shirt with a tie.

Except now she's worried Helena will think she's just dressed for work.

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Compliments - compliments she normally shrugs off. But the compliments normally come from men out to get something, not beautiful women grinning at her in a way that makes her heart skip beats.

A faint red blush tints Helena's cheeks, and she smiles back.

"I really am sorry about that," she says. It's entirely possible she's not just talking about the date right now.

Renee holds up a finger quickly to stop that where it is.

"Worth," she repeats, "the wait.

"Now, you want something to drink?"

She wants to ask how Renee can be so sure, but she bites back her words and nods.

"Some wine would be good."

Renee grins and leans back in order to get the attention of a waitrat.

"You don't mind if I don't join you? Glass or bottle?"

Oh right. Renee doesn't drink.

"Just a glass is fine. Red."

It's probably not a good idea to look like an alcoholic on a first date with a teetotaller.

Renee's open minded and non-judgmental about other people drinking. She hopes she gets points for this.

The waitrat takes the order and stays, just in case there's more.

"....actually, I have no idea what I want to eat."

Yes, she gets points. Renee doesn't seem bothered at all and that helps Helena relax a little.

"Personally I've got my heart set on pasta alla Norma," she says. "They do the best Sicilian food you'll ever taste outside of Sicily here."

"Really?"

Renee grins.

"Okay, I'll follow your lead on that one. Two pastas alla Norma."

Italian food is delicious.

Well of course it is, but then Helena is biased.

"I hope you like eggplant, then," she says as the waitrat disappears to place their order.

"Who doesn't like eggplant?" Renee says.

And glances at Helena with a look of surprise and disappointment at the world.

"Does someone not like eggplant?"

"It's not out of the realm of possibility," she says with a shrug, smiling at the cute 'someone kicked my puppy' expression Renee is pulling right now.

"America is full of food philistines."

"Yeah," Renee agrees. "How else do you explain Burger King?"

"I try not to explain it as much as I try to forget it exists entirely."

"Wise woman," says Renee.

She shrugs a little.

"I try," she says. "Sometimes I even succeed."

She tries not to think too much about the times she doesn't.

Renee grins at her, just in time for Helena's wine to arrive, a little ahead of the food.

"I like to think everything's a learning process."

"I'd agree with that," she says, taking her wine and sipping it.

"Some lessons are just harder to learn than others."

"Mmmmm," Renee says thoughtfully. "No argument on that one."

"Glad to hear it," Helena says, smiling wryly.

She wonders what lesson Renee had to learn the hard way. She always seems so sure of herself, so centred. But then, Helena supposes, everyone has their cross to bear. She certainly has a fair few of her own.

Renee works hard at seeming that sure! Just as long as Helena never asks to meet the family, she'll keep it up.

"So what's the door situation for you right now?"

This passes as small talk, in Milliways.

Helena's own experience with family means it isn't something that is top of her agenda. In fact if anyone was to suggest she meet Renee's family she'd probably panic and run away.

Helena glances over at the door briefly before turning back.

"It's still there."

But for once in her life she isn't desperate to run out of it. So long as no one mentions meeting families at least.

"How about you?"

"Same."

She glances at it, and scowls as if it's accusing her.

"We're getting some replies to the website. Nothing major. Missing persons. mothers scared of losing their kids to gangbangers."

"Some things never change," she sighs.

It's just a case of same shit different day.

"I'm so sick of seeing my kids get mixed up with the gangs."

Of course if Helena ever gets wind of her pupils being involved in gangs they tend to end up getting a visit from the Huntress.

Renee's mouth curls up into a snarl.

"Does that happen a lot with your kids?"

"It's Gotham," she says with a shrug. "And I don't exactly work in Gotham Heights."