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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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"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."

"I hate that town," says Renee mildly, with all the casual hatred that only a native can have.

"Still, knowing the Huntress probably gives an advantage there."

"She comes in handy sometimes," Helena says, shrugging.

"I try to give those kids the best chance they have to get out of that town alive, and that occasionally includes being the Huntress. But I can't save them all," she adds, her voice tinged with no small amount of sadness, regret... and guilt.

"No one can," Renee points out. "Not even Superman, really. You and me? We got to just save one person at a time and hope that's enough, right?"

"Right," she agrees. "And God help anyone who tries to stop me from doing it."

That includes men with pointy little bat ears and their sheep sidekicks.

Renee grins widely, directly at her.

"When you get all determined and righteous like that, I just want to skip dinner."

A deep red blush spreads over Helena's cheeks and she smiles back, coyly.

Then she pushes her chair back, stands and holds her hand out to Renee.

"Come on."

It's not so much determined and righteous as it is forthright. How does Renee feel about forward women?

Renee's thoughts about forward women go like this:

Fuck

She grabs Helena's hand, but even as she gets up, she says "wait" and turns to a rat:

"Room service? Great."

Then she turns to Helena, and before they go anywhere else, she yanks that hand towards her, catches Helena's cheek in her free hand, and plants her lips on her mouth.

Helena melts in to the kiss and returns it with fervour.

This time she allows herself to enjoy it, forgetting any niggling doubts; forgetting anything except Renee.

This time when she pulls away she's smiling and pulling Renee with her, back towards the stairs that lead to the bedrooms.

Renee is doing her very best not to dance a tiny little jig as she lets herself be pulled, but she's failing to hide the wide, excited grin that's plastered across her face.

"And here I was worried you'd be nervous."

"Why? Should I be?" she asks over her shoulder, raising an eyebrow flirtatiously.

Bravado makes a good cover for nerves, doesn't it?