"Sorry. I'm sorry," It's all she can really say, and while she doesn't quite wince, she does sink into the bed slightly, defeated, and a little like she's wishing it would just swallow her up so she doesn't have to see him look like that.

The problem is that she meant it, even thought she realizes it was a stupid question to ask. She's never been sure how he feels about her, beyond an annoyance, and it's become even more complicated in Keeliai. It feels like he's - trying, but that doesn't necessarily mean he likes her, he could just feel obligated, like he owes her for... for Sionis, for firing her, for everything.

Steph isn't always the best at understanding, well, herself, but she's aware enough to realize that some of her difficulty with Bruce comes from the fact she doesn't have a frame of reference for this type of relationship. She knows how to have friends, she knows how to have boyfriends, she's... learning how to have a mother and even that's complicated.

There's never been any family in her life, aside from her mom, that wasn't a criminal, that didn't hurt her or try to, and she's not sure what's involved in having a family that isn't like that.

She thinks of Damian, how she's starting to see him as a little brother, even if she'd never admit it out loud. Somehow that makes it easier to focus her thoughts right now.

This isn't - impossible. It's just new, and different, but so is most of her life, and that's never stopped her before.

When she finally looks at him, she manages a smile, small and sad and apologetic, but... genuine nonetheless.