Disclaimer: I do not own JSL

A/N: I can't believe I'm starting another story but what can you do….

Origin.-Knight of Gotham () Prologue

SLAM!

"Hit him in the gut! Hit him hard!" chorused two boys as they watched their friend tussle their victim around.

The boy collapsed in a heap against the floor.

"Give it to me Wayne." demanded the older boy.

The kid dug his hand his pant pocket ceremoniously handing, what would have been his weeks allowance, to his aggressor. The older student snatched the bill stuffing it in his own pocket before picking the kid up by the front of his shirt and tie.

The younger kid squeezed his eyes shut waiting for the blow but it never came. Instead he was tossed back into the locker like one would toss a balled up piece of tissue in a trash can.

"Loser."

The laughs of his tormentors grew faint as they walked down the hallway. Leaving their victim to clean himself up. He gathered his book bag and school work that had been scattered across the floor from the routinely scuffle. He straightened his uniform heading toward the exit stopping at the door way he jumped up and grabbed his burgundy scarf that hung over the banner that sat just above the door frame. it had been waiting for him since recess.

He wrapped it around his neck and descended the staircase. A car horn sounded as he looked up he saw his only friend coming out from the driver's seat. By the time he crossed the side walk the driver opened up the passenger side door.

"Good afternoon master Bruce." the driver greeted.

"Hi, Alfred." the boy replied jumping into the back seat.

As Bruce settled down he pulled his seat belt in place pausing when he saw the insignia of his school badge torn away from its designated spot on his chest. He quickly placed the seat belt over it just as Alfred popped into the front seat.

Soon the car peeled away from the curb and was driving down the road. "How was your day master Bruce?"

"Ok." came the faint reply… "I thought dad was going to pick me up?"

"He sends his apologies but something came up at work that acquired his immediate attention. He expects to be home before supper."

Alfred looked in the rear view mirror. Seeing the disappointment on the young boy's face caused him to change the subject.

"I have a secret to tell you?"

Intrigue crossed the boy's eyes causing him to lean forward. "A secret? What secret?"

"Well you didn't hear it from me but your mother has a surprise for you when you get home."

Bruce's face lit up. "A surprise?! What is it, what is it?"

Alfred chuckled lightly at the enthusiasm. "Well if I told you what it is. It wouldn't be a surprise now would it?"

"AW Alfred." Bruce groaned flopping back against the seat.

"You are welcome to guess." Alfred offered.

Bruce sighed. "There is only one thing that I want and I already know I won't get it."

Alfred frowned slightly at the saddened tone. After a moment of silence Alfred spoke.

"Is it a pony?"

"What?! NO!" Bruce exclaimed a crack of a smile on his face.

Alfred grinned. "No? hmmm, oh is it a flossing kit."

Bruce crack widened. "No I can brush my own teeth."

"A monkey wrench?" Alfred tossed out playfully.

This time Bruce let out a laugh his smile lighting up his pale blue eyes. The light heartedness lasted until they arrived in front of the Wayne mansion Bruce hopped out of the car Alfred at his side.

Entering the front hall Alfred took the boys book bag and scarf. The sound of heeled feet came into the room.

"Hello sweetheart." Martha Wayne greeted coming over to her son.

Bruce hugged his mother. He suddenly tensed as she knelt down to his height cupping the side of his face.

"How was your day?"

"It was good." Bruce gave a big smile in hopes that it would distract his mother's attention from the elephant that was sitting on his chest.

Martha ran her hand along his shoulder's stopping when her eyes caught sight of the torn badge.

"Bruce. What happened?"

"Fell." came his quick reply… "Can I go now?"

Martha opened her mouth but was interrupted when the door opened causing the boy to beam happily.

"DAD!"

Thomas Wayne set down his briefcase in time to catch his son's affection lifting him up in his arms. "Hello Bruce. My somebody missed me."

Martha straightened crossing her arms smiling at her small family. "You're early."

"Well the deal unexpectedly pulled through last minute. So nothing left to do then to celebrate with my family."

"How are we going to celebrate?" Bruce asked holding on to his father's tie royal blue tie.

"Well how does a dinner and a movie sound?" Thomas asked with a sincere smile.

"Yeah! Can we go mom?" Bruce eagerly asked.

Martha frowned. "I don't know…"

"Please. please .please please." Bruce pleaded.

Thomas chuckled. "Don't make the boy beg."

"Alright. Get yourself cleaned up and wash your hands." Martha stated.

"Ok."

Thomas let out a chuckle as his son bolted out of the room and up the stairs. He walked over to his wife and planted a kiss on her cheek.

"Sorry I didn't call. I wanted to surprise him." he said as he removed his coat… "I really didn't expect the deal to go through I thought I'd have to stay a couple more days."

He said as he made his way upstairs. As he entered the master bedroom he removed his tie turning to Martha.

"This will help boost business. God knows we need it with this recession."

Martha remained silent causing him to frown. "Martha, what's wrong?"

She shook her head walking over to her closet. She moved hanger after hanger. "How fancy is this dinner? Is blue to formal?"

"Martha." Thomas inquired again walking up behind her.

"Red is too strong… she pulled out a chic brown dress with embroidered bronze butterfly design along the hip… "I'll wear this it brings out the color of my eyes or so my mother says."

Thomas came beside her touching her arm. "Martha."

His concern tone commanded her to look at him. Her green eyes shone slightly her fair chin clenched clearly upset. She sighed.

"I'm worried about Bruce."

"Oh Martha." he said walking into his own closet across the room.

"Tom my worry isn't without merit. The badge on his uniform was torn, that is the third time the last two months where his uniform has been a disaster."

"What does he say when you ask him what happened?" Thomas asked as he took out a medium grey suit out from the rack.

Martha zipped down her skirt and unbuttoned her blouse. "Lets see. The first time it was him dropping it in a mud puddle. Second was a science project mishap. And now he said he just fell."

Thomas zipped up the front of his pants fastening the belt in place. "Did he?"

Martha rolled her eyes as she slipped into her dress. "You should know by now our son is a horrible liar."

Thomas walked back out. His white shirt unbuttoned as he draped his brown striped tie over his shoulder.

"Sure, but you have to admit he comes up with the most amazing excuses."

Martha walked over to him turning her back to him moving her hair away from the zipper. "Thomas this is not to be taken lightly."

Thomas sighed as he zipped up her dress. "What do you want from me?"

Martha glanced over at him walking back into her closet. "Talk to him. See if he will open up. You haven't been home a lot to see how school is effecting him."

Thomas buttoned up his shirt walking over to the mirror above their dresser. "I'm paying him to have self-defence lessons. What makes you think he'll open up to me?"

Martha walked over to the bed picking up one dark brown wedge two inch heel. "You're his father and, I'm sorry, but the lessons seem to just be a hobby for him. Besides…she placed the heel on her left foot… he's to young to have fighting put in his head."

Thomas turned to her picking up his jacket. "C'mon Martha it's good to have and it's not like he's going to be punching his way through the rest of his life. It will help in the long run…"

Martha put her other shoe on coming over to Thomas taking his tie and adjusting it. "I'm just worried. Please try for me."

Thomas smiled. "Alright."

Martha returned the smile pulling down the collar. "Thank you."

Thomas leaned over and kissed her on the lips before putting on his jacket. "I better check on how he's doing…he's hopeless when it comes to matching socks."

Thomas put on his dress shoes. Before leaving the bed room he looked at Martha once more. "Don't worry so much. We have a life time to teach him to be the man he needs to be."

(((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((

The small family exited the theatre the evening was everything Bruce hoped for a birthday present. He pulled out his pretend sword -a rolled up poster. Thomas looked at Martha giving her a look she read it right walking over to look at the bulletin board on the side of the wall.

"Alright kiddo better button up your coat. don't want you to freeze."

Thomas knelt in front of his son pulling the middle button in place. "Bruce you know that you can talk to me about anything. Right?"

Bruce diverted his eyes down to the ground giving a small nod. Thomas did up another button. "Are you having trouble at school?"

Bruce gave another nod. Rolling up the poster a bit tighter. "I'm sorry."

Thomas paused looking at his son. "For what?"

"For being weak."

Thomas gave a sympathetic look. "Bruce, brute strength isn't always the answer to your problems. Sometimes being strong is stepping away from your opponent. Using your head to find ways to find a solution to a problem is, in many ways a courageous thing, and that is what makes you strong. Do you understand?"

Bruce gave a small smile. "Yes dad."

"Good boy… he fastened the last button… "There all done. Time go home Alfred will be lonely."

Martha joined her husband slipping her arm through his as their son ventured a couple feet ahead of them letting his imagination play out as he swung the poster back and forth as if having a sword fight.

"How did it go?" she asked.

"He'll be fine." Thomas reassured.

Martha smiled at her son as he continued his fight. She leaned her head on his shoulder as they walked down the ally way. As they ventured farther Martha lifted her head becoming tense as they saw a dark figure coming in the opposite direction.

"Bruce come here." Thomas said.

Bruce stopped as he turned the figure leapt forward grabbing for Bruce but his mother quickly pulled him to her.

"Give me the purse lady!" the man demanded… "Give it to me now!"

Martha gripped Bruce tighter as he pulled out a gun. Thomas protectively stepped in front of his family.

"Easy. Here take my wallet… he took out the leather wallet…"Take it and leave." Thomas ordered holding it out to the criminal.

"I don't want your money give me the purse." he threatened.

"No just leave." Thomas shot back.

The criminal suddenly served the other man a hard punch to the jaw stunning him. Martha let out a shriek as the man lunged at her snatching the necklace around her neck then roughly gripped her by the arm.

"Give it to…" he was abruptly cut off as Thomas grabbed him by the scruff of his shirt pushing away from his family.

Bruce watched as his father struggled with the man then a loud bang rang out. Thomas let out a pained gasp before collapsing on the ground.

"THOMAS!" Martha screeched in horror.

The criminal went after her she quickly shoved Bruce away as the man raised his gun. Another bang and she crumpled to the ground a few feet from her husband.

The thug stared at the scene for a moment before dashing away purse in hand. Bruce stared frozen in his spot after a moment he swallowed hard. He opened his mouth to call out but his voice froze as he saw crimson pool out around the bodies of his parents. When his eyes met the lifeless stare of his mother's he dropped the poster….

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Red and blue flashed against the walls of the street. Police tape blocked both ends of the ally way. A middle aged man got out of the police cruiser coming over to a detective who was busy writing in his note book.

"Please tell me what I heard isn't true." the man sated as he approached the bigger man.

"No can do. Forensics just arrived snapping away… he took a draw on his cigarette… "Wallet found shows it belongs to the one and only Thomas Wayne. Wife lying right beside him.

"Please don't let the situation upset you… he shot back dryly pushed passed his partner lifting the tape he entered the crime scene… "Damn."

A woman came over. "The media will be all over this once it gets out."

"Tragic loss. The thing is what were they doing in an ally way in the first place?"

"Their car was parked on the other end. Short cut I guess. The theatre is just around the corner." the woman replied.

Her colleague squatted down to examine the scene. His eyes landing on the leather wallet he looked to the woman. "May I?"

She nodded. The detective picked it up opening it he looked in the blood stained compartments, he furrowed his brow as he pulled out a recite. "Got something here…"

The woman came over at the serious look he gave. "What is it?"

"Paid for two adult tickets…and a child." he looked up looking around him.

She followed his path as he went down the ally pausing as he saw the crumpled poster soaked with blood. His eyes caught sight of the bloody foot prints leading away from the area, his hearted pounded in his chest saying a silent prayer as he followed the path.

Both of them shared a look as they stopped in front of a garbage container. He swallowed hard looking over top to see the child sitting there his arms folded over top bent knees his head buried in his chest.

The detective cursed under his breath at the sight. He walked around the side cautiously.

"Bruce." he greeted calmly… "Bruce."

The boy slowly lifted his head at the voice his pale eyes dull as he met the man before him. The detective pulled out his badge startling the kid.

"It's alright I won't hurt you… he showed Bruce his badge… "I'm lt. James Gordon. I'm with the police."

He put the badge back on his belt holding out his arms. "It's alright. You can come out. It's ok you can trust me."

Bruce stared at him not moving. Looking at him closely James saw that he was shaking. "It's ok. Come with me there is nothing to be afraid of."

After a moment James found his empty arms filled with the frightened kid. "That's right. 'I've got you. It's ok. It's ok." he repeated as he rubbed his hand up and down the Bruce's back trying to clam the shaking.

The other detective spoke loudly around his cigarette as he closed his note book. "Anyone in this god forsaken city knows this ally is dangerous. The rich think they…"

He trailed off as he saw Gordon come out of the crime scene with Bruce in his arms. James didn't stop. "Handle things here. I'm taking him to the station."

As Bruce was being led away. His eyes never left the ally and what would soon become the foundation of the man he'd soon become…

FC27

A/N: Your insight would be helpful.