++++++ I'm on a roll currently. Here is part three of the Chronicles of Shade - Zhǔyè meaning Home.

The Chronicles of Shade - Zhǔyè is part three. Part two is called the Chronicles of Shade - Bàoyìng, it's only thirteen chapters but it is not necessary to read part two to get part three. Key things that happened in part two will be covered so you understand if you don't desire to read part two.

I hope you like it.

River is back.

I do not own ++++++

One

Gotham.

Gateway City.

Metropolis.

Smallville.

These places had their charm and their darkness. Their heroes and their villain but they weren't home.

A wise, yet overly pink and sparkly dressed good witch called Glenda, said that there is no place like home. Well-she was right.

River Quinn was back in business.

My return to Starling City could have been at night, the stars shining brightly in the dark, night sky. My silhouette a thing to fear, my presence should have made the cities criminals fear me once again.

Well…in my dreams anyway.

My return to Starling City was during the day. It was in a limo from the airport with Bruce dressed to the nines in an expensive suit whilst feeling like a transvestite in what I was wearing.

The day after returning to Gotham City, I found myself in the office of Bruce Wayne telling me I had to go back to Starling City. Bad vibes were coming from the city where I grew up, superheroes and villains were giving it a wide berth. The Justice League-all five of us-wanted a man-or woman in Starling City. And I was that man-well-woman.

I was reluctant at first, but Bruce was able to talk me around after a few drinks and a general heart to heart. Personally I didn't feel that I was ready to return to Starling but Bruce thought that I was ready purely for the reason that I didn't think I was.

After leaving Gotham, Bruce gave me the lowdown of the plan. Recently Queen Consolidated had come on the market and that some very cruel people had set their eyes on the company.

When the limo pulled into the curb, Bruce got out and held the door open for me. Another limo behind us held Stacey Adams, Bruce's new secretary, and a bunch of lawyers all dressed the same. I fiddled with my hands as the small army walked into the building and straight into the lifts.

It was no secret that the board members of Wayne Enterprises weren't thrilled with the idea of me being their representative at Queen Consolidated but since I knew the city and the company, I was in.

Bruce had Alfred purchase an apartment in my name where all my gear had been delivered ready to be taken to my Watchtower. Sure I may not have been welcome there anymore but I made the place and I had hidden failsafe's and ways to get in that no one knew about.

When we arrived at the top floor, Bruce instructed me to wait inside an empty office whilst he went into the meeting room. I looked around at the green marble and cold feel, overcome with thoughts of my father and when he brought me to this office as a little girl. I used to sit in an old green chair, legs swinging over the edge, feet not yet touching the ground playing with a doll.

I smiled and leant back against the desk.

"Mr Wayne, a pleasure it is to finally meet you," a sultry voice spoke, wafting into the room. "Isabel Rochev," Bruce replied flatly, "I'd say it's a pleasure but then I'd be lying. Mr Queen, where have you been in the past four months? With your mother's trial and the wreck this city has become-one would think you'd be heading the effort to fix everything."

"Personal issues," Oliver answered. "Now what exactly are you doing here?"

"Well…Ms Rochev, Mr Queen, please take a seat," Bruce instructed as I listened in the other room. I wanted to be a fly on the wall so desperately, to see Bruce Wayne had waltz into Queen Consolidated-the members of the board were practically drooling over their five thousand dollar suits.
Well, he didnt waltz...Batman does not waltz...he broods.
"I suppose you're wondering what Mr Wayne is doing here," one of the board members spoke as Oliver and Ms Rochev took a seat.
The first I'd heard of Isabel Rochev on the jet to Starling City. She was the Vice President of Acquisitions at Stellmoor International. According to Lucius, they'd swoop in and take over a company than destroy it from the inside out if it was in dire trouble. And trouble was what Queen Consolidated was in-big time. Seeing the lifetime work of Robert Queen going down the gurgler was one of the reasons I had agreed to return to Starling City in the first place.
"Yes," Ms Rochev hissed. "I would like to know. As I'm sure Mr Queen would as well."
"It's simple," Bruce shrugged, "I bought some shares of Queen Consolidated. Ms Rochev you have 45% as does Mr Queen. I purchased the remaining 10%. We now work together."
"And what interest do you have in Queen Consolidated?" Oliver questioned.
"None," Bruce replied. "I'm doing this for a friend whom the shares are also in the name of. Yes you may say that 10% is such a small amount but with Wayne Enterprises comes good press and more alliances than you could poke a stick at."

Say what? I gasped. Bruce brought the shares for me? I thought this was a Wayne Enterprises venture.

"Now, since I cannot be in Starling City all the time," Bruce continued, "I've elected a representative to well-represent me. She's my head of security."

Head of security? Well that's new. I wonder if I get paid?

Stacey stuck her head into the room and waved me in with a smirk. Stacey was my Gotham Felicity Smoak-she knew nothing about IT but she was a good friend. She knew about Bruce which made her the perfect secretary to cover for him "I wish I had a camera," she muttered, making me giggle. "Miss Quinn, Mr Wayne."

Oliver's jaw dropped when he saw me. It was really Diana's idea. I wore a black waist-high pencil skirt with a split down my thigh, a pair of dark purple pumps with a spiked heel that also doubled as a weapon, I was wearing a dark purple silk blouse with light make up and smokey eyes.
Felicity was with Oliver, both almost had their jaws to the floor.
"Miss Quinn will be Wayne Enterprises representative on the board," Bruce stated. "She will report any and all dealings back to me. I've ordered a full audit of this company as we will not have another Undertaking on our hands. My lawyers and QC's lawyers agree that that is a very good idea." He stood up and fixed his jacket up. "River, walk me to the lifts. The documents have already been signed. You've even got an office. Now, I've a jet to catch back to Gotham."
I followed Bruce from the conference room and only once we were in the elevator did I breathe again. "Fuck me sideways," I gasped. "Bruce-did you see their faces?"

Bruce chuckled. "I did. Will you get the chance to patrol tonight?" he asked.

I shrugged. "Maybe. I should be able to get into my Watchtower."

"Let J'onn know when you do," Bruce instructed. "He'll come down and connect with the computers so what you do-he'll be able to help."

The doors pinged open and his army of lawyers walked inside.

"Good luck, River," Stacey smiled.

"You'll need it," Bruce told me. "Don't let Isabel Rochev intimidate you. If she gets too big for her britches, remind her where she came from." He handed me a file with ISABEL ROCHEV written on the front. "Good reading. I'll leave a driver for you."

I watched Bruce leave before letting out a huge sigh. Sure I had superhuman strength, the ability to heal almost instantly and able to last longer than any human but what on earth was I going to do with a business I knew nothing about?

I turned around to see Oliver and Isabel waiting for me.

Once this meeting was finished I made up my mind to get out of this skirt and head into the Glades. I wanted to see Bìnàn again. I tucked the file underneath my arm and walked back into the meeting room.

"My budem poluchit' eto idet?" I smirked, sitting down.