"Is there anything I can get you, Master Wayne?"
Bruce Wayne turned his head to find his butler standing beside him, eyebrows raised. Bruce shook his head. "No, thank you Alfred." Turning back to the wall of flickering screens in front of him, he sighed. "Looks like another uneventful night. It's been so quiet since Crane was finished, Batman's hardly needed beyond petty thievery."
Alfred then spoke up. "Might I suggest sir, that since Batman seems to be at ease, perhaps Bruce Wayne, chairman of Wayne Enterprises, could make an appearance?"
Bruce cocked his head contemplatively. "Well, there is that business with Stuart Pharmaceuticals. Alfred, could you arrange a meeting with William Stuart for the morning? He has this new drug he's experimenting on, and needs some additional funding."
Alfred nodded, then left the Batcave, muttering something about young men needing their sleep too. Bruce smiled fondly after him, but when he turned back to the screens, his smile was gone. He paused, then reached for a photo of a young woman on his desk. He closed his eyes, and thought about their last encounter.
"Come on Bruce. What aren't you telling me?" Rachel Dawes continued questioning her childhood friend, but Bruce wasn't having it. They were walking through the remains of Wayne Manor, arguing.
"Nothing Rachel. Just drop it, okay?" knowing full well that she wouldn't. And she didn't disappoint him."I don't get it! You and I used to tell each other everything, but now you hardly give me the time of day! What is going on, and I want an honest answer, or I swear I will keep pestering you until I get one."
She ran in front of him to block his path, crossing her arms over her chest. Bruce took a deep breath, and then blasted her. "Damnit Rachel!! I said drop it! If you insist on being nosy, then leave. And don't come back." Then he strode away, leaving her speechless and frozen behind him.
Bruce was drawn out of his reverie by a beeping noise. Hitting a button in front of him, he heard Alfred's voice. "Your appointment with Dr. Stuart is at 10 o'clock at his office, Master Wayne." Bruce thanked him, bid him goodnight, then switched off the intercom. Suddenly tired, he stood, and decided that he could use some rest before his meeting tomorrow. He needed to be ready for anything.
AN: ok, those of you that have read my other stories know this is a little different for me. But I was bored, and my mind kept drifting towards Christian Bale, for some odd reason... Anyway, this was kind of an intro, it gets more interesting in upcoming chapters. But please let me know what you think, good or bad. Thanks!