Wayne Tower
10:30 AM
Dick was getting tired. It had been weeks since he'd had a decent night's sleep. Being Batman had taken its own toll, as had trying to run this damn company. He had been greatly relieved to have half an hour of peace between his meeting with Luthor and his interview with a couple of journalists from the Daily Planet.
A Wayne Enterprises employee had issued a formal statement for the press early on, but Dick would soon have to face them. Why not start now, with these two?. It didn't even occur to him that they would be Lois Lane and Clark Kent until it was announced that they had arrived.
Dick took a moment to gather himself. He hadn't spoken to Superman since that night. It had been Superman who went in and pulled him out of the building. If not for him, Dick would likely have died there with Bruce. He didn't blame Superman for what had happened, there was no way Superman could have known they wouldn't get out. After all, Bruce had always been able to take care of himself.
He took a deep breath and said "send them in,"
Rising from his chair, he came around the mahogany desk to shake their hands.
"Mr. Kent, Miss Lane. Please, have a seat," he smiled for them, that formal smile that could mean absolutely anything, or nothing at all "I'm afraid all I keep to drink is orange juice, but if you would like some...,"
"No thanks," Miss Lane said, and Clark echoed it.
Dick nodded graciously, something he had learned from years of closely observing every nuance of Bruce's movements. He had also learned how to let people know his opinion of them in a way that was socially acceptable and would not harm the reputation of his company.
Miss Lane seemed to be trying to decide exactly how to open the interview. The circumstances being what they were, there were so many things she could say that would be awkward. Maybe she had no interest in Dick's feelings, but she undoubtedly wanted him to remain cooperative throughout, which meant it would be unwise to offend him.
"Mr. Grayson," she began, apparently having decided this was the safest title to call him by "do you really intend to run...," she faltered "your guardian's company?,"
Dick smiled permissively, acknowledging the reporter's difficulty trying to choose words and terms which would be acceptable to him, to the paper and, most important, to the readers of said paper.
"A father can teach his son only that which he knows," Dick explained "Bruce Wayne knew the business world, the ins and outs of socializing with the rich and famous. He passed this knowledge on to me and I fully intend to use all the tools he gave me to continue his work,"
The double meaning was not lost on Clark, who nodded almost approvingly without Miss Lane noticing that he did so. Dick tilted his head so fractionally that only Clark noticed the acknowledgment.
"Do you intend to make any big changes in the coming year?," Miss Lane asked.
"Not in the way you may be thinking," Dick replied "this company was built for the people of Gotham. It's never been about the money or power. It's always been about helping people, and doing what we can to make the world a better place. I see no reason to change that,"
"Rumor has it that Lex Luthor tried to buy Wayne Enterprises from Bruce Wayne before his...," she hesitated to say it, so Dick did what he could to put her at ease.
"His death. It's alright, you can say it, I won't break," he smiled gently, then went on "Bruce Wayne refused to sell to Lex Luthor, and I see no reason to change that decision. Luthorcorp and Wayne Enterprises have nothing to do with one another, and I can say with some certainty that it will remain that way for as long as I'm in charge,"
His eyes flitted to lock with Clark's for a moment. Clark had already known the answer to that question and, indeed, most of the others. Dick had made his position pretty clear to the Justice League and the team when he took up the mantel of Batman.
Still, he thought he detected the faintest traces of relief in Clark's eyes. For Dick, Luthor was just another enemy, but to Clark, he was the enemy.
"Forgive me if you find this offensive," Miss Lane said "but you seem very... young to be taking on this kind of responsibility. Will anyone be helping you run the company?,"
"Bruce Wayne chose his employees carefully to ensure that each was qualified for the job they were given. That said, no. Timothy Drake and myself were the sole heirs and, until he comes of age, I will be taking care of Tim's assets, including his portion of the company,"
Miss Lane looked at Dick in the same measuring way he had earlier examined Luthor. Only in her eyes was a question. Whether or not Dick was an adversary. Was there a greater truth he was trying to conceal from her, or was he as open as he appeared?.
Dick took the moment to measure her as well. Clark he already knew well, but Miss Lane was a stranger to him, though they'd seen one another from a distance on many occasions. He didn't feel threatened by her, though he supposed this was probably due to his association with her partner.
But there was a warmth in her eyes which was unusual in reporters. An indefinable element of humanity which was so often absent that it was quite frankly shocking to be seen at all. She was a beautiful woman also, more than just her appearance. Her bearing and the sound of her voice as well. In her eyes there was indication of razor sharp wit and the aggressive instincts of the reporter, but there was also a kindness there, buried underneath all that modern cynicism.
He liked this woman already, and could easily see why Clark was so drawn to her. She was of the right class to survive a relationship with a hero, strong enough to keep the secret and deal with all the trials and suffering that came of being with someone who was in constant danger, but with the necessary softness to understand and accept the weaknesses of her man. It was very unusual to see in someone who was not also a masked hero themselves.
"If I may ask, what are your feelings about the kids who...," again she faltered.
Such human concern for his feelings. It was possible that she was being manipulative, trying to get answers from him that he might not otherwise give. But it didn't bother him and he preferred to think of her as caring, though he could see a vicious streak in her as well.
"I'd like to be angrier with them than I am," Dick said truthfully "what they did was wrong, and it's a miracle more people weren't hurt. But they didn't intend for anyone to die,"
"So you don't think they should be punished for anything other than the bombing itself?,"
"It's not my job to play judge and jury, Miss Lane," Dick told her "I have other things to worry about besides their guilt or innocence. That's entirely up to a court of law,"
"There are a number of people who claim you pulled them out of the building as it was collapsing," Miss Lane decided to change tactics "you're being called a hero,"
"I just did what I thought was right at the time, like Bruce always taught me," Dick shrugged.
The matter of rescuing people was one he'd nearly forgotten. Wearing the mask, he'd saved many more people from much worse danger. And the building hadn't actually begun to collapse until everyone was out anyway, so he hadn't even really 'rescued' anyone.
There was a pause, this one Dick brought an end to.
"There's something you've wanted to ask ever since you walked in," Dick said matter-of-factly "and I doubt it has anything to do with the events surrounding Bruce Wayne's death, or the future of Wayne Enterprises. Go ahead and ask,"
Miss Lane looked taken aback, and it took her a moment to compose herself for the next question.
"Are you angry with Superman?," she asked hesitantly "after all, he managed to rescue Lex Luthor as well as yourself, but not your guardian,"
Awkward, Dick thought. Having to give his opinion on Superman in front of the man of steel himself.
"If he could have saved Bruce," Dick said, doing his best to check the emotions mounting within him "I'm sure he would have. I'm no more angry with him than I am with myself about it,"
Meaning Yes, I'm a bit angry, but it's irrational and will go away once my head clears. I hope.
Lois Lane had asked several more questions before she and Clark Kent departed, much to Dick's relief. He could feel himself shaking apart, losing control. He was badly in need of rest, but knew he wouldn't get it until his insides had finished untying themselves.
There would be no rest for him so long as he was tormented in his dreams by images of Bruce. Dick leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes, getting as much rest as he could before his next task. He knew that he would soon be leaving most of the publicity to the people hired to manage such things, but these initial stages were critical.
All too easily he could turn into a media sensation 'circus boy inherits Wayne billions!'. And then the company's reputation went right down the drain. No good, he had to be personally involved, at least until media interest died down. He had to make a target of himself, showing up at social functions and behaving in a way fitting the heir to Wayne Enterprises.
He put his elbows on the desk and rested his head on his palms. He had a headache, and was beginning to feel slightly insane from all the smiling he'd been doing. Right now, he'd rather be fighting a hundred different villains than sitting in this office like some television show host. 'And now a round of applause for our next guest...'. Faking confidence he did not feel, praying he was saying the right things, hoping his facade didn't slip and show how very vulnerable he was. The vultures were circling, they smelled the blood of the wounded and it drew them like a magnet.
He pinched the bridge of his nose, but that brought no more relief than anything else had so far. Right about now he was wishing that he did drink. He could use a stiff drink at the moment.
"You're looking a bit haggard," the voice behind him didn't surprise Dick.
After all, the window was open. He didn't turn to look at Superman, who had undoubtedly found some excuse to leave Miss Lane alone for a few minutes.
"Come to tell me I'm taking too much on?," Dick asked, swinging around to face his visitor "to imply that I'm not up to the challenge?. Or that I should trust someone enough to take on some of the burden?. You should save your breath because about a hundred people have already said those things. They've also told me I'll be fine, and that the future isn't so scary, and several other comforting cliches,"
"Actually, I came to apologize," Superman said.
Dick shook his head.
"You couldn't have known," he said, but his voice cracked, betraying the emotions he'd been trying so hard to bury "you thought Bruce could take care of himself. I thought the same thing. We were both wrong, and now he's dead and there's nothing for it but to keep going,"
"You're not alone, you know. If you need anything, all you have to do is call,"
"Everyone is alone in the end, Clark," Dick said quietly "you of all people should know that,"
