Diary of Bruce Wayne
25th July 1999
The last thing I wanted to see whilst out on patrol is the two individuals who could ruin Gotham in a single night. John Constantine and Swamp Thing. As much as I hate the chaos John brings, I knew one day I would have to face Swamp Thing... But today it seems like trouble comes in pairs. John tells me there is not one but two werewolf packs either in Gotham or about to arrive in it. Then there is John and Swamp Thing, the best and worst of friends. Two amounts of trouble no matter which way I look at it. I know a few people who would be happy with this situation. Both of them are thankfully locked up in Arkham.
The Batcave
A sound of a large engine rumbles into the cave, a figure in black is sat in the seat of a custom motorcycle. Pulling to a full stop next to the Batmobile, the figure climbs off picking up a bag from the back. Hearing the sound Bruce stands up and walks to the figure... Red Widow has come home.
"You called? I came as soon as I could..." She said taking off her sunglasses.
"We have a problem... But that can wait, you must be exhausted." Said Bruce with a small smile.
"No, tell me now... I didn't walk away from a semi friendly bar room brawl with a purple furry werewolf, who was listening to Warren Zevon and eating beef Chou Mein just to come here and wait." Said Widow crossing her arms.
Over hearing this John shouts,
"Did she just bloody say purple fur?"
Walking over to the cell, Widow smiles as she recognizes John.
"Well, well John bloody Constantine... my you've gotten old, or is that the booze, cigarettes or snorting too much pixie dust? Yes I said purple fur... Wait, don't tell me you wandered in on the annual midnight pack gathering?" She says bursting into fits of laughter.
"Hey listen love how was I supposed to know it was a werewolves only night? I didn't see you there. Where were you? In the ladies? Wait I remember you, you was the road manager for the Electric Mushrooms. You look like you haven't aged, what's your secret? Plastic surgery?... You owe me twenty quid, a beer and a pack of Silk cut from that one night gig in Satan's Hollow." John said, he spoke angrily at her for laughing at him.
All of a sudden Widow stops laughing, turning to Bruce she holds out her hand with a wink. Bruce gives her the keys to the cell, she turns and opens the door. Walking inside locking the door behind her, she then turns to John saying,
"Oh I owe you something else, something more..." She walks towards him a smile on her face. John just looks at Bruce who walks away, thinking he had scored big he leans in for a kiss. Widow smiles more as she grabs his shoulders and headbutts him in the nose. She then turns, unlocks the door and walks out leaving John dazzled.
"Hear me you egotistical, pompous, Scouse twat, that was for making me lose both a drummer and a lead singer. Numynor is in a hospital bed trapped in a constant state of soullessness. Jazz is cursed to look like a cute kitten for the rest of eternity." She shouts locking the door again.
"So does this mean I don't get a kiss? Cos I find that kind of disappointing... I was wondering what happened to Jazz how is the cute little fur ball? Damn I think you broke my nose." He said with a cocky smile, laughing out loud until he sees Widow's eyes change colour.
"Be careful little man... you don't want to play with this fire... ik bind je magie totdat ik je vrijlaat.* I bind your magic until such time as I release you.* Widow growls grabbing his trench coat collar, her cross glowing with power.
"Hey! Bats! Where did you find this little demon? She even speaks in tongues, I like her..." John shouts out.
Pushing him back Widow storms off to try and calm down, Bruce then walks back to the cell angrily folding his arms he says,
"You shouldn't antagonize her like that, she could kill you, but if you want to be on her good side, try not making her angry. She is a will onto herself, no one can control her, many have tried and failed, myself included. Like now she has just bound your magic so you can't use it. You still have a lot of explaining to do John, so i suggest you get some sleep."
With that Bruce walks out following Widow up the stairs to the manor. Leaving John looking shocked as he tries to cast a spell... Failing miserably.
"Bollocks." Was all he could muster to say, taking out another cigarette and lighting it.
Wayne Manor
Storming off to her room Widow slams the door. Seeing a large spider shaped teddy on the bed she smiles, laying down on her bed she decides to hug it. It smells of jasmine petals, little did anyone know that jasmine was her favourite flower. Finally calm she walks to her wardrobe and takes a look inside, finding all the clothes Bruce, Alfred and Barbara chose for her. Seeing her birthday dress, she cried at the happy memories. She decided it was time she got changed into something more comfortable before heading downstairs for something to eat.
"I wonder if everything is ok?... Bruce wouldn't call me if it wasn't serious. If John Constantine is involved it must be... Something else is going on, I can sense it. Anyway, Boris do you think I should wear, Black leather? Black cotton? Or Red and Black classic? what do you think Boris?" She said to her new cuddly spider, as she pulls out clothes from the wardrobe holding them against herself in front of the full length mirror.
Finally reaching a decision Widow decides to go to sleep snuggling up to Boris for a short while. Waking up an hour later she gets dressed and walks down stairs into the dining room. Seeing Damian and Jason trying to kill each other over who gets to use the milk first. Smiling at the fact that things haven't changed since she left, happily humming an old lullaby as she sits down and picks up the milk jug and pours the milk on both boys cereal. Suddenly stopping, the boys finally notice Widow, sat looking at them dressed in a suit
"Now boys stop fighting... There is plenty of milk to go around." She said with a smile, as she picks up the morning paper to see the goings on in Gotham. Scowling at each other, Jason and Damian start to eat. Bruce finally walks in seeing Widow dressed in a suit, and for once Jason and Damian were not arguing.
"How do you do that?" He asked as Alfred walks in with a trolley with coffee and toast with salmon on top for everyone.
"Good morning Miss Widow. Excuse me Sir... Mr Constantine is awake and trying to break the lock on the cell door... again. He has electrocuted himself twice already. Would you like me to open his cell and let him up stairs to eat breakfast?" Alfred asked as he served the coffee.
"Don't worry, I'll do it Alfred, Bruce, you and the boys enjoy your breakfast." Widow said as she stood and took the keys from the hidden hole next to the grandfather clock. Opening the door to the Batcave she walks down stairs to the holding cell. Looking at the scruffy chain smoking Liverpudlian, with a sigh she says to him stepping closer to the door,
"Do you want to be let out of there? Because I now have power over your freedom... If you want out that is."
"Well a bloody good morning to you sweetheart, I see you're in a better mood than last night... Please say you've got me some Silk cuts and a glass of whiskey..." John looked over from the bed.
"You never change do you John? Is that all you want? Don't you want a shower, food, fresh clothes? Typical, John Constantine the prized git who thinks of smoking and drinking himself into oblivion just before facing the world." Widow said swinging the keys in her hand, she slowly turns away saying,
"Oh well If that is what you want... You can stay here and starve."
"Now hold on a bloody minute love, you and the Bat lock me up, break my fecking nose, threaten to kill me and seal my magic... I think I'm owed a bit more courtesy than being starved, don't yah think." John moaned through the bars.
"I sure as hell ain't your love, and you're owed nothing JOHN... Well except for maybe your eyes being plucked out by harpies." Widow turned to him and said with a grin before continuing,
"Now i'm going to give you one of two choices here... Either come with me and get yourself cleaned up and well fed... Or stay here and starve with the knowledge that someone stronger than yourself could just save your life." She turned again to walk away.
"Alright then... Seeing as you put it that way, let me out, yah damned harpie." He said to her slowly fading back.
"Oh John, how little you know." Widow said walking back to the cell. As soon as the key turns in the lock, John barges past to try and escape. Just as he gets past Widow's shoulder, Widow reaches out and grabs his trench coat, causing him to fall on his ass.
"Where do you think you are going? Do you even know where you are? I am your personal chaperone... So don't try that again." She says to him as she pulls him to his feet. Almost dragging him up the stairs to the manor, she pushes him through the door.
"*Whistles* Bloody hell... Is this Bats real home?" He said as Widow starts to drag him to the spare bathroom.
"No, it's my family home... Batman just keeps to the caves... Now get a sodding bath! Give me your clothes and I'll have them cleaned, oh and don't try and escape, the Bat has his robins keeping tabs on you." Widow said smiling as she closed the door, hopefully not letting Bruce's secret Identity slip.
"There is a way YOU could make sure I don't... Care to join me?" John said through the door.
"Dream on Little Man, you're not my type..." She said waiting for his pile of dirty clothes.
John opens the door a frown upon his face. He shoves the clothes in her hand before slamming the door shut.
Seeing Alfred, Widow hands him John's clothes except for the trench coat. Whispering in his ear she asks,
"Does Mr Constantine know who Batman really is? Oh and please wash these."
"I'm afraid so Miss, he was quite underhanded about it too... glorious, vomit covered clothes just what I needed... Is he Finally having a bath?"Alfred said with a hint of sarcasm.
"Yes Alfred, if he wants to eat he will... You hear me John Constantine? Get in that bath or you don't eat." She says back looking at the bathroom door.
"Yeah, yeah..." John said back as the sound of water being poured into the bath began.
"Might I say Miss, it's good to have you home." Alfred said bowing then turning to go and wash John's clothes.
"Thank you Alfred! It's good to be home." Widow says loudly. All of a sudden she is hugged from behind, judging by the height of the arms she knew it was one of the boys.
"Hello Dick... *Sigh* please let me go now." She said with a smile. Being let go, she turns to see the happy face of Dick.
"Welcome back... Aunt Widow... Waa..." He tried saying before she puts her hand across his mouth. Slightly scowling she warns Dick,
"Shh... I don't want John Constantine knowing my... Name, if for one moment he knows who I truly am, any form of magic I cast on him will be negated."
"I'm sorry Khris... Wait... John's here?" He then looks at the door to the bathroom. Widow nods, hoping John didn't hear a word of that conversation.
"Help me keep watch." She said quietly.
