I'm working from my office at Wayne Enterprises over a secure connection to the computer in the Cave. The professor Leif Thompson killed two nights ago was a former employee of the Thompson Industries R&D department. Last night's patrol consisted of planting tags on each of the remaining former employees who Barbara and I decided were in the most danger, but three of our targets were already dead.

It was an inefficient use of my time, but I plan on finishing this soon. Once I get Etrigan near enough to Leif, I'll have enough information about his afxitìs to decide when and how I'm going to put a stop to him. To ensure that the two make contact, I'm hosting a surprise birthday party for Veronica at the Manor tomorrow night, where I'll introduce Jason to Leif Thompson. And since it's Diana's night off from League duties, I'm going to make sure that she's there to witness all of it.

While I'm cross-referencing Leif's time in Kasnia with incidences of unexplained fires in the area the doors to my office burst open. I look up in feigned surprise, but then this transforms into actual surprise when I see Selina slinking towards me. My secretary rushes in after her with her arms flailing forward and her glasses askew.

"Mr. Wayne! I know you said no visitors after your meeting with Mr. Fox this morning—I tried to tell Ms. Kyle but she just wouldn't—"

"It's all right, Sarah," I say, taking a moment to admire Selina, who notices this and winks at me. "Close the door when you leave."

Sarah obeys at once, glad to wash her hands of the whole affair. By this time, Selina is next to me; she pushes herself onto my desk and balances on her hands for a split second before lowering down. Her legs hang inches from where I'm sitting. She leans forward to give me a deep kiss, which I return without looking away from the screen.

"I love surprising you," she professes as she clicks open her purse.

I scowl. "I was working."

"Ah, I see that Brucie has left the building. Have you had lunch yet, O Guardian of Gotham?"

"The human body can survive on as little as four tablespoons of peanut butter a day," I inform her as I type.

"And how many tablespoons have you had today?"

I say nothing, but open a drawer in my desk to reveal an unopened jar of Jif.

She bursts out laughing. "You want to get started on that at the Fox Gardens while I order a salad?"

The Fox Gardens is a restaurant a few blocks away that is always teeming with paparazzi. It would be an efficient use of my time as Bruce Wayne. I stop typing and swivel in my chair to face her. "Why?"

She rolls her eyes. "Don't look a date horse in the mouth, Bruce." She sighs as she slides off of my desk and stands to smooth her dress. "I need to be seen. I'm planning on holding a fundraiser for my feline sanctuary in a couple of weeks and I need to be thrown into the public eye to get people interested in coming."

"So this is for the baby animals, then?"

"Well…" She sizes me up with a smirk. "Mostly for them."

"Ah, in that case." I turn off the monitor and stand up. She grins.

- - -
After lunch, Selina and I stroll around the neighborhood hand-in-hand to give the Gawker's "prying eyes" a little more to pry into. However, we've both silently quickened the pace because of a lack of meaningful emotional attachment between us. When Selina abruptly stops in her tracks my muscles coil in preparation for a threat – until I see that she has paused to admire something in a jewelry display window.

I move closer to her, not bothering to hide a smile at the expression on her face. "The diamond-encrusted Panthère de Cartier platinum arm cuff, Bruce," she admires dazedly. "Just looking at this cold scrap of metal gives me more pleasure than the warm body of a Dark Knight ever could."

"Hey!" I protest, curiosity compelling me to study the bracelet, but as I lean forward I notice through the window that Leif is inside of the store. "Let's go inside," I suggest to Selina as I grab her hand again and yank her into the Cartier.

"Oh!" she gasps, and when she spots Leif, "Oh."

Leif smiles broadly when he sees us. "Wayne!" He shakes my hand heartily. It takes all of my control to keep a straight face as our hands touch. I let him and Selina exchange pleasantries before I put forward nonchalantly, "Buying a watch?"

Leif smiles mysteriously. "Not exactly. I'm actually here for an engagement ring."

This is unexpected. I almost frown before I remember who I am.

Selina doesn't hide her skepticism. "An engagement ring? You're not thinking of asking Wonder Woman to marry you, are you?" She says this with a hint of condescension.

"Why is that a problem?"

"Well – other than the fact that I know these superhero types intimately well – won't you have a lot of competition for Wonder Woman from all of those other hunks up in the Watchtower? Any woman would jump on Superman in the blink of an eye."

"Or even Batman for that matter," I add.

"Oh yes, Batman's surprisingly frisky when given the right encouragement," she offers through a grin.

Leif hesitates for a moment, but then smiles. "I appreciate the concern," he says in a tone indicating that he actually means the opposite, "but I wouldn't be asking her if I wasn't relatively certain of it coming out in my favor, Superman and Batman notwithstanding. We'll see you tomorrow night." He nods and returns his attention to the sales associate.

Selina and I exchange glances. She's giving me a look that says You're letting him get away with that? I steel my gaze. If I say anything to him right now that would hint to just how much I know about his true identity, I'll compromise my own. I stay quiet.

We stay in the store for only a few minutes more, and then Selina and I part ways until tomorrow night. I wish I could escape into patrol until then, but even in Gotham the Batman isn't needed in broad daylight, and I don't want to risk running into Diana by going to the Watchtower.

I'm seeing someone from Gotham. Every time I've let my mind wander over the last month, the memory of hearing her say those words surfaces. Her relationship with Leif has spanned only four weeks, yet he's already prepared to propose. It won't work out, of course, especially not after I expose him, but I'm curious about why Leif is so confident that Diana will agree to marry him. Earning her trust takes a lot of work and a lot of time; I also know that a month isn't nearly enough time to secure it.

From all of the possibilities I've deduced regarding Diana and Leif (which include hypnotism, blackmailing, and some command involving her Gods), I have also considered the possibility of genuine emotional involvement between the two of them. While this is the least likely possibility, I still keep returning to it. I have very little reason to believe that Diana will agree to marry Leif, mostly because of the history that she and I share. We know that we're not meant for each other, but we still can't tear ourselves away.

But if she has already put me behind her, then she never cared about me as much I've cared about her. Just like all of the other women who've come and gone after Andrea.

- - -
"You're cranky," Tim declares the next morning over breakfast.

I look up from the paper, wondering if I'm really that transparent. He is standing with his arms crossed in rigid determination. When he meets my gaze, he slackens a little. "…Crankier than usual," he amends. He sits down, then picks up his fork again. "Ah, Alfie, delicious eggs!" he exclaims quietly to no one in particular.

Alfred, perhaps sensing Tim's desperate desire to be rescued, enters the room at that moment. "I've made arrangements for the caterers to arrive at eight o'clock this evening, sir, and I shall be leaving to collect Miss Vreeland at approximately nine thirty. I've taken the liberty of selecting a pair of cufflinks to go with your new Armani, all of which you should be wearing by nine o'clock."

"Thank you, Alfred," I say, still looking at Tim. Tim's eyes widen, and then he smiles back warily. "Do I get to wear an Armani tonight too, Alfred?" he asks, eager to divert my attention away from him.

"You are only fifteen years old, Master Timothy. And moreover after last week's incident with the red wine and the cream blazer, I should think absolutely not," Alfred replies breezily. Tim's shoulders slump.

"Wine?" I raise my eyebrows at Tim.

"It wasn't for me!" he protests, and then, feebly, "Alfred, these eggs are good…"

I frown. "I'm going to tell Jason to hex the alcohol tonight to physically repelanyone under the age of twenty-one." Tim's eyes begin to roll.

"Speak of the devil," interjects a voice behind Alfred.

Alfred steps aside. "Ah yes, Mr. Blood is here." He retreats quietly as Jason bounds into the room and receives my handshake. Jason takes a seat next to Tim.

"I made that joke for you, Tim," he says as he helps himself to a piece of toast. "I said 'Speak of the devil,' and I was referring to myself, because I'm also Etrigan the Demon. Do you understand? Ah, Alfred made eggs!"

Tim grins at me through a mouthful.

"So what has our dragon friend been up to lately?" Jason inquires as he reconnoiters his plate with this fork.

"Well, Bruce is in a pretty bad mood today, but I wouldn't go so far as calling him a dragon or anything," explains Tim.

Jason looks up from his food at me, amusement barely contained in his expression. In turn, I look at Tim. "He means Leif Thompson."

"Oh. Um." Tim colors. "May I be excused?"

As Tim leaves, Jason shakes his head. "For someone who's this close to slaying a dragon and winning back his lady love, you're very cross."

"We have to expect the unexpected tonight. It's no secret from you that I don't like magic."

He gives a gruff laugh. "Yes, magic's your problem… You know, I read in the Gotham Gawker that you were spotted going into a jewelry store with Selina Kyle yesterday. I also know that Leif Thompson was there."

I clench my jaw.

"I also read in the Gazette that Bane escaped from Arkham last night and critically injured four people. Which begs the question, Bruce: Why are you focusing all of your attention on this one case at the expense of everything else?"

"Don't you do anything other than read?" I snap.

He doesn't seem amused. "We're very alike, you and I, which is why I'm never quick to judge you. But you asked for my help tonight, and if I'm to do that I must know everything that could factor into tonight's course of events…including the situation between you and the princess." He challenges me with his best stare.

"You're going to shake Leif Thompson's hand, find out about his afxitìs, and tell me what you learn. That's all you need to know."

His eyes flicker and he returns to his food. "All right," he concedes. "But remember," –suddenly I see Etrigan in his gaze – "They do not love that do not show their love."

- - -
When Leif arrives that evening, it's without Wonder Woman. "She had some Justice League business to attend to," he explains as I wave over a waiter to offer him some Armagnac, "She'll be here soon. You know how it is with successful women."

I smile benignly. "I don't actually," I confess, "In fact, I go out of my way to avoid successful women. They make me feel…inadequate." I hold my hands up and shrug.

Leif laughs. "I suppose I should have expected that, given your reputation as a ladies' man. If I hadn't met Diana, I would probably agree with you. But be that as it may," Leif takes a glass from the waiter's tray and raises it, "To your bachelorhood!"

"Wait, wait!" I protest, "Just to my bachelorhood? What about yours? Did that ring make it onto her finger already?"

He smiles as he swirls his glass. "My friend, if there's anything significant to report, you'll find out when everyone else does."

"Your call." I shrug again, and just at that moment, Selina appears and fixes herself to my arm. I wink at Leif. "To my bachelorhood!"

As Selina and Leif talk, I signal to Jason by scratching my ear. In a few moments, he makes himself known by clearing his throat. "Excuse me, Bruce, but how in the world did you manage to get your hands on an Armagnac with this hors d'age?"

Leif tilts his glass at this. "It is quite excellent, Wayne. I'd be curious to know myself."

"To be honest, I think it tastes like feet," I say, giving Leif another reason to question my intelligence, "I'll stick to Cristal. By the way, do you two know each other?"

"Haven't had the pleasure." Leif holds out his hand. "Leif Thompson."

Jason nods his acknowledgement. "Jason Blood." This is it. Soon I'll have all of the data I need to defeat one of my most insidious opponents yet.

Jason briefed me earlier that when the two make contact their skins are going to glow for brief moment while they make a psychic-occult connection, but I'm still not prepared for what happens next. As soon as Jason's hand touches Leif's, the two don't glow, but erupt into flames.

The party guests are in chaos after this, but next to me, Selina is frozen in horror. I grab her by the shoulders and entreat, "Get everyone out of here!" At this, she shakes her head and seems to regain her senses; she starts to steer the screaming crowd towards the doors.

I'm assessing how many fire extinguishers I'll need to put this fire out and have a shot of saving Jason when suddenly the flames disappear. In its place are a badly charred Jason and Leif, who is halfway through his transformation into a dragon.

"Hey, Thompson, what's the big idea?" I demand as Brucie.

He – it – looks at me and croaks, "Water."

"Try the kitchen down the hall." I barely finish my sentence before he disappears. I kneel down by Jason. "What can I do to end this now?" I demand.

Jason sits up gingerly, but as soon as he's upright he's angry. "His afxitìs isn't Argonaut shields, exactly. It's an alloy within the shields derived from the Aegis."

"The what?" I can't place the name, although I've heard it before.

"The Aegis. The Greek god Zeus's indestructible shield."

My eyes widen as realization dawns on me. "Wonder Woman's bracers are made of pure Aegis."

Jason curses. "You've got to stop him. Go!"

I don't hesitate as I rush towards the kitchen. To my surprise, he has recovered into his human form and is sitting calmly at the breakfast table. When he sees me, he rises. "Ah, Bruce," he greets me, "Sorry about that back there."

I scowl. "I don't know what's going on here, Leif, but you're definitely paying for the contractors, I promise you that."

He frowns. "Please, Bruce, don't play dumb. I knew you years ago, remember? I know that you're not as big of a fop as you pretend to be. You just confirmed it a couple of minutes ago when you were the only still around when I was halfway through my metamorphosis."

He may have seen through Brucie, but he doesn't know that I'm Batman. I decide to play along. "Fine." I cross my arms. "You discovered my secret intellect, but you're hiding a much bigger secret. How long have you been a dragon? And why would a dragon want to marry Wonder Woman? Are you planning on taking down the Justice League for world domination?"

Leif laughs heartily. "I suppose I should tell you, but only because I want to offer you an olive branch. It's nothing quite so perverse.

"After my father was killed, my family and I disappeared from Gotham and made our way to Kasnia. There, I met…people…who helped me realize my true potential. You see, every few generations in my mother's side of the family, someone is born a dragon. I had no idea, and when I learned, I wanted nothing to do with it, but soon after my mother died from a broken heart, and I was consumed with revenge. In Kasnia I learned to call upon this power, to hone it, to augment it."

"Revenge?" I challenge, "Against the police?"

He scoffs. "Not just the police, Wayne. The police didn't kill my parents. The city did. Its media. Its culture of division, of resentful hierarchy. Its people. The entire city of Gotham is responsible for my parents' death, Bruce!" He slams his fist on the table. "But of course, you understand. The same thing happened to you, didn't it?"

I don't say anything.

"You lost your parents to a city where the rich and poor are compelled to prey on each other. Your parents never hurt anyone, Bruce, but their wealth was the only reason that some two-bit crook in a back alley took their lives. That's why you pretend to be so airheaded, so that you can protect yourself from the corruption and soullessness of Gotham."

"So what are you trying to say, that you're going to take revenge on the entire city? How are you going to manage to do that, short of destroying Gotham?"

He grins. "I knew you were intelligent. That's exactly what I plan to do tonight."

"And Wonder Woman is okay with this?"

"Wonder Woman is actually the reason that I'm able to do this. She has certain…qualities…that help me…increase my own. Not that she knows about any of this."

His afxitìs. Diana's bracers. "If you haven't told any of this to Wonder Woman, then why are you telling me?"

"Because I love her," he says, unexpectedly, "I can't risk her leaving me, but this is something I have to do. And I like you, Bruce. You're not like the rest of Gotham. I see myself in you. I'm giving you advance notice so that you can gather your things and leave the city before it's nothing but a charred smudge."

"You sound like a nut!"

"I'm sorry you feel that way. I was only trying to be courteous." He grabs a chair and swings it at me, but I duck. I didn't anticipate that he had a tail to fight with as well, which topples me; I hit my head against the edge of a granite countertop and fall unconscious.

- - -
When I regain awareness, Diana's face swims into my field of vision. She holds my face in her hands. "Bruce! Thank Hera."

I sit up, slowly, trying to clear my head. "Where's Thompson? Did you see him?"

"No," she says, smoothing back my hair and letting her hand linger. "You're remarkably resilient, Bruce" she sighs, more to herself than to me.

"We've got to stop him." As I move her hand from the side of my face it appears in my field of vision. I'm so distracted by the engagement ring glittering on her finger that I don't immediately register that her bracer is missing as well.

To be continued.

AN: Ahh! Sorry for the pain-in-the-butt cliffhanger. This chapter was getting way too long as it was. Next up is the final installment. Thanks for reading, and apologies for the long hiatus.