"The ropes look worn." Renee crouched down by the fallen ropes and taken down equipment, trying to get every last detail in the books.
"We just replaced them today." Haly shook his head.
"Did they have any… rivalries?" Jim asked quietly.
"Not that I know of." His face showed all the signs of a man in mourning. "They were wonderful people, I highly doubt that they would have anyone trying to harm them."
"What about you?" Not one to be completely tactful, Renee asked the harder questions.
"I… I don't." He sighed looking at the sheets. "It could be anyone."
"Do you know of them fighting with anyone recently?" Jim wanted to know. "Maybe a family member? A friend? And upset member of the circus?"
"I just… I don't think that anyone would… I don't think so." Haly was at such a loss right now. "The Graysons were wonderful people and we are all so close. Family. I can't imagine anyone resorting to this."
"Well we need to go through everyone just to be safe." Understanding the shake up, Jim wanted to be kind to the man but had a feeling that he was hiding something. Though he did not believe that Haly was responsible for this, he felt as though he knew something the rest didn't. "The boy can't stay here just in case."
"What's going to happen to him?" The new voice caused everyone to turn and see Bruce Wayne standing silently by. No one had noticed the imposing man in their presence as they had been caught up by the unfortunate event.
"We'll need to put him into a safe environment." Jim explained carefully, unsure of why the prince of Gotham had chosen to stay behind. Of all people to sneak pass not only the press and police, why would he, in a fairly ruffled state want to see what exactly was going on.
"Where?" Bruce's eyes went to the covered bodies.
"We have a few families that are good." Also nodding to Haly, who seemed also surprised at the appearance of the playboy, Jim added. "But they're out of the city, more upstate…"
"He can stay with me." The words caused the people still in the area to stop short of what they were doing and momentarily stare at the man infamous for his belligerent nights and overall not-childproof man. On the other hand, he was also the person who shelled out a ton of money for various charities, housing projects, city incentives, and for the civil workers of the city. Most importantly, he was one of the most famous orphans on the east coast.
"Mr. Wayne," Jim started, "we wouldn't want to bother you with…"
"Nonsense." Trying to stay in a neutral tone, Bruce couldn't help but slip in the sympathy and the emotion that he thought had been left behind years ago. "The Manor has the safest security system in the whole city and plenty of room for him to run around."
"It would be better for him to stay close to the city, if possible." Renee added. Well aware of the oddities of Bruce Wayne, she was happy to have their evidence close at hand. "In case we need to question if he saw anything or to stay close to something that he knows, shouldn't give him that much of a shock."
"I'd say he's already in shock, Detective." Bruce stated quietly.
All their eyes turned to the small human sitting on the low barricades of the ring and without saying anything Bruce went over to him. Dick was still staring at the sheet he knew to be covering his parents' bodies, completely unmoving and in his costume from the show. It was an interesting mix of colors but mostly made up of red and green.
Kneeling down, Bruce tried to block the devastating view. Dick looked at him with empty eyes and Bruce attempted a smile. Carefully he took off his jacket and put it around Dick, who looked surprised at the action.
"It's the best I can do." Bruce told him in a hushed voice.
Without saying anything, Dick pulled the jacket further around him and looked down at his feet. It was then his shoulders began to shake and the dreaded tears began to fall. He did not sob aloud but instead chose to crumble a little and Bruce caught him, feeling small arms go instantly around him. Not needing any further push, Bruce returned the gesture, wanting the boy to know that he knew exactly how he felt. Most importantly that he wasn't alone.
"Who knew he was so good with kids." Renee commented and the two men looked at her and she only shrugged. "Don't act like you knew."
"We'll still keep an eye on the boy." Jim assured Haly. "And Mr. Wayne, despite his exploits, is a very philanthropic man, I don't doubt that Mr. Grayson would be in good hands."
"I'm glad that he can stay close." Haly nodded. "John and Mary were born here, hopefully he'll like it just as much as they did."
"Why leave?" Renee questioned.
"Don't know." Obliviously to Haly it didn't matter. Sighing Haly watched as Dick held on to Bruce for dear life. The two detectives shared a look. "I should go get some of his things."
Then left the two cops staring between the scene, Haly walking away and Bruce Wayne letting Dick almost choke him to death.
"How long do you think before Wayne wants to give the kid back?" Renee muttered.
Though she was in jest, Jim had a very strong flashback to over two decades ago doing something similar to a young Bruce, before he had left for those years and returned as a pompous idiot. But he wasn't acting like that now, in fact, Bruce was acting very much the guardian of a boy he didn't even know. Sure here and there Jim randomly heard mention of the philanthropic acts the man was capable of doing and quite frankly he didn't really care about much else. He didn't have the time.
But all those rag magazines would be put to shame right now as Bruce finally picked up the boy and began walking over to them. A silent protector of the young Dick and there was decision in his head that perhaps Bruce Wayne was not as high and mighty as the world thought he was. Maybe this would cause him to see that there was more to life than just his nightly dealings.
Finally Jim said, "I wouldn't put money on it."
"Are you sure this is the man?" Alfred questioned as they both looked at the computer screen. "Anthony Zucco."
"I saw him leave the stadium in a hurry." Bruce nodded. "As did Dick."
"Ah yes, young Mister Richard." There was another comment to be made but it hung in the air.
"Haly and Zucco were fighting about money." Putting it simply, Bruce ignored the glance from his longtime companion.
"A common thing to fight about."
"Zucco wanted Haly to buy insurance from him. Haly's daughter seems to have married Zucco and Haly tolerates it. Zucco's in trouble and so goes to a family member for help." As he brought up some more information on the situation, Bruce finally addressed the situation. "Would you like to say something Alfred?"
"Only that I am curious as to how long our new guest will be staying here." Alfred questioned.
"As long as he needs to be kept safe." Not truly wanting to get into this right now, Bruce kept his mouth shut and began to memorize the computer files that he brought up.
"Will you be changing your habits considering the indefinite stay?" Someone was not willing to follow his lead.
"I see no reason to." Bruce shrugged. "Only to be more careful."
"So he won't be staying long then?" Alfred was highly conflicted about their new arrival. Though Dick Grayson seemed like a genuinely good person, one could never tell with someone that age. At the moment though, Bruce had managed to slip the child a sedative in order for him to sleep. He remembered a time when his young master woke up from continued nightmares and he briefly wondered if he could go through that again. More for the boy sake than his own, Alfred prayed that he didn't but knew otherwise.
"I don't know." That was another thing, Bruce really didn't know. Part of him wanted to get the boy out as soon as possible but the other part just wanted to see him get better or at least be able to handle things on his own. Quite frankly, he was rarely around children and was ill equipped at how to handle them. Yes, comfort them and such in times of need but helping someone get through this kind of emotional anguish, well, he was still on that road.
"He needs someone to look out for him." Alfred pushed forward with the conversation. "To raise him. Could you do that? With your running around and such?"
"This is not permanent." He assured.
"And if becomes such?" This was another human being who was in pain and Alfred was not going to take this lying down. "I know you won't give this up but perhaps you should think about…"
"We'll revisit it when it becomes an issue." Rising from his seat, Bruce made a move to change out of the bat suit.
"Master Wayne." Only slightly catching the younger man's attention, Alfred continued anyway. "This boy, is not one of the victims that you just found on the streets, you actively vouched for him to stay here. Therefore you need to treat him better than any other guest staying at this manor."
"I'll talk to him tomorrow." Obviously someone did not understand the finer details of child-rearing.
"No." Alfred enforced the rule. "You will spend time with the boy because that is what he needs. You will not play detective and you will listen and remember his every word."
"Alfred I don't…" Putting on his sweats, Bruce sighed.
"You do." He informed. "As far as I'm concerned this indefinite stay is permanent and you will act accordingly."
"Meaning?" Done with his changing Bruce crossed his arms and turned to the butler.
"Meaning," There was not a second thought about this, "you will act as though he is your child and…"
"What?"
"… care for him as that." Alfred went up to him. "This is personal, do not pretend otherwise." There was a pause, then Alfred told him. "Do not let what happened to you happen to him."
"Selina we can't." Gwen sat on the couch, the kids had already gone to bed and it was just the two of them. "We can't accept this."
"You can and you will." Placing the money between them, Selina put a hand on her friend's shoulder. "I already made a few calls for a small town upstate, far enough away, with no mob connections. You'll both have jobs and a house."
"You bought us a house?" Her eyes widened.
"Don't worry I took it from your half." Selina smirked and then became serious again. "You said you wanted the kids to grow up and be able to run around. Gwen this is your chance."
"But you need this too." They needed the money but Gwen was not going to give into this. "I can't take a million."
"Too late." Having already planned out the finer details, Selina informed her. "It's already in your account, or at least it's trickling into your account from another to not rouse suspicions."
"Why are you doing this?" Her head was spinning. "We can't pay you back."
"Don't think about that." Then shrugged. "Think about this as a new beginning. Both of us want this family to be safe and we both know for any of that to work you need to leave." A pause. "Not that I want to but it's better this way."
"You've always been too good to us." Tears stung in the back of Gwen's eyes. "I don't know how to thank you." Then captured her in a hug.
"Do something I can't." Selina quietly to her. "Live this life."
"Selina," Pulling back Gwen gave her a sad stare. "If you would just…"
"We all make decisions." Deciding it was time to leave, Selina rose. "This is mine."
"Alright." Also getting up, Gwen went towards the door with her. "But you have to visit from time to time."
"Oh I will." Selina smirked. "You guys do have a pool after all."
The sound of giggling caused them to peek their heads into the kitchen to see Slam entertaining Jessica with magic tricks. Selina smiled and shook her head. Gwen just laughed. Turning around to see the rest of his audience, Slam turned back to finish the trick, which ended with applause from everyone in the room.
"I didn't know you were a fan of children, Slam." Gwen commented, going over to the two of them.
"Got one of my own." Placing a hand on the girl's head to ruffle her hair and Jessica laughed even more. "Reminds me to never take anything for granted."
"It does, doesn't it?" Gwen smiled in understanding.
"Ready?" Standing up, Slam turned to Selina.
"Yep." Selina agreed and waved to the mother and daughter. "See you guys around."
"See you." Gwen nodded her good bye.
The two left the apartment and headed down the stairs. Selina taking a bit of the lead as they made their way to the car.
"So kid," Slam spoke behind her. "You kickin' everyone out of your life?"
"I'm not kicking them out." She sighed. "It's better this way."
"Sounds like your kicking them out." He commented, seeing the car in front of the building.
"It's not like that." Selina assured him, dipping her to get into the vehicle.
"Good," Starting up the car, he added, "because you got a good support group, I'd hate to see you flounder from the loss of it."
"Since when did you become so wise?" A brow lifted in amusement as she looked at him.
"Since I stopped mooning over you." Never one to let anyone off of anything, Slam would not let her get away with his heart but she was a woman that was not going to be put off by that and so Selina just smiled. "But seriously, you got these people that care for you, why are you just letting them walk away?"
"Same reason you let your son walk away." It wasn't a low blow because it was true. The real and simple answer was because it was better for them. "He knows who I am."
"What?" They were driving through the city again. "How?"
"He knows" She swallowed. There was no reason for her to explain who he was, both knew it was the Batman.
"Are you sure?" Slam questioned. "Did he say something?"
"He didn't have to." Selina sighed.
"Are you sure?" He repeated.
"I saw him, the non-cowl version." Having not told the man who the Bat really was, she left it at that. "I could see it in his eyes that he recognized me."
"You let him get too close, Selina." Slam chided.
"Seems to be a pattern with men." She smirked over at Slam who just shook his head at her implication. "Never mean for it to happen but apparently I'm that irresistible."
"I wouldn't go that far." He chuckled and received a light punch from his companion. "You're alright kid."
"Whatever Bradley, I'm not the one that fell for someone that's my son's age." Having gotten over the scorned lover bit of their relationship, Selina was now back in the friend-zone with the older man. Thank god because he was an ex cop, a good cop, and she'd rather be on the good side than the bad.
"Just someone that's your father's age." Slam retorted and then switched. "Be careful with that guy."
"Who?" Her brows narrowed.
"The dark knight." He nodded. They were coming up to their destination again. "Because you know who each other are doesn't mean you're allies."
"I said never we were." As the car parked, Selina felt a small lecture coming on and began to dread every moment of it.
"He doesn't seem like a guy with a sense of humor to let you go again." As they walked to the door, he did so. "And if he gets a chance, he may turn you in."
"You're acting as if we're enemies or something." She pointed out.
"Aren't you?" They had arrived but stood for a moment.
"I see us as working on opposite sides for the same end." Without having to knock, the door swung open and Maggie's frame appeared in the Cathedral's side entrance. "They ready?"
"Yes." Maggie sighed and moved to let them both in. "Karon will need physical therapy and Holly never leaves her side." Another sigh. "They fight all the time."
"And they make up?" Selina guessed smiling to herself.
"Karon can't." Giving her sister a look, she heard a chuckle behind her and she turned her head in the direction of the noise. "Yes, Mr. Bradley?"
"I'm sure they find someway to make up." Still smirking, Slam could not help himself and Selina also continued the smile, thinking the same thing.
Arriving in the area with a somewhat displeased Maggie. The couple was spotted looking anything but unhappy. Holly sat on Karon's bed, while the woman laying down was propped up and content to just look at her girlfriend with loving eyes. They seemed into deep discussion and the three gave them a moment to finish up. Holly's red hair tied up in a pony tail and her blue eyes on the woman below her.
"Selina!" Holly called out, spotting her old friend and bounded over, giving Selina a hug, which she was inclined to return.
"Holly." Pulling back, Selina commented on a good note. "You look great."
"I know." She laughed, leading her over to Karon's spot. "I saw the center upstate and it looks great."
"I thought so too." Never having been one to be the cynic, Selina had to play along with the happy tone of the woman. It usually made her feel better. "Gwen and her family will live pretty close to you guys too."
"That's the best part." Holly sat back down on the bed. "We've always loved Gwen's kids, haven't we?"
"We don't have to go." Karon was not going to let this go.
"You do." Selina told her. "It'll be better for the both of you."
"She's right." Before her girlfriend could say anything else, Holly intercepted. "We have just about everything in need in the back."
"We already brought it to the front." Maggie said kindly. "We also added a few things."
"Thank you." Holly nodded with a smile.
"I guess I'll load everything up then." Slam informed the group.
"This way then." Indicating the route, Maggie let Slam follow her.
"Selina." A new female voice caused Selina to look towards the door and Leslie stood there. She had barely changed in the time that Selina had known her. Always with a bun of gray hair and a pair of blue, kind eyes behind the thin rimmed glasses she always wore. "Can I talk to you for a moment?"
"Yeah." Getting up, Selina went over to the doctor and they began to walk to the section that Selina was least comfortable with. "How is she?"
"She'll be fine." Leslie assured and then turned serious. "I've heard you've been making quite a ruckus lately."
"No more than usual." Selina gazed around the place that many deemed a sanctuary but for her that titled had been lost many years ago. "It's been a while Leslie."
"It has." She agreed, taking a seat in the front pew. "You haven't helped out in the clinic since we moved into the cathedral's old recreational center."
"I didn't think Mr. High and Mighty would appreciate a crook coming into a sacred place." Choosing to lean against the pew, Selina begrudgingly admitted the place was still beautiful. "Might pull your funding."
"And you don't think that he and I have spoken about that?." This woman had been through a lot today and had yet to change out of the scrubs from her rounds. "A little birdy told me that you were at the Falcone safe house."
"A birdy or a bat?" As she glanced around the room, Selina had to make sure that no one else was here. Though she wasn't exactly sure of the relationship that Bruce and Leslie had, Selina knew only a little bit of what Leslie had told her, which was to say, not much.
"You don't need to do this to yourself." Leslie said gently. "It's not worth it."
"I can't let this go, Leslie you know that." Selina sighed.
"Karon is going to be the first of many people that will get hurt that you care about then." Not at all happy with the decision, Leslie was going to let it be known. "If they find out about you then there's nothing holding them back."
"There will be." There was a plan and Selina had to stick to the plan. "Falcone won't be able to get to me anyway."
"They will have more on you than you will on them…" She started. Leslie was not pleased with the arrogance that Selina was displaying, it reminded her too much of another person she knew too well.
"I'm not worried about that." Selina cut in and upon seeing the confused reaction, Selina gave up some of her information. "I'll find someone that can get more on them."
"He's not going to help you." Her head shook.
"He will." The confidence was astounding but Selina had the right to it, sort of. "I have the biggest card of all against him."
"He has others now." Leslie saw the eyes narrow from the other woman. "There's a child…"
"He doesn't have kids."
"No." She assured. "But he now has a boy to look after, he's protecting him because he may be a target for the mob."
Selina stayed silent for a moment to think about her options. Bringing others into this, especially a kid was not what she planned on. However, if the kid might know something if was this supposed point of interest for the mob.
"Why does he think the boy is a target?" Selina questioned.
"Zucco killed the boy's parents and was fighting with the owner of Haly's Circus about money." Leslie added. "The boy was part of that circus, it was his home."
"God," she sighed, "they never stop do they?"
"The mob is getting desperate Selina." Her tone was sad. "They're going to reach out to every avenue within their network."
"I feel like you're implying something." A brow lifted.
"Be careful." Standing, the older woman took the younger's hand. "I'd hate to see what happened to your mother happen to you."
"It won't." Selina shook her head and tried to be comforting. "Maggie is more like mom. They both wonderful women but they can't pull the trigger. I can."
"This Cat-woman persona isn't going to…"
"Catwoman?" It took her out of the moment and Selina smiled. "So they finally came up with a name."
"I wish you would just…"
"I got the lecture from Maggie last time, Leslie." A sigh escaped her. "I don't need to hear it again."
"We're hoping that one day it'll actually take." Deciding that their little talk was over, Leslie began to go towards the back of the cathedral. An arm went around Selina as they slowly walked. "One day, Selina, I am determined to get you to see that there's more to life than running from it."
Thanks for reading!