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~The next morning~
"Alfred! What is all this?" I cried, gaping at the island. He chuckled, stirring another bowl of pancake batter.
The counter was covered in breakfast foods of all kinds-fruit, meat, pastries and more. If you could eat it, it was there.
"I just thought that you could use a little pick-me-up before the meeting today," said a new voice. I turned to see a bed-headed Bruce traipse in after me and snatch a piece of bacon off the loaded plate. My eyes widened.
"You thought of this?" I asked in slight disbelief.
"A little credit please, Princess," he teased, "I can whip up a breakfast feast for my best friend on my own you know."
"Really? I just figured seven years with a clan of ninjas might have dimmed your cooking skills a bit," I jabbed back, stealing the half-eaten piece out of his hand and stuffing it in my mouth.
"What makes you think he cooked it?" Alfred said quietly, sending me a wink. I cackled as Bruce's face turned beat red and he sent me a mock glare.
It was times like these that made my heart swell with happiness. The playful banter and light teasing; I lived for that. It'd been too long since I could rib on Bruce and not feel guilty because he wasn't there to snark back or take it good naturedly. It had come to my attention that the house was full of life again after the return of its estranged owner. Now, the sun seemed a little brighter behind the dreary grey clouds and the smog didn't nearly seem so stifling.
"Yeah, make fun of the poor billionaire who just got home. Yuck it up," he rolled his eyes, a phantom smile ghosting his face, "The ninjas never made fun of me."
"The ninjas were too busy trying to kick your ass to love you like we do," I reasoned, pecking him on the cheek. I stood from the stool and grabbed a red delicious apple before making my way to my room to get ready.
I wanted to be comfortable, so I skipped the stilettos and instead paired an emerald green tunic and black pencil skirt with dark embroidered tights and my black boots. They came to about my mid calf and were flat, slightly bunching around the top. My hair was pulled into an elegant ponytail with a small poof at the front created by my bangs. My make-up was smoky and showed off my chocolate brown eyes. Finally, I put on the diamond heart pendant Bruce had given me for my 16th birthday.
"I look goooood," I giggled, twirling in front of my mirror. Pleased with my look, I grabbed my bag and laptop and headed back to the kitchen.
I found Alfred putting together a lunch for me at the counter and Bruce on the ground doing push-ups. I opened my mouth to ask what in the name of pants he was doing, but decided against it and just shook my head. I stepped around him and took the lunch from Alfred, peering inside and squealing in delight.
"Left over macaroni and cheese? You spoil me!" I cheered. He chuckled before handing me the keys to one of the cars.
"I felt you'd like the Lamborghini today," he said. I stared at the shiny silver key in awe as a resounding thump echoed through the kitchen and Bruce peered over the counter.
"She gets the Lamborghini?!" he yelped, picking himself up off the floor.
"We must go to the DMV and get your license renewed before you can drive yourself again, Master Wayne," Alfred explained. I finally snapped out of my car induced coma and flounced out the door.
"See ya after work!" I yelled back over my shoulder. I heard Bruce begin to follow after me and I laughed when I climbed into the front seat and he was right at my window.
"Now, be careful Lane. Please, and not just with the car," his hazel eyes bored into mine and I realized that he actually feared for my safety. I smiled, placing my hand against his cheek.
"I promise," I vowed. He grinned.
"Oh and by the way? You look beautiful today," he said just before I peeled out of the garage. My cheeks burned long after I'd pulled into traffic.
Bruce had always called me beautiful, and it had always made me blush crimson when he did. Especially when he'd do it in front of my school friends.
School when I was younger was hectic to say the least. When people learned I was one of Bruce Wayne's best friends, one of two things would happen: They would latch on to me like the bottom feeders they were growing up to be or they would act like they were latched onto me like the bottom feeders they were growing up to be. I couldn't tell you how many birthday parties I was invited to and then completely ignored in my life.
The logical reason would have been to deny being friends with him, but the tabloids caught us everywhere we went. After Bruce's disappearance, the frenzy reached heightened pitch before totally dropping off again after I couldn't answer the 'where is he?' questions. It was nice to just be able to focus on school and not worry about cameras being stuck in my face or questions being yelled at me in a grocery store or mall.
I pulled carefully into the Wayne Enterprises parking garage and searched for a parking spot that wouldn't hurt Bruce's precious car. As I passed a group of male coworkers loitering around, I smirked as their mouths dropped open and their eyes grew to the size of basketballs.
"You might want to close your mouths: you might catch flies," I advised sweetly, stifling my giggle at their priceless reactions. I strutted into the elevator that would take me to my floor before letting loose my pent up laughter.
As I entered the floor, I saw Jessica standing by the door waiting for me.
"You'd better get in there, the meeting's going to start soon," she said, handing me a notepad and pencil. I handed her the coffee I'd stopped for and breezed into the boardroom with silent confidence. I took my seat next to the window and away from the table as the members filed in. Most of them ignored me, some made nauseating gestures that made me want to run as fast as I could out of the building. I just gave them a tight lipped nod and proceeded to ignore them.
"Old bats giving you hell again, Miss Martin?" asked a deeper, charming voice. I grinned as the older man winked roguishly at me.
"Not any more than usual, Mr. Fredericks," I rolled my eyes.
Douglas Fredericks was Vice President of Operations for Wayne Enterprises. He'd known Thomas Wayne and his father personally and was another good friend of Lucius Fox.
"Well, if they keep bothering you, I'll handle it." I laughed before catching sight of Earle's face. I cleared my throat and Fredericks took his place at the table.
"Now, let's get started…" began Earle.
For two hours, the members argued about everything under the sun for the company. I mindlessly took notes, wondering about taking Bruce out to dinner after he released a statement to the public about his return. It wasn't until one of the financial interns began talking about the military branch of the company that I started to pay attention.
Wayne Military Technology was the development of weapons and intelligence for the U.S. Armed Forces. It was a particularly new division of the company that had raised quite a few eyebrows and questions-and loud protests from me.
"No, we are showing very healthy growth in these sectors," the intern said, bored to death.
"I don't think that Thomas Wayne would have viewed heavy-arms manufacturer as a suitable cornerstone for our business," protested Fredericks. The intern-a favorite of Earle's-just gave him a smug look as Earle left his position at the window.
"Well, that's 20 years ago… Fredericks," Earle snapped back, "I think after 20 years, we can allow ourselves to stop thinking about what Thomas Wayne would have done." The pencil in my hand almost snapped from the force I was gripping it.
How dare he? How dare he think that he can change everything good about the company just because the man whose name rested above the door was gone? My temper flared and I took deep breaths to try and calm my heart before I made a scene.
I need to be here when Bruce takes the company back. Then I'll get my satisfaction, I thought. Immediately I felt better and kept an impassive face, scribbling down what had just transpired for the observation file of the meeting.
"Thomas would probably not have taken the company public. But that is what we, as responsible managers, are going to do," he finished, pressing on the intercom button to summon Jessica.
"Jessica?" He waited, but didn't receive an answer. "Jessica? Where are you?" Again, no answer. Earle looked up at me and gave me a questioning look as my brows furrowed and I shrugged, not knowing what was going on. We both got up and made our way to the doors.
"Why is no one answering the phone?" he asked, wrenching the doors open.
"It's Wayne Enterprises, Mr. Earle. I'm sure they'll call back," answered a male voice that was definitely not Jessica's.
"Bruce?" Earle gasped, shocked, "You're supposed to be dead!" I peered over Earle's shoulder and mirrored his flabbergasted expression, only for a different reason.
Bruce himself was standing right behind Jessica, who held a golf club tightly in her hands as she prepared to fake a swing. He was dapper in a black suit and crimson tie with his hair slicked back elegantly.
"Sorry to disappoint," he shrugged unaffectedly.
By then, the entire board room was on their feet and clamoring to catch a glimpse of the pride and joy of Gotham and their company that they'd figured dead. I stepped back quietly, sitting back into my chair and trying to hide.
What the hell was he doing? My head was spinning at the realization that a statement wasn't needed now that Bruce was out and about and someone had to have seen him. The press would now want to stay on top of Gotham's prince's sudden return home.
Bruce made his way into the board room after the pats on the back and handshakes of each member had stopped. He glanced over at me and I stood up, offering my hand.
"Welcome home, Mr. Wayne," I said coolly. He took it and winked at me.
"Thank you… Miss Martin," he replied devilishly. By then, the board had left and Earle shut the door before making his way over to us.
"Sorry about that, Bruce. You caught me off guard there. Welcome home, son." He took the hand Bruce had just retracted from me and shook it firmly. I gathered my things and began to make my way out the door before Earle stopped me.
"I'd like you to be present in my office, Miss Martin," he said. I nodded and led the way, slightly nervous as to why he would want me there.
As I reached for the door, Bruce jumped ahead of me and opened it, ushering me inside. As I passed him, he winked again. I took a seat the farthest from Earle's desk I could get and buried myself in my notes as Bruce took his seat and Earle poured him a drink.
"I'm sure you realize I can't stop the big machine. Too many wheels turning. We're going public," Earle started, handing him the glass.
"I understand," Bruce answered, "and I'll be handsomely rewarded for my shares." The tip of my pencil snapped as I pressed down with unintended exuberance.
What the hell is he talking about? I screamed inside my head, reaching for a pen off Earle's desk. What does he mean 'handsomely rewarded?'
"I'm not looking to interfere," he continued, ignoring the fierce glances I kept throwing him, "I am looking for a job."
"Oh?" Earle said, surprised.
"I just want to get to know the company my family built."
"Any ideas where you would start?" The question made me hold my breath in anticipation and Earle leaned forward slightly, also awaiting the answer. Don't say Applied Sciences. PLEASE don't say Applied Sciences…
"Applied Sciences caught my eye," Bruce responded. Earle couldn't have looked more relieved while I tried vainly to hide my disappointment. Couldn't have picked a worse place to go…
"Fox's department. I'll let him know you're coming," he began to walk around to his phone before stopping.
"You look like him. Your dad," Earle mused, taking off his glasses, "You're the only one left of the Wayne family. This is where you belong. Welcome home." They raised their glasses in a toast while I shut the cover of my portfolio with excessive force.
After the phone call down to Fox, Earle had me escort "Wayne Enterprises new employee!" down to Applied Sciences. I led the way to the elevator, trying not to roll my eyes as Bruce continued to flirt with Jessica.
"I'll be back, Jess. I'm going down to see Fox," I explained, knowing that with Bruce's handsome face in hers; I could have told her I was having quintuplets with the muffin man and she wouldn't have noticed.
As soon as the elevator doors closed behind us, I rounded on him and tried smacking the back of his head. His ninja reflexes kicked in and he caught my wrist easily.
"Hey! What's wrong with you?" he demanded.
"'I'm not looking to interfere. I'll be handsomely rewarded for my shares.' What the hell, Bruce?" I squawked, the reins on my temper being unleashed full force. "And using your 'impressive golf swing' to distract Jessica? You don't even play golf!"
"Calm down, Laney," he chuckled arrogantly, "I'm only here to get close to the right people. If I'd said I wanted to buy back the company, Earle's guard would have gone up. Besides, I think it would do this company some good to go public." I gaped at him.
Was he really going to just stand by and watch as everything his family had built rotted away like the city itself? And what was with the arrogance he suddenly oozed? He'd never been one to flaunt his family's money and power around before. If anything, he thought it was a shackle-tying him to great expectations that he didn't want to fulfill. I suddenly got the feeling Bruce had changed more than the cat-like reflexes and taste for Asian culture he'd brought home with him.
As we got to the floor, Fox was there to greet us. I stalked away from Bruce as they began the pleasantries and began fiddling with some contraption on Lucius' desk.
"It's not ladylike to slouch, Miss Martin. Or play with someone's toys without asking," Lucius reprimanded gently, smirking. I pouted but sat up anyway and placed the thingy back where it was.
"I take it you know each other," Bruce commented, grinning at the strange interaction. I didn't answer him.
I knew it was childish to act like I was. But Bruce's complete lack of interest in saving his family's company irritated me beyond belief. It might have been arrogant of me to want to use him to my advantage, but he was my only chance to save Wayne Enterprises from Earle's greedy clutches.
Lucius sat down at his computer and began rattling off the list of Applied Sciences accomplishments… or lack-thereof.
"Environmental procedures, defense projects, consumer products," he turned in his chair to look up at Bruce, "All prototypes: none in production. On any level whatsoever."
"None?" Bruce looked mildly shocked. Lucius stood with his own perplexed expression.
"What did they tell you this place was?" he asked, giving me a look.
"They didn't tell me anything," Bruce explained. I shrugged.
"You didn't ask. You just went," I muttered, giving him my I-told-you-so look.
"Earle told me exactly what it was when he sent me down here," Lucius explained, flipping on the lights, "dead end. A place to keep me from causing the board any more trouble." He nodded his head for us to follow.
"Come on."
The three of us made our way down the rows of useless prototypes. Bruce shoved his hands in his pockets and turned slightly to Lucius.
"You were on the board?" he asked. Lucius nodded.
"When your father ran things," he explained.
"You knew my father?" Bruce was slightly excited, getting to meet someone who knew his father personally.
"Oh yeah," Lucius said nonchalantly.
"He helped him build the train. You know the monorail?" I said proudly, grinning up at Lucius. He chuckled as Bruce raised his eyebrow at me. I crossed my eyes and stuck my tongue out at him while he rolled his eyes at my juvenile behavior. We came to a stop at a toolbox looking container and Lucius unlocked it to reveal a tray of gadgets.
"Here we are: Kevlar utility harness, Gas powered magnetic grapple gun, the 350 pound test monofilament." Bruce picked up a clip for ammunition while I ran my fingers over the grapple gun. Lucius hadn't really shown me anything besides his favorite project to work on for a military assignment. And that hadn't even been finished yet.
"Wonderful project, your dad's train," Lucius called from where he'd disappeared to. Bruce threw the clip back and we caught up to him.
"Routed it right into Wayne Tower, along with the water and power utilities. Kind of made Wayne Tower the unofficial center of Gotham City. Of course Earle let it go to rot," he stopped again and pulled out a drawer from what I'd originally thought was a file cabinet. Instead, what looked like a suit of black armor glided out with the drawer.
"Nomex survival suit for advanced infantry. Kevlar biweave, reinforced joints," Bruce ran a finger over the chest plate.
"Tear resistant?" he asked.
"This sucker will stop a knife," Lucius explained.
"Bulletproof?" I glanced skeptically at Bruce. What's up with all the questions, skippy?
"Anything but a straight shot," Lucius shrugged.
"Why didn't they put it into production?" Bruce inquired.
"Bean counters didn't think a soldier's life was worth 300 grand." I stared at him incredulously. That thing was worth 300 G's? Where the hell did that money come from?
Lucius pushed the drawer back in and raised the ultimate question.
"So, what's your interest in it, Mr. Wayne?" Bruce leaned back a little, hands resting in his pockets.
"I want to borrow it," he said, casually. I gawked at him.
"Bruce, you just don't borrow a 300 thousand dollar soldier suit," I responded slowly. He shook his head.
"For… spelunking," he added. I blinked. What the hell is that?
"Spelunking?" Lucius asked disbelievingly.
"Yeah, you know, cave diving?" Bruce took a chance peering at my face while I mulled over my thoughts. He was going to use a 300 grand glorified cat suit to go cave diving?! Did those ninja's crack him over the head one too many times?
Then it hit me. Whatever he'd discovered down that well the day before had sent his mind into overdrive. His words from the morning he'd returned echoed through my head.
"I came back to save my city from the criminals and corrupt. I came back because it's time that Falcone and anyone else who thinks they own Gotham are put into their place."
"You expecting to run into much gunfire in these caves?" Lucius joked, a smile fighting its way to the surface of his face. Bruce's face broke slightly also, before he turned serious again.
"Look, I'd rather Mr. Earle didn't know about me borrowing…" he started. Lucius stopped him.
"Mr. Wayne, the way I see it: all this stuff is yours anyway." The three of us shared a grin before we began to make our way back to Lucius' desk.
"Bruce," I said as we entered the elevator, "I gotta ask…spelunking?!"
A/N: I'm alive! Yes I finally updated. I'll spare you the sob story of how I'm never home because of school stuff and just tell you that I have a Polyvore! If you don't know, Polyvore is a website where you can create collections of outfits and stuff. A lot of authors from use it and I finally made a collection for this story. The link is here and I'll try to get it up on my profile (it's weird that the links get messed up in the chapters).
princess_bat/collection?id=1893390
Anyway, thanks to everyone who favorited/alerted/reviewed and I apologize again for taking so long to update. I hope that by about early December, I'll be able to update regularly again. REVIEW! ;) ~Brooke
