Disclaimer

The characters used in this story are the property of DC Comics and Warner Bros. I have used them in this story which is entirely a product of our own imagination

Chapter 6

Bruce asked for a private talk with his father, and Alfred showed us to the guest rooms. We were given three rooms, which were furnished eloquently. Hawk Girl and I were sharing a room and I must say that all the grandeur was slightly daunting for most of us.

"Mrs. Andrea Wayne is a celebrated interior designer." Alfred said, as though reading our minds. I don't know how the others had reacted, but Hawk Girl and I could barely suppress a smile. We had seen these rooms before and Bruce had certainly done a better job.

After showing us around and making sure that we were comfortable, Alfred left us with a word that he would intimate us when the lunch was served. Hawk girl, who was till then forcing a silence, burst as soon as she heard the door click.

"Celebrated interior designer!" she mocked, "I still don't understand why we need a chandelier in the bedroom, just above the bed."

"So that it is convenient and can never miss its target!" I said with a sardonic smile. I was somehow enjoying it.

"Yeah, right!" Hawk Girl nodded, "And this place is so much lit up, I don't think anyone can sleep in here!"

"We can always turn off a few lights," I said, reaching for the switches.

Hawk Girl had moved to the window and something seemed to have caught her eye.

"Hey, Diana! You've got to see this," she said. I gave up searching the right combination to get ample brightness and walked to the window to join her.

"Look out there," she pointed. We could see the garden and a swimming pool. I didn't remember seeing a pool before, perhaps I didn't pay much attention. But what caught Hawk Girl's eye, and eventually mine, was Bruce and his father.

"Can you hear them?" I asked.

"I am no Superman." she replied.

"Of course," I muttered. The conversation was certainly not a pleasant one, for it looked like he was yelling at his father. It was hard to take, for it was hard to imagine that a man so devoted to his father would behave like that. But again, we were in a wrong place.

And suddenly, I was so overcome by the desire to know what was going on that I called in Superman. He was here in a few minutes, and with him came Jonn who was sharing the room.

"Oh, my god! What's wrong with him?" Superman exclaimed as I directed his attention to the charade outside.

"What is he saying?" I asked inquisitively.

"He's saying - You don't understand me! You never understood me! Why do you keep doing this to me?" Superman sighed as he listened.

That was baffling. Superman narrated the entire conversation for us as he heard it.

"Son, I don't want you to get into any kind of trouble," Thomas Wayne said, putting a hand on his shoulder.

Bruce wasn't listening. He pushed his hand off almost immediately.
"Dad! I was this close to getting that contract, and you ruined everything. Now everyone will look at me like I am a fool! Is that what you want - to trash out my reputation?"

"Son, it's not worth all the pain you'll have to take for it, trust me!" Thomas Wayne pursued, "And it's just one contract. I tell you and you know that it's worthless. Let him have it!"

"It's not about the contract, dad!" Bruce clenched his fists tightly and then brought them to his hair, puling at it savagely. Thomas Wayne looked alarmed.

"Bruce, are you all right!" he almost shrieked, putting both his hands firmly on his shoulders and then brought them to cup his face. Bruce seemed to shudder a bit and go breathless. He then regained his composure, pushed his father's arms away and shouted back. We did not need Superman to relay his outburst to us.

"I am not going to die! And even if I am, there is no point in making my life a living hell for whatever the time I have!"