CH. 9
Of Bruce
"Not the light, turn off the light," Bruce moaned as Alfred spread away the giant drapes. "Bat's are nocturnal," Alfred was an elderly man, balding, but still fit in his age, with a straight back that further attributed to his orderly poster.
"Master Bruce," he said calmly. "Need I remind you, your presence is to be required at the downtown shelter charity today at exactly eleven." Bruce threw the covers over his face and moaned a word for Alfred to leave. "And let me remind you again that Master Richard Jr and his fiancé has personally invited you to their engagement party." Alfred then left a tray of breakfast beside Bruce's bedside.
"That smells good?" Bruce sat up for a minute still not ready to get out of bed. His body was toned with muscle, with a heavy scar that healed about months ago below his ribs. "Eggs, bacon, and side of warm toast and your favorite, coffee," Said Alfred in monotone fit for a voice recorder, "Black." Bruce at quickly and then leap up from bed in renewed strength. He worked his way immediately through the breakfast tray.
"Not too fast master Bruce," said Alfred, "You eat like that and you're bound to choke."
Bruce smiled and started to chew slower.
"Alfred," Bruce said without looking up. "Have Dick call me sometime this week."
"Master Grayson?" Alfred asked surprised as he was straightening out Bruce's bed sheets. "Whatever for?"
"I have a new mission for him in Australia."
"Australia? Hell's continent why do wish for him to venture there." To wall facing his bed Bruce flipped a switch from his bedside table and a flat screen television flipped out replacing the portrait of a painted garden on a summer afternoon he had bought sometime ago when he was traveling in Europe.
"I've been looking into the news, Australia is keeping clear of the war in Europe for a reason."
"And that be?" Alfred asked with a bit of concern. "Other than the blinding fact that continent offers nothing of value." The flat screen flipped on to an aerial view of a building complex with a white roof that looked like it belonged to a two-story shopping mall. In the distance around the building were arid trees and no plains as the chopper taking the shot circled around the building as the reporter spoke. Tagline in red at the bottom of the screen was massive cult ritual killings hundred dead in two hours.
"My word," Alfred gasped. "What on Earth is going on over there?"
"The Australian government is facing a dilemma from within their own country with a rising cult and pressures from the UN about reinforcing their borders incase of an Atlantean attack." Bruce turned the volume down as he spoke. "Normally I would reframe to investigate, but in the last couple of months similar incidents has been occurring in several other countries, Thailand, China and even Russia. Countries that are not involved in the war, men and women alike are being found on the streets, dead from a new drug overdose." He turns off the television. "And last week a missing homeless man was found on thirty First Avenue, OD with a new drug that I haven't seen before. There were needle marks apparent on the soles of the feet, suggesting he was an avid user. Drug still in his system, but origin is unknown. Medical reports say it's some form of Heroine."
Bruce got up and slid on his morning robe, with his coffee in hand.
"Who do you think is responsible?" Alfred asked he took the empty breakfast tray back to his cart.
"I don't know, but if I were to guess its brother Blood."
"A nasty fellow that one."
"Dick is familiar with Blood's methods, he'll be able to know if it's really him."
"I thought that man died a few months ago?" said Alfred with a towel in hand. "For your bath sir," he handed Bruce the towel.
"Thank you. And yes I did too, and then again I did think the same thing when he came back a third time."
"Déjà vu at its finest."
Bruce adjusted his sleeve as he took his first few steps outside the morning breeze. Alfred had already brought the car out, engine running and waiting by the driveway. The light was something Bruce wasn't used to since his work was exclusive to nights so he sported his umbrella as he left the manor in the early mornings, towards Gotham.
"I may I suggest the destination of your workplace as one of the top priority today sir," Alfred said as Bruce slid into the leather seat. "Mr. Fox has been asking for you." Alfred put the car into drive.
"I will put that to note," said Bruce, "Make for the charity event, I might as well get that out of the way first."
"And how long will be we be staying?"
"Enough to sell my face for the photographers."
"I'll have the car waiting in ten minutes then," said Alfred.
"Maybe less than that I don't plan to stay long."
There was a crowd of photographers near the entrance of Lawlty towers. The towers were known as the Gotham twins in the village. Built by British entrepreneur Lisa Booth in the early 2000s as one of the largest hotels and commercial buildings in Gotham Bruce had regular visits to the area when Richard Sr was visiting from New York. Bruce was attended by a young man who was about six years younger than him and wore a red over coat greeters jacket, who led him through the crowd of photographers, though Bruce was well known in the city photographers were focused on the main attraction: Richie Jr's fiancé Mary Jane Watson. The fiery red head was a major stage and film actress back in New York.
She stood as the center of attention on the pavement entrance of the hotel. She wore a simple black dress and glamorized hair that look right out of a Hollywood red carpet premier. Bruce took notice for only a few seconds and then squeezed his way through the crowd following the young man, in the red overcoat. Richie was most likely inside already talking to guests.
"This way Mr. Wayne," he said.
The elevator was to the far corner in the back of the lobby. There must have been about a hundred or less in between all chattering excitedly about Richie this and Richie that. Bruce didn't bother with any greetings, for the young man had wanted Bruce to be at the suite as soon as he stepped out of the car. He quickly led the way against the small crowd in the lobby, Bruce acted to have a tough time following, by continual smiling to everyone he passed. Which only worried the young man further of his task.
"Sir please, this way Mr. Wayne," he butted in boldly as Bruce was talking to a young woman by the name of Janet Van Dorn.
She had long brown hair tied back, shrewd looking face that could spit venom with deadly accuracy, and dressed head to toe in orderly fashion.
"We're having a conversation," she claimed. The young man only backed down for a second of hesitation until he spoke again this time in softer.
"I'm sorry Miss, but Mr. Wayne is requested in the suite," he said calmly. She gave a bit of despairing sigh, and looked to Bruce, who was still casually grinning.
"Well as you can see I can't find any time to convince you."
"It'll be fine Miss Van Dorn." Bruce said his voice husky and brisk. He was rather impressed with the how the young man spoke against Janet, even though he quivered a bit, he stood his form.
"Richie has been messaging me for weeks for this party. I can't disappoint him."
"Well if that's the case then please won't you consider seeing me another time this week?" she pleaded.
"It would really make my day."
"I'll get in touch with Alfred regarding my schedule," Bruce smiled, "That's all I can promised." With that Bruce followed the young man in the red jacket towards the elevator away from Janet who he regretted making eye contact with. She had been trying to convince him to run for a council chair for months now in all manners of ways. Even her please which were rare was stale.
Bruce got a good idea of the young man, now. He was a Hispanic from what he could deduced most likely just started working here, and takes careful notes of his job since it seems to be a high position that Richie relies on. He seems about early twenties, work attire trimmed and groomed most likely for this day suggests he had been making early preparations since his clothes seemed ironed. It was only a quick glance but from what Bruce could tell he was new to the position, must've worked his way up from a dishwasher or something lower.
The line of buttons beside the elevator lit up one by one before it reached the second to the last floor which was the suit. Bruce didn't bother saying much when the door opened and a group of young women dressed to impress poured in. They came in all sizes two shorter than the rest and one taller than the other. Wearing different colors from shiny red to light sky blue and the dark small red dress on the shorted brown women who smiled looking back at Bruce.
Before Bruce could react the door sprung opened and the women laughed together away. Bruce took a few steps out of the door and watched as they left.
"Your floor Mr. Wayne." The young man, "Master Richard will be in the guest area, he expects your company."
"Thank you," said Bruce who handed out a tip of twenty dollars. "Your company was most impressive." The young man smiled his first smile that Bruce thought he would never see.
"Pleasure Master Wayne, enjoy the party."
"Bruce!" Richie cried breaking away from his group conversation that all stared in the direction of Bruce. He strode foreword arms out giving Bruce a startled quick hug then a strong handshake.
"So glad you can make it man," he said excitedly as if he hadn't seen Bruce in a long time.
"Good to see you too Richie," said Bruce nervously. "Its been how long?"
He gave Bruce a confused look like he was about to laugh. "About a year man, ever since the Trip to Tibet."
"Wow? That long?"
"Yeah man, you never call, you never write," Richie called over to the group that he was talking to earlier.
"Hey look who, I found," They were made up of three men and two women. Two of the men were older with a dash of grey hair and the other was closer to Richie's age with bright red hair and piercing blue eyes and pale skin while the women were young and lively with laugh.
"Well well, the infamous Bruce Wayne." Said one of the older men. This one seemed to walk with a bit of a limp on his left leg. "I am Jonathan-"
"Ashstro of the Rhode Island Ashtro family I've heard you were coming to town sir I didn't imagine meeting you here." Said Bruce cutting him off. The old smiled and laugh when he looked at the young giggling women beside him.
"Informative? Indeed just like your father.
"You've met my father?" Bruce asked.
"Yes I use to visit him in Gotham once a month about twenty or so years ago. Amazing man he was, sorry for your loss."
"None taken,"
"But I wouldn't miss my godson's engagement charity ball if it were the end of the world." He laughed a shivered old laugh.
The party started slow with all the guests guessing which rich who was in town for Richie's party. The old men were escorted away by their young female counterparts before Bruce could answer another boring yes or no answer. Richie had told his friend Charlie to ready his fiancé because he was about to make an announcement. Bruce heard a bit of a British accent when Charlie spoke which immediately made him think of the war. The guest room was filled with forty or people with a balcony out to the Gotham morning skyline. There was an open bar with men and women laughing with their fingers between their margaritas and scotches.
A gloomy mood fell over him but he faked a smile through the crowd as people whispered his name, Bruce Wayne is here. He had been doing it for years now since was a boy, hoping that Gotham would never suspect that their number one bachelor was in fact a ruthless vigilante. Going to lavish parties from night clubs to a cool Gotham morning and having a martini by the open bar on the suit of one of Gotham's premier suites really puts icing on any cake.
"Why the long face tiger?" Bruce suddenly realized that he had been a long looking onto the skyline a little too long after Richie said he'll be right back.
"Oh you must be Miss Watson?" Bruce shook her hand. They felt a tender but strong between his. She had deep bright red hair and light blue eyes, and spoke with a husky alluring voice. Richie must've spent a fortune for her.
"And you're Bruce Wayne I assume," she said eyeing up and down. "Hmm, not bad Mr. Wayne. I can see Richie wasn't lying about you."
"Really now?" Bruce said a bit interested. "So what does he say about me?"
She stood a little closer to him now with her eyes focused on the morning sky.
"Oh you know, a little of best friend this, and crazy man that. Kept going on about that time you saved him on that trip in China,"
"Tibet," Bruce corrected.
"Whatever," Mary Jane said in tedium. "So is there a current Mrs. Wayne I should be meeting?"
"No," Bruce chuckled. "I rather prefer my single life at the moment."
"Well ain't that shame, if only I waited a little longer I would've changed your mind." She fixed her hair casually showing off the diamond on her hand.
"Tempting," Bruce smiled. "You're the talk of the party I assume."
"Yeah," she said looking at the crowd back indoors. "I am." A slow moment past and they didn't say a word only looking far into the distance.
"So how did you meet Richie?" Bruce finally asked. Mary Jane could only smile to stop herself from laughing.
"Well can you believe I met him at a movie premier?"
"Really?"
"Well it was actually through my friend and agent Nicole that he met me. He was seeing Nicole for a while back in New York, and I happened to past his sights on one morning going in for a meeting."
"Really now? So then what happened?" Bruce let her speak for a moment longer. She detailed her story very softly and quickly without any lapse, in a matter of what seemed like a long ballad into three minutes.
"Persistent," she said finishing off the story. "My I've been speaking for a while now, what about you Mr. Wayne? How do you know Richie?"
"Well I met Richie back in boarding school, and I've known him since then. We have an annual trip we take together or as he calls adventure times. He decides where we're going and I foolishly tag along."
"Really where do you guys go?" she asked.
"Well, it depends sometimes it down the street to play pool and get drinks other times it's a trip halfway across the world. He tells me I'm too busy working all the time, that I should, he quotes live a little."
"Hey MJ," Richie cried walking through the doors he wrapped his arm around her waist gave her a kiss on the cheek. "I see you've met Bruce: The other man of the hour." He said smiling to Bruce. "Hey my speech is starting soon, Charlie's going first. He'll get the crowd going then I'll chime in for the kill. We gotta get ready by the bar quick."
"Alright," she said, walking towards him. Richie then headed inside and Bruce continued watching the sunrise as it went to its highest point.
"Hey Bruce?" Mary Jane called. Bruce looked back and saw that she was still standing there as if waiting for him. A simple black dress, fiery red hair and an hour glass figure of the best model in the city and made Bruce lost for words.
"Didn't you get an invitation?" she said with a sly smile.
"Oh, I'll be right there," Bruce, said at last.
(Didn't you get an invitation) There was a small grin on Bruce's face that Alfred could spot from space while driving down a busy street in downtown Gotham.
"Enjoy your morning Master Bruce?"
"Oh yeah," Bruce said shifting back to his normal stern demeanor. "It was a good party."
"Anything interesting then?"
"Not really, Richie isn't quite the talker. His fiancé is beautiful but it was his friend Charlie that did the majority of the talking."
"I see," Alfred knew there something up but knowing Bruce he wouldn't open up right away. "I go to charity balls to donate money, that's about as interesting as it gets," Moments later they made a stop at the Wayne Industries main entrance.
"Why we stopping Alfred?" Bruce asked.
"Ahem, sir its your afternoon meeting with Mr. Fox."
