I'll admit partially this chapter isn't exactly the greatest piece of my work. I also like to credit partial piece of this chapter to my co-writer, Burke23. Enjoy and review!
The legally abandoned warehouse on Dock 7, was suddenly becoming populated and inhabited. A small populace filled the boardroom. Every single one had a criminal rap sheet, each rank ranging from common thug to one of Gotham's most powerful. Each sat at a long table, with piles of money, scattered guns, and trays of cocaine all scattered across it.
Falcone entered the room and took his seat at the head of the table. At his left, his mistress and eye candy, Fish Mooney. At his right, his sadistic and calculative bodyguard, Victor Zsasz. Falcone glanced around at his company, listing the names of Gotham's Commission.
Oswald Cobblepot, Aka the Penguin. Owner of the Iceberg Lounge, a legitimate front for his activities. Basically owned Gotham's black market. Has a messy head of black hair, a pointy nose resembling a beak, and wore a white shirt with a black, Continental Cross tie with its ends tucked inside a silk, purple checkered vest and a black coat with dark green lapels, black pants and matching shoes, umbrella in his left hand.
At Oswald's left was a man Falcone could recall of the name Floyd Lawton, but any person on the streets referred to him of the name, Deadshot. A man of tall build, sported a uniform of red with metal plating. His exposes tan skinned, black haired, head sporting sunglasses and a beard. Must be Cobblepot's new bodyguard.
The next, Salvatore Maroni, only other boss in Gotham second to Falcone himself. Tall guy, tanned, clearly of Italian descent. Three piece suit wore on like a skeleton. Heard having problems with that DA, Dent. His bodyguard was the usual muscle bound thug, built like a linebacker, dressed like a maitre.
Third, was Roman Sionis, aka Black Mask. Most sadistic person in Gotham, had almost the south side of the city under his heel. Man of 6'5, three piece suit black and white, face completed covered with a black mask shaped like a skull. Must be a freaky fetish.
His bodyguard was...interesting. Man built of 6'7, built like a bodybuilder, sported a black uniform and face mask, red accents around his eyes. Falcone overheard black mask refers to the others as KGBeast. Whatever that meant.
Fourth, Jonny Crane, also known as "Scarecrow" on the streets. The kid was young and a newcomer, but he had large monopoly on the drug ring. Sold a halogenic more powerful PCP. Only problem was the hallucinations were surreal and terrifying. Mainly a problem for customer. For some reason he lacked a bodyguard.
And at last, was Ming Lau, the mob's accountant of Chinese descent, being broadcast on a television via webcam.
Now the meeting could begin.
"As you're all aware, one of our deposits was stolen", spoke Lau on the television, "A relatively small amount, 68 million."
"Who's fucking stupid enough to steal from us?" Questioned Black Mask, in an aggressive graveling tone.
"A crew of two-bit wackjobs, wearing red hoods and suits", explained Maroni, "They ain't the problem, they're nobodies."
"The problem is our money being tracked by the cops." Maroni carried on.
"Thanks to Mr. Maroni's well-placed sources, we know that police have indeed identified our banks using marked bills, and are planning to seize your funds today." Lau explained
This sparked a reaction of outrage of all the people in the room. Specifically Falcone, for he owned the robbed bank.
"And since the enthusiastic DA has put all my competitors out of business, I'm your only option."
"What are you proposing?" Asked Maroni.
"Moving all deposits to one secure location, not a bank." Said Lau.
"Where then?" Questioned Oswald.
"No one could know but me. If police gained leverage over one of you, everyone's money would be at stake." Said Lau with a smirk.
"What's stopping them from getting to you?" Questioned Jonny.
"I go to Hong Kong. Far from Dent's jurisdiction, and the Chinese will not extradite one of their own." Lau said smugly
"How so could you move the money?" Asked Falcone, who finally spoken.
"I already have. For obvious reason I couldn't wait for your permission. Rest assured your money is safe."
"Well I don't know about you, but I feel like a little worm on a big fucking hook here." Complained Jonny.
All the others grunted in agreement.
"Bunch a punks steal 68 millions from us, then you swipe the rest from us!" Complained Black Mask.
Sensing the tension of the mobsters, Lau disabled the cam connection on his half, causing the screen to turn static.
"What kinda fuckin' security you got for our cash, Falcone?" Black Mask questioned aggressively.
"Please, Falcone can't even keep his thugs alive, let alone secure all of our finances." Scoffed Oswald
Suddenly the crow flies in, landing on the table, gaining a surprise from everyone.
"How the hell that get in here?"
"Gentlemen!" Boomed a voice, turning their heads to attention.
Bruce walks into the room, intimidating atmosphere building around him. Some of the men snickered at his clownish mask.
"So you're him? The crusader? The killer of killers? Gotta like the coat. Not so much on the mask though." Falcone said smugly. This gained a snicker from all the others.
"Oh, don't like my mask. How this then?" Bruce asked, removing his mask, revealing his true face. This gained a shock and gasp from the room. Especially Cobblepot.
They all stared at a young boy, who a year ago was reported dead and buried. Yet he was standing a room with them. But this was the real world?!
"I just want him." Bruce pointed towards Cobblepot, making the crime lord instantly shake in fear.
"Well you can't have him." Said Jonny, being smug.
"Well I see you made your decision. Now let's see you enforce it." Bruce said defiantly
"Oh this is already boring as shit. Kill him!" Ordered an agitated Black Mask. A majority of the bodyguards taking their firearms, blasting the young boys body down from the table.
"Oooh, that had to hurt." Said Deadshot, walking towards where the body fell, only to find nothing.
"He's gone!"
Suddenly Deadshot was pulled, disappearing under the table screaming in shock and fear, even for a hired assassin. Falcone, Zsasz, and Fish quickly escaped as a big gunfight of the century began.
Bruce jumped out from under the table, in hand a knife whose blade was long enough to claimed as a dagger. Blood had already stained the blade.
"You're all gonna died". Bruce said ominously. Suddenly as Bruce snapped his fingers, every light in the room began to viciously flicker on and off.
Screams and shrieks followed, along with the sound of bodies dropping to the floor. To his vision as the lights flickered, Oswald saw many men die before his eyes: first Black mask, then Jonny, then followed by Maroni and the bodyguards being instantly killed. Oswald jumped from his seat heading directly for the exit.
"I gotta get the hell out of here!" He shrieks
As the lights flickered on once more, Bruce appeared right in front of Oswald, startling him, "Aah!"
"Guess it's not a good day to be a bad guy, huh, Ozzie?" Bruce mocked
"You can't be back! This is the real world!" Oswald shrieked, his reality unfolding, "WHAT ARE YOU?!"
Bruce simply frowned, the lights flickered off, but for a long period of time. Oswald suddenly felt what was like a abominable amount of strength had hit him, sending him across the room.
"I AM VENGEANCE!" Bruce exclaimed, his voice graveling to a inhuman tone.
As the lights flickered on for a second, then blacking out once more, Oswald could feel that inhuman amount of power attacking him again, sending him towards near a moonlit window.
"I AM THE NIGHT!"
Oswald struggled to get back up, shaking as he only manages to stand a third of his height, his muscles aching as a tangled mess.
"I AM..." Bruce cried inhumanly, Oswald instantly seeing and feeling Bruce wrapping his hands around his throat. Lights instantly flickered back on.
And Oswald could only see...the child, strangling the life out of him, with bright emerald green eyes, bizarrely shaped pupils. It was terrifying.
Bruce could all of Cobblepot's memories as he strived to clench every last breath out of the man. Memories of his abusive childhood, his rise to power...his torment of Selina and ordering the death of him and his parents.
"I am your worst fucking nightmare." Bruce whispered, summoning all his strength, pushing Oswald out the window, sending him to hell.
Bruce smirked in triumph, feeling as he had finally avenged him and his family. He had felt...fulfilled.
Then suddenly a squadron of armed police officers had burst in, firearms pointed at him with their fingers on the triggers.
"That's all she wrote! Hold it! Move and we shoot!" Said one cop, appearing to be the leader
Bruce smirked, taking his chances, humorously dancing across the floor, causing the policemen to start firing, giving Bruce the opportunity to jump out of the shattered window.
Landing on the nearest rooftop, Bruce immediately took off running, hopping from each rooftop to rooftop. Being chased by bullets being fired by cops from all sides.
And it really didn't help that he was being chased by a police helicopter, machine guns firing!
"Since when were helicopters allowed machine guns?!"
As he ran out of roofs to jump, Bruce had no choice but to jump off the roof, landing onto the road...suddenly with Jim Gordon's car pulling up next to him.
"Get in!"
"Don't need to tell me twice!"
"My advice, next time duck! So many cops you'd think they're giving out free donuts!"
As Gordon drove, it was miraculous that he was dodging the many fired rounds of a flying helicopter firing a machine gun.
As they managed to escape outside the city limits, leaving all the cops behind them.
"I think we lost them" Gordon turns his head only to see Bruce gone and the car door open.
"Next time, I'm nailing his feet to the ground."
(Selina's apartment, 2:30 AM):
Selina awaken hearing a slight knocking sounds. She stood up from out of her bed, following the sound to her window, only to see Bruce outside of it. Being curious and not wanting the knocking to awake Harley and Ivy, she opened the window.
"What are you doing out here? People usually try to sleep at this hour"
"Hello to you too. Nice pajamas by the way." Bruce quipped, blushing as he did.
Selina looked down at her attire, covering herself as modesty kicked in. She failed to realize she was only wearing a black tee shirt and Hello Kitty underoos! Bruce has never seen her this underdressed!
"Grr! Get in, get in!" She ordered in a whispered tone.
Bruce complied, yet just couldn't remove his gaze from her, nor her legs.
"Quit staring at me!" She complained, smacking Bruce on the head.
"Sorry!" Bruce blushed
"And keep it down, my roommates are asleep!" She shushed him, putting on a pair of black sweat pants.
Bruce then noticed a trunk in the corner of the room, that drawer his attention and curiosity.
"What's that chest over there in the corner?" Bruce asked.
"Bad memories, from when I was on the street," Selena said.
"Open it," Bruce said "let me see."
"I threw away the key years ago," she said "there's no way to open it."
Bruce walked up to her and took a bobby pin out of her hair, "There's always a way." Bruce walked up to the chest, picked the lock, and opened the chest.
"Could you teach me how to do that?" Selena asked.
"It's all about finding the sweet spot," Bruce said
"Ooh? Something you need to tell me Bruce?" She quipped in a sultry voice. He knew rolled his eyes at the joke.
He opened the chest and saw what Selena had feared, it was her old prostitute outfit. A leather outfit, clawed cat gloves, leather high-heeled boots, a cat-o-nine-tails, and a cat mask. Bruce whistled picking up the mask, "This wasn't cheap, pure carbon fiber."
"Oh what you know? Guys would bang me and pay me, and all the while my outfit was worth more than I was paid." Selina spoke with sarcasm.
And then the memory flashes started to kick in Bruce's mind. All the men...the violation...the bruising...Bruce immediately dropped the helmet, wanting the memories to cease.
"You poor, poor girl"Bruce whimpers
"It's fine, Bruce. I prevailed through" Selina comforts him.
"I'm glad that I slaughtered Cobblepot." Bruce's voice began to gravel
Selina immediately hugged him, kissing his lips passionately, tears slowly going down her cheeks.
"Thank you, Bruce, thank you."
Bruce embraced her. Her affection, her body, her soul. It felt like them that time stood still.
Then time began moving as Selina began to broke the affection between them, and stared into his eyes, with teary eyes of her.
"Will you stay Bruce?" She asked, a question that seemed to pierce the air itself around them.
"I'm sorry, Selina. But I can't" Bruce said, heart aching for each word.
"Why not? You're back. Mom and dad are avenged. For what reason, why not?" Selina asked frantically
"Selina, I'm practically still dead. I'm going to need to rest in peace. I do love you, you know that."
Selina didn't buy that for some reason. Bruce comes back, avenges his parents, and now he was going to abandoned her in this shit town?!
"Fucking liar!" She smacked him. Smacked him hard.
"Last I checked, you said your roommates were asleep. You might want to keep it down." Bruce tried to reason with her
"I don't give a shit! Far as I think, Harley might as well wake up in here, nude as a baby, and go 'Oh Selina, I see your old dead friend here. Mind if I jump his dead bones'!" She screeched furiously.
Selina tried to shove Bruce, but he stood his ground firmly, only for herself to collapse sobbing in his arms.
"Why won't you stay?" She sobbed
"What would we expect? Romance, normal life, marriage and kids? I'm still dead, legally and physically. For all we know, if I stay, the government might as well come over." Bruce reasoned.
Selina couldn't help but chuckle behind the tears at the joke. Bruce always did know how to make her laugh. But then she got serious.
"So I'm going to be left alone again, huh?" Selina frowned
"No. You won't be alone. You'll have Harley, Ivy, and even Gordon." Bruce reassured her
"But still. My life is going to be crappy again."
"Selina, look at me..." Bruce told her
She complied and look right into his eyes. They weren't the emerald green color anymore. They were the icy blue they were when he was alive. The eyes of her brother and love one, not the ones of her avenger.
"The one most crucial fact about you: is you're a survivor. Your most special talent is to endure." Bruce assured her, causing a smile to rise on her face. This earned him a kiss from her.
"Bruce...I'll forgive you for staying...but could you at least spend the night with me?" She pleaded, patting a spot next to her on her mattress.
Bruce began to hesitate until he saw no reason why not, "ok."
He lied down next to her , embracing the warmth of her, wrapping his arms around her form. This felt..just right to him, as it did to her.
Selina's eyes begun to close, her drifting off to sleep.
"I love you, Bruce."
Bruce yawned, as he too was falling asleep, "I love you too."