CYNTHIA WAYNE ACQUITTED.
.
Bruce awkwardly shifted as he looked at his sister's sleeping form. Thankfully, Cynthia blinked awake before he had a chance to make a decision on waking her up.
"What time is it?" She asked; her voice hoarse from sleep.
"Nine."
Cynthia grunted and stretched out in her bed.
"Alfred made tea," Bruce said, putting the mug down on the bedside table "English Breakfast with milk, honey, and sugar."
"Just how I like it," Cynthia said with a smile.
"Alfred is also making eggs and bacon, if you want some," Bruce said "I can bring it up here if you want."
Cynthia smiled even as she furrowed her brow.
"What's up with you?"
"… I want you to be happy."
"Bruce," Cynthia sighed "Please don't blame yourself for what happened."
"But, it's my fault," Bruce countered "I'm the reason you went to Arkham. I'm the reason everything that happened happened."
"That was Wayne Enterprises, that was madness, that wasn't you," Cynthia promised "… Bruce, you know if it had been your fault, I wouldn't be letting you off this easily. I can hold grudges."
Bruce smiled slightly; that was true.
.
Bruce sat at a table with Galavan, the two in a high end restaurant in Gotham.
"You like this place?" Galavan asked.
"I've never been here before; to be honest I don't go out much."
"I hope I can change that; there's always some tedious function I can drag you to."
"I just… I wanted this opportunity to thank you for saving my life and for… my sister."
"Saving your life was entirely Cynthia. A remarkable young woman, your sister is," Galavan said, Bruce smiling slightly.
"Yes, she is."
.
Once Bruce returned from his lunch with Galavan and from meeting Silver, he went looking for Cynthia. When he couldn't find her within five minutes, he started to panic; what if she was gone again?
Finally, he checked the forest out behind the house and found Cynthia leaning against a tree, smoking.
"Those are very bad for you."
Cynthia choked; he'd startled her.
"Yeah, but you're gonna kill me," she said once she regained her breath.
"You shouldn't smoke," Bruce reiterated.
"I know; don't start," she warned, putting out her cigarette "Whatdaya want?"
"We got back and I wondered where you were."
"Right, how was your date with Galavan?" Cynthia asked, the Wayne siblings trekking back to the house.
"Good," Bruce said, distracted by his memory of Silver, something Cynthia picked up on.
"Anything interesting happen…?"
"I met Galavan's niece; Silver St. Cloud."
Cynthia's eyebrows raised at Bruce's expression.
"Is she pretty?"
"I didn't notice," Bruce said stiffly; she was and he had.
"So, if I flirted with her, you wouldn't mind?" Cynthia asked, Bruce looking over sharply to find his sister grinning "Teasing."
It was quiet for a moment.
"Cynthia?"
"Yeah?"
"Was the thing about seven boyfriends and girlfriends true?"
"Bruce, do you want the stories?"
.
Cynthia watched as Alfred and Bruce sparred; neither of them noticing her presence yet. Alfred was winning, of course; he had more years of experience than Bruce had lived. Alfred knocked Bruce down and Cynthia held her own hands to keep from punching Alfred; she knew they were sparring and Alfred was teaching him, but she couldn't help but feel like he was bullying Bruce. No matter the situation; Bruce was always her little brother.
Bruce looked over from his fallen position.
"You're up," he said.
"You're not," Cynthia replied.
"Ah, Miss Cynthia," Alfred said "I'll fix you some breakfast."
"Thanks," Cynthia said before Alfred smiled and left them "Good session?"
"Fairly," Bruce said, taking a swig from his water bottle.
"Alfred not being too hard on ya?"
"It's nothing I can't handle," Bruce said proudly, Cynthia smiling.
"Didn't say it was."
Bruce took another drink, before he looked over Cynthia.
"Would you like self-defense lessons?" Bruce asked.
"From who? You?" Cynthia asked incredulously "Bruce, I could kick your scrawny ass any day of the week."
Bruce gave her a semi-offended look.
"Alfred has been training me."
"Yeah, but Alfred is never going to teach you the realistic part," Cynthia said "Pay attention to your surroundings; this room is full of things to use. And don't be afraid to use your nails or teeth or to pull their hair."
"Seems in poor form," Bruce said, Cynthia sighing.
"Bruce, if you're ever in a fight, don't try to treat your to opponent gentlemanly conduct; they're trying to kill you. Don't be like in the movies, Bruce; don't let your opponent regain their bearings or retrieve their weapon. That's how people die."
It was quiet for a moment.
"Did you get into fights in Arkham?" Bruce asked suddenly.
"A few."
"Did you win?"
Cynthia winked.
.
"So, you're out."
Cynthia looked up in surprise; she was reading in her father's study when someone had interrupted her.
"For now."
Selina hummed; letting Cynthia know she'd heard.
"And you're clear in the head?" Selina asked.
"As it's gonna get."
Selina snorted and leaned against the desk.
"Bruce said you haven't been around lately, why?" Cynthia asked.
"Oh, your butler made it very clear that I wasn't welcome."
Cynthia frowned.
"Because of Payne?"
"And you."
"I'll talk to him," Cynthia offered.
"Don't bother," Selina said "Not like I would've come here anyway."
"Mhm," Cynthia said, rolling her eyes.
"I'd better get going," Selina said "Just wanted confirmation."
"Alright, see ya around, Cat."
Selina walked over to the window and Cynthia could've sworn she's left.
"I'm sorry for what happened to you because of me."
When Cynthia turned to reply, Selina was gone.
.
"Through some legal language, the majority shares of Wayne Enterprises still belongs to Bruce Wayne."
"Perfect," Galavan said, Tabitha and Barbara smiling "If they'd returned to Cynthia, we would never be able to acquire them."
"That girl's thirst for power is admirable," Tabitha agreed.
"But, futile," Galavan pointed out, before looking at Silver "We just have to make sure Bruce sells."
"He'll be wrapped around my finger before you know it."
"Wonderful," Galavan said, smiling "Soon I'll be Mayor of Gotham and the majority shareholder of Wayne Enterprises. Gotham will be mine."
"What will happen to Cynthia?" Barbara asked.
"Simple; both the Waynes will die."
