Tut the Magnificent…
Summary: A little reimagining of supervillain King Tut. A young genius, protégé of Gotham's prime benefactor, Bruce Wayne, distraught at the suffering in a place his hero Batman never deigns to frequent, has decided to help his people help themselves.
Part XII...
Red leather (Genu-ine imitation…Bruce had noted to Moe's proud nod… "And a relief to know no animal is bred to give red leather…" Danielle had nodded…) upholstered booth in Moe's Silver Eagle diner, "the best in Gotham State", on Gotham State Parkway, alongside the Gotham River…
"Not a bad view, really." Stare out the large window to the front. "You know my mother, God rest her soul…Good Catholic that she was…And we had to fight for it…" Danielle grinned at Bruce in brown sweater and slacks, across from her. "…would say that a girl can tell a man by the quality of the place he chooses to bring a woman. Not the price, mind you…" finger wag… "The quality. A flash-in-the-pan salesman type would take you somewhere flashy but not that expensive…And no quality." she took a fork of her "Silver Eagle recycled hash special" omelet… "A no-good with dough who wanted to get into your pants quick would take you somewhere exceptionally fancy and pricey, to put you under obligation…Oh, this is good…" she beamed, brushing curls back.
"Really…? Both as to mom and the omelet?" Bruce nodded, head on hand staring…
"Hmmn-hmmn…A nice solid fella will take you somewhere quality…But not flashy or too pricey…At least on the first dates. You save the really big stuff for the birthdays and anniversaries… And a cheap bastard will invite himself to your house and expect you to cook."
"Sounds about right…" he took a swig of orange juice from a plastic tumbler…Nodding to the bald figure of Moe, a middle-aged, husky bald fellow in white uniform at counter who nodded back after a glance at Danielle, thumb's up.
"Always go with the one who makes love well, she said…You can get round moneybags, the cheap bastard's got sense, the solid guy's reliable, and Mr. Flashy is usually good fun, for a fling…" she grinned.
"Yikes." He blinked. "So there's no hope for me…"
"We'll see…" she eyed him mock-sternly, looking him over. "She also said you generally can teach a guy whose heart's in the right place…"
"Thank you, Mrs. Dane…" he nodded, eyes turning heavenward.
"Equally important, a man who can choose a good diner. Well done." She nodded.
"I was pretty sure Moe wouldn't let me down. The kids always loved it. And Alfred approved."
"Kids like Mickey-D's, bless 'em…I'll go with Alfred's seal of approval." She took another bite.
"More coffee?" their waitress, a fortyish large woman with straight black hair and nose ring in white uniform with silver eagle namepin had returned.
"Sure…" Bruce nodded.
"Miss? Sorry to ask…" the waitress hesitated, Danielle offering smile. "One of the other girls was wondering? Are you on TV?"
"Once in a while…Just the local news. Hi…Danielle Dane." Smile.
"Hi…Claudia Holland. Yeah, Denise was sure it was you. She watches you whenever you're on. Just wanted to say hi and ask, sorry to interrupt."
"No problem." Danielle put up a hand. "Tell Denise thanks for watching…"
"Is he on TV too?" Claudia smiled at Bruce who grinned.
"Very rarely compared to Ms. Dane…" he nodded solemnly. "But I keep workin' at it."
"Ah…" appraising nod. "You'll get there…Thanks, guys. Let me know if you need anything." Claudia headed off.
"I'm with someone famous…" Bruce in low, sing-song voice.
"Shet up." Danielle mock-growled. "Not that I care for fame as a responsible journalist…" proudly arch look… "But it is sorta nice, at times…" grin. "Though I think she just wanted a closer look at you." Stern glance…Smile.
"So…" she eyed him, taking another forkful. "Before I meet the family…Oh, Lawd…How did Bruce Wayne wind up with two black foster kids…?"
"And a ward from a circus family…" grin… "If you can bear a long story…I actually enjoy telling it." Smile. "Too often, Pam sometimes says…"
"I'm a reporter, Bruce…Even if only the short TV attention-spanned variety…"
"Well…As to Pam and Henry, I don't know if you know about their grandfather…"
"Archibald Tuthill… Oh, I read the stories…Murdered…Almost certainly by Jackson Jensen but money and the 'almost' got Jensen off. How did you come into the picture…?"
"Luck…And Iris Redman…" he noted, pausing to take a forkful of blueberry pancakes…
"The Mayor…" she pondered his plate a second. "Yes, I will take a taste of those pancakes, thanks."
"Please…And yeah, now the mayor, then director of social services and one of the most decent and courageous people in government then and now."
"Potential candidate for governor, if she'd take the bit between her teeth and run…" Danielle eyed him. "Is that what you're meeting her about?"
"I've hinted, suggested, asked, pleaded, about ten times each of the last three election cycles but she feels she's needed in Hamilton. And she is…But I'll keep tryin'. I will put in my usual plea but it's a bit more than that today." He lifted a pancake to her plate with fork, she eagerly accepting…
"I tell myself if I pig out at breakfast it's better…Hah, I'm sure…" she sighed, taking the bottle of syrup he offered.
"This is where you do Ashley Wilkes minus the Gone With the Wind racism and tell me you like to see a girl with a healthy appetite…" she noted, chewing.
"I dunno…Hafta see if you try to eat the whole table…" he shook head.
"Hungry enough to…" sigh.
"Then you've got to come to Alfred's Brit barbecque on Sunday at my place… He always piles it on."
"Hmmn…" narrow look. "Steak and kidney pie with a dollop of barbecque sauce…?"
"And bangers and mash…Likewise with barbecque sauce."
"Terrifying…" she gave look of mock-horror.
"You are a reporter…New experience…" he noted solemnly.
"I hate my job sometimes…" grin. "Ok, you got me…If they want me to come. I assume your kids are coming…? Well, the locals? I understand your other son's in medical school in LA?"
"Yep. They never miss it. And they will be dying to have a real chance to see you at close range. Dick's studying orthopedics, he'll be expecting details by phone…I'll leave that to Pam so your focus should be on her to win two of them over. Henry's more easygoing…"
"The lady of the house, eh? No doubt the one who'll set the high bar…"
"Pam's a lioness…" he nodded.
"Gulp. I take it they're generally not armed with regards to that 'close range'. Your place has plenty of room for disposing of girls not meeting expectations…"
"That explains all the holes in the yard I keep finding…" smile.
"Not wanting to take your attention off my pretty brown eyes…" she grinned.
"Very pretty…" he nodded, swallowing coffee from mug. "You want to know what 'bit more'?"
"Alex Knox has trained you well, Luke…" she intoned.
"You've been doing a story comparing the drop in crime rates in Hamilton and Gotham and how both cities achieved it."
"My bid for journalistic immortality…This year…Yeah?"
"I'm interested too…As is a friend of mine…"
She gave him serious look…
"That 'friend's gotta be either Batman or James Gordon, the Gotham commissioner, am I right?" she regarded him.
"Jim…Very good."
"Very interesting…Is he concerned about things in Hamilton? Is something going on?" she gave intent look.
"Hopefully, no."
"But it is a little too much of a success story, eh?" she leaned back, taking sip of juice. "I agree…It's been bothering me, actually, since I took this story. I mean, it's a wonderful redemption tale, but…"
"There's probably nothing to it…" he began…
"'Mob' City cleaned up in six years? Bruce, I'm starry-eyed and idealistic as the next progressive black recent college grad but even I hafta question that. Does Gordon think the mobs are still running the place, just keeping heads down and trash collected?"
"No…Not the mobs…But a mob might still be operating." He put up a finger. "I do not believe Iris would be in on anything, not for a moment."
"I agree. I met her only briefly to date but was impressed. But it could be going on, underground. It would make sense…It all doesn't just 'disappear' even with a good, clean city government and Batman putting in some appearances." She caught his look. "I had a few people I spoke to there saying that he's been seen around the city…Left a few calling-cards in the form of the unconscious wanted. Has he had anything to say on this?"
"Jim didn't say and I haven't heard from him."
"I see…Look, I don't mean to break the mood…"
"It's fine…It's your job…" he nodded. "If I'm in for the long haul, I'll need to expect it'll break in sometimes, as will my stuff."
"Well, I promise to try to get back to 'first real date' mode. Thanks for being patient with me."
"Like I say, it's likely to come up on my side too…" smile.
"God…" she blinked… "I heard something about 'long haul'?"
"Yeah…I kinda sorta like you, Danielle." He nodded. "And Alfred says you're a fine girl."
"You too." She agreed. Offering a hand which he shook solemnly.
"Moe mind if his customers kiss?" she asked, smiling.
"Depends on the tip…" he got out of seat and came over, she regarding him.
"Better leave a big one…" she noted, kissing him hard on the lips…He embracing her.
….
