Four people sat awkwardly in Wayne Manor; Alfred, Bruce, Silver, and Selina.
"How is Cynthia? I was hoping to finally meet her," Silver asked.
"Miss Cynthia is sleeping currently; her medication makes her drowsy," Alfred said.
.
Selina felt tears sting her eyes as she made her way away from Wayne Manor; all her life she'd been called things like Gutter Trash, but for some reason it was hitting especially hard.
Why couldn't Bruce see that Silver wasn't good? Why couldn't he see Silver was using him?
Alfred wouldn't believe her if she told him, so that was out.
For god's sake, was there anybody in this town that hadn't fallen under Silver's stupid spell?
Selina stopped in her tracks.
.
"You're not asleep."
Cynthia looked up in surprise; shutting her book quickly as she looked over at Selina who was sitting on her window ledge.
"I don't take the meds," Cynthia replied.
"Alfred seems to think you do," Selina replied.
"I spent months in Arkham; if I can't hide pills, no one can," Cynthia countered "… What do you want?"
"It's about blondie downstairs."
"Silver?" Cynthia asked "Haven't met her yet."
"Yeah, well, that's why I'm telling you this; no one else would believe me," Selina said uncomfortably.
"What is it?"
"She's not as sweet as she acts," Selina said "She's using Bruce."
It was quiet for a moment, Selina worried that Cynthia wasn't going to believe her.
"I know, Cat."
"Y-You know?" Selina asked, surprised "Than why not do something about it?"
Cynthia sighed.
"Cat… I need a favor."
.
"It's a pleasure to finally meet you," Silver said with a smile, Cynthia smiling in return "Bruce has talked about you and it's made me very excited to see you."
"What's he been saying?" Cynthia said, sending a look over at Bruce, who was speaking with Galavan.
"Mostly about how you're recovering," Silver said "Your strength is… remarkable."
"Thanks," Cynthia said, slightly uncomfortable.
"Silver, Cynthia; time for dinner," Galavan called.
.
Once dinner was finished, Galavan spoke.
"Tabitha, Silver; why don't you two show Cynthia around the house?"
Cynthia went along with the two women, but not without her suspicions.
.
"What're you doing down here?"
Bruce looked up in surprise; Cynthia was in the secret room. It was after their dinner with Galavan and Bruce had needed to think.
"How did you…?"
"Alfred told me," Cynthia said with a shrug, her eyes flashing down to the note in Bruce's hand "That the letter?"
"Yes."
"Can I read it?"
Bruce handed Cynthia the letter from their father, the young woman reading through it.
Stick with your sister, Bruce; listen to what she says.
Cynthia's lip twitched at that; even in death, dad left her in charge.
After she finished it, she handed it back to Bruce.
"What's wrong?" She asked "I can tell something's wrong."
"… I need to ask you a question and I need your word you'll be honest with me."
"When have I ever lied to you, Bruce?" Cynthia replied, Bruce nodding.
"I spoke with Mayor Galavan, when you were out of the room."
"Yeah?" Cynthia said, her stomach sinking.
"He wants me to sell my shares in Wayne Enterprises so he can fix the company. Clean up Gotham."
Cynthia was quiet, nibbling on her lower lip and staring at the ground.
This wasn't good.
"And… He says he knows who killed Mom and Dad."
Cynthia raised her head in shock; her wide eyes locking with Bruce's.
"Quid pro quo?" Cynthia asked.
"Yes."
It was quiet for a moment.
"What do I do?"
Cynthia looked up at him in surprise.
"They should be your shares," Bruce pointed out.
"I was never getting those shares back; I knew that going in," Cynthia said.
"Cynthia… I don't know what to do," Bruce said, his voice small.
"Don't sell."
Bruce looked at her in surprise; he didn't expect a definitive answer so quickly.
"Why not?"
"Because you don't even know if Galavan is telling the truth. He might not know and is just using that as a way to extort you."
"But, what if he is. What if he knows?"
"Bruce… Mom and Dad are dead. Finding who killed them won't bring them back." When Bruce was about to protest, Cynthia held her finger up "Let me finish. I'm not saying we shouldn't look for who did it, but you shouldn't sell to Galavan. He claims to want to clean up Gotham, to clean up the company, but he's willing to blackmail you… The only way Gotham can be saved is by a good man, and that's not Galavan."
"Then who?" Bruce asked, obviously frustrated "Who can fix Gotham?"
It was quiet for a moment and Bruce looked at his sister, who was sending him a look.
"… Me?"
Cynthia smiled before shrugging slightly.
"It sure seems like no one else is going to do it."
"But, how?"
"I have no idea," Cynthia replied, wrapping her arms around Bruce's shoulders and leading him back upstairs "But, I'm willing to bet you can figure it out."
.
"I told Galavan I wouldn't sell."
Cynthia looked up at her brother.
"And?"
"He threw the file in the fire," Bruce said quietly.
"Bruce-."
"And then he was arrested."
"… I hate to say I told you so."
"Not funny."
.
"What're you two doing?"
Selina and Bruce looked over in surprise at Cynthia; the former two looking slightly uncomfortable.
"I showed Bruce the file Galavan had on him; the one Silver put together."
Cynthia sighed.
"I'm sorry, Bruce," Cynthia said, knowing that Bruce had some feelings for Silver.
Bruce shook his head slightly.
"We need Silver to tell us who killed our parents."
"What? You think you can just ask and she'll tell you?" Selina asked sarcastically.
"Bruce," Cynthia said, getting her brother's attention "You'll need to outsmart her… I know you can figure out how. I know both of you can."
.
"M. Malone."
Cynthia looked up at her brother.
"That's the name Silver had; M. Malone."
Cynthia took a long, deep breath; Bruce sitting beside her on the couch.
"So… you okay?" Cynthia asked.
Bruce shrugged, Cynthia nodding in understanding.
"We should start looking into Malone. I say we start with Detective Gordon and then-."
"Bruce, I agree with you entirely, but not tonight," Cynthia said.
"I won't be able to think about anything else," Bruce protested.
"Then let's watch a movie or something," Cynthia offered "Let's just… Let's just take a break."
It was quiet for a moment, Bruce looking at his feet.
"What movie?"
Cynthia smiled.
.
They were reading together in the study; not about Malone or their parents, just light reading. Both of the Waynes looked up as they heard footsteps.
"Alfred, is that you? You won't believe what I l-."
Bruce was suddenly pushed back behind Cynthia, who was looking at Galavan with wary eyes.
"The mother hen," Galavan said in amusement "I wouldn't have pegged you for that, Cynthia."
"Did you delude yourself into thinking you had me figured out?" Cynthia shot back, Galavan smiling without humor.
"I've got a better idea than most; you're self-servicing. Nothing wrong with that, of course, but it will be interesting how you handle this next question. I have no need for you, Cynthia; I only need the Son of Wayne. Let me take Bruce and I won't bother you again."
"I thought you had me figured out, Theo; you should know I'm smart. And you know I know you broke the Arkham inmates out and made the Maniax for your own gain. You can't leave me alive."
"You're smarter than that, Cynthia, because I have something on you too. We are at an impasse. Give me Bruce and walk away."
"You're a real idiot, you know that right?" Cynthia asked quietly "Because, if you think for one goddamn second I would let you leave with my brother than you've got a whole nother thing coming."
"Fine, we'll have both children of Wayne tonight."
"What do you want?" Bruce demanded.
"Your lives, of course."