Hey guys! Sorry for the delay! I think all I needed was some sleep since I was able to finish this chapter that's been bugging me this morning! I'll be starting on the next chapter here in a bit and plan on having it posted today! :)
I just want to shout out Fiction . Love . 2018, Ravenmore45, Marie (Guest), highlander348 and lala423 for their lovely reviews! I promise I'm not going to disappoint you all with my decision.
Disclaimer: I only own my OC's
The days preceding her meeting with Rachel were uneventful. Makenna spent her days working and then heading over to Brooke's to watch Katy while Brooke worked. It was a quarter passed one when Brooke entered the apartment. Katy had long gone to bed while Makenna sat at the kitchen table typing away at her laptop when she glanced up at saw Brooke slump into the chair across from her. Makenna shut the lid to her computer as she focused on Brooke.
"Long night?"
"You have no idea…" Brooke sighed, her voice exhausted. "It appears Gotham has a new villain running around town."
Makenna cocked a brow as she stared at her sister. The expression on her face one of confusion as Brooke gave her a weird look.
"You haven't seen the news today, have you?" Brooke questioned.
"No…" Makenna replied slowly.
Brooke ran a hand over her tired face as she spoke. "There was a robbery today at the bank. The owner was found laughing when authorities arrived. The weird thing though, they found some of the robbers dead.
"They weren't killed by security?"
"No. They believe they were killed by their fellow robbers. From what I've heard they believe it's the Joker."
Makenna froze at the name. Her mind instantly going to the conversation she had with Rachel, and the Joker card. It had to be a coincidence. There couldn't be any relation. Right? She was brought from her thoughts by a sharp pain in her shin.
"The hell was that for?" Makenna hissed as she leaned down to rub her shin.
"You were lost in thought. I called your name, but you didn't answer." Brooke shrugged as she stifled a yawn.
"Go to bed. You need the sleep. I'll check in tomorrow to see how you're doing."
Brooke chuckled as she stood from the chair. "If I'm lucky I'll actually have my day off and be able to sleep. You need to sleep too, Kenna. You're looking a little under the weather."
Makenna ran a hand through her hair as she closed her eyes. Brooke was right. It had been a while since she last slept decently. Each night she was woken up by Bruce returning home from his crime fighting job, and by the time he fell asleep Makenna was wide awake. No matter how hard she tried she couldn't fall back asleep.
"Is everything alright between you and Bruce?"
"What? Yeah, everything's fine. We've both just been…busy."
Brooke gave her sister a look as Makenna gathered her things and moved to hug her goodbye. Makenna was halfway out the door when she heard her sister speak.
"Kenna, you'd tell me if something was wrong, right?" She said softly.
"Of course I would, Brooke. I promise, Bruce and I are fine. There's nothing to worry about." Makenna replied, shutting the door behind her.
Makenna drove through the city streets and arrived at the penthouse in record time. She parked and was entering the darkened penthouse when she saw a lone light on in the kitchen. Makenna made a pit stop, but no one was there so she went to her and Bruce's room. As expected, the bed was empty signaling Bruce was still out gallivanting around Gotham. She just hoped he didn't get injured too badly. Makenna stripped out of her work clothes and slipped on a pair of sweats and a tank top before climbing into bed.
-M-
A few hours later Makenna awoke to a light knocking at her door. She blinked the sleep from her eyes as she stood from the bed. Her gait was slow as she approached the door and pulled it open. A smile formed on her face when she saw Alfred.
"Good morning, I hope I didn't wake you." Alfred greeted.
"I was just about to get up anyways."
Alfred peered over her and noticed the bed missing another occupant. His eyes shifted to hers as his eyes softened and a faint hint of sadness filled his eyes. Makenna simply shrugged when she saw the look.
"Master Wayne shouldn't constantly be leaving you alone every night." Alfred commented.
"It's alright, Alfred. I know he's busy trying to keep Gotham safe. I can't exactly change that since Gotham means a lot to him." Makenna replied softly as she ran a hand through her bedhead hair.
"Yes, but he should also realize how much you mean to him too. He needs you more than he realizes. Now, once you're cleaned up we'll head to the docks. I'm sure that's where he stayed the night."
Makenna nodded in response as Alfred turned and proceeded to the kitchen. She shut the door and meandered to the closet and grabbed an outfit and then some under garments before heading to shower. Makenna made her shower quick, dressed, dried her hair and was in the car with Alfred in thirty minutes. The car ride was silent as Alfred drove them to the docks. She played with the hem of her shirt when they came to a stop. They entered the freight container as Alfred held a thermos. They descended into the Bat-Bunker as the floor beneath them moved. When they entered, Makenna spotted the Batmobile in the middle and then her eyes shifted toward Bruce who sat before a bank of monitors. She squinted her eyes at the monitors to see what he was watching. It appeared to be CCTV footage of a bank robbery. Then she remembered what Brooke told her. Makenna strode toward Bruce when she saw him struggling with something.
"Be nice when Wayne Manor's rebuilt and you can swap not sleeping in a penthouse for not sleeping in a mansion." Alfred commented as he followed Makenna.
"Here, let me." She muttered taking the needle from Bruce.
"Thanks…" He replied tired.
Alfred sidled up beside Makenna as she knelt before Bruce effortlessly stitching his wound. As she was finishing up the last round Alfred poured Bruce a cup of coffee from the thermos.
"When you stitch yourself up you make a bloody mess." Alfred said watching Makenna pierce the needle through Bruce's skin.
"But I learn about my mistakes." Bruce replied, wincing when Makenna pulled the string taut.
"You should be pretty knowledge able by now, then Bruce." Makenna said softly.
"My armor…I'm carrying too much weight- I need to be faster."
"I'm sure Mr. Fox can oblige." Alfred replied before shifting his gaze down. "Did you get mauled by a tiger?"
Bruce glanced down as Makenna pulled the string taut before clipping it. She reached behind her on the counter and grabbed a gauze bandage and some tape. She covered the stitches and discarded the papers in the trash when she was done. Not once did she meet Bruce's gaze.
"A dog." Bruce finally replied pulling his gaze from Makenna and looking off to the side. "A big dog. There were more copycats last night, Alfred. With guns."
"Perhaps you could hire some of them and take weekends off. Maybe spend more time with Makenna." Alfred answered casting a glance at the woman.
Makenna pushed herself up and walked away from the men. She didn't know why she hadn't looked at Bruce, but seeing him with that deep of a wound made her worry. He shouldn't be out there doing this alone.
"This wasn't exactly what I had in mind when I said I wanted to inspire people." She heard Bruce say.
"I know. But things are improving. Look at the new District Attorney…"
At the mention of Dent, Makenna glanced over her shoulder at the screens. She had to admit Harvey Dent was a handsome man, and she knew why Rachel fell for him.
"I am. Closely. I need to know if he can be trusted." Bruce said chancing a glance at Makenna when a video of Dent and Rachel appeared on a screen.
"Are you interested in his character…or his social circle?" Makenna muttered looking toward the tumbler.
"Who Rachel spends her time with is her business." Bruce replied turning his head toward Makenna. His brows furrowed upon seeing her looking away, her arms crossed over her chest.
"Well, I trust you're not following me on my day off." Alfred joked.
Bruce gave a light chuckle as he looked away from Makenna.
"Know your limits, Master Wayne." Alfred commented softly.
"Batman, has no limits."
"But Bruce Wayne does." Makenna interjected catching both men's attention. When neither one said a word she huffed and walked away. Bruce shared a look with Alfred whose expression was solemn. Clearly there was something bothering Makenna and Bruce would find out.
-M-
Makenna wrote away at the notepad in her lap as she took notes for Bruce who sat to her right at the head of the table. She had somehow been roped in to joining them in a meeting with LSI Holdings. As requested, Makenna had done her research on them and found some interesting information which she shared with Bruce the day prior. She listened intently, even though she already knew the decision Bruce would make. Makenna lifted her eyes from her notepad when Fox's voice reached her.
"Well, Mr. Lau, I speak for the rest of the board, and Mr. Wayne, in expressing our own excitement…"
Everyone's eyes shifted to the head of the table where Bruce sat, asleep. Makenna closed her eyes and sighed when her eyes met Fox's. The meeting had adjourned as Makenna assisted Fox in showing Lau and his partner's to the elevator. She side eyed Reese who was an ambitious Mergers and Acquisitions consultant.
"Sir, I know Mr. Wayne's curious how his trust fund gets replenished but frankly…that's embarrassing." Reese commented.
"You worry about the diligence, Mr. Reese. We'll worry about Bruce Wayne." Fox replied glancing at Makenna beside him.
Fox opened the door to his office and held it for Makenna to enter first. As she slipped passed him her eyes landed on Bruce standing by the window. Bruce peered over his shoulder at her, giving her a small smile before turning back to the window.
"Another long night?" Fox inquired shutting the door and entering the office. "This joint venture was your idea, and the consultants love it, but I'm not convinced. As Makenna noticed, LSI's grown eight percent annually, like clockwork. They must have a revenue stream that's off the books. Maybe even illegal."
"Okay. Cancel the deal."
Makenna fought back the eye roll. She had a feeling that was his plan after she informed him of her findings.
"You already knew." Fox said glancing toward Makenna.
"I needed a closer look at their books."
Bruce had sidled up to Makenna and stopped next to her, his elbow brushing against her arm. Makenna side eyed him for a second when she returned her gaze to Fox.
"Anything else you can trouble me for?"
"I need a new suit."
Fox's eyes flickered over to Makenna for a brief second as she shook her head before returning to Bruce. He knew Makenna was aware of Bruce's secret identity.
"Three buttons is a little nineties." Fox jested.
"I'm not talking about fashion, Mr. Fox, so much as function."
Makenna eyed Bruce when he pulled some papers from his inner pocket and handed them to Fox. Fox looked over them before glancing up.
"You want to be able to turn your head?"
"Sure make backing out of the driveway easier."
Makenna stifled her laugh with a cough, but she knew she'd been caught. Bruce gave her a smile unaware of the look Fox gave Makenna.
"I'll see what I can do." Fox answered as Bruce and Makenna left the room.
-M-
Fox was busy in the research and development lab when he heard the elevator open. He glanced up from his work and stopped what he was doing when he saw Makenna. She ran her fingers over the items as she walked through. Her eyes shifting to the suit that Fox had on the desk next to him.
"I take it you haven't told him yet?" Fox inquired going back to his work.
"No. Is it wrong of me not to tell him? I mean, he's risking his life every night for a city that will always be corrupt. I can't let him do this alone."
Lucius finished what he was working on and stood from the table. He walked over and placed a gentle hand on Makenna's shoulder. Makenna glanced up to meet his gaze.
"You're right he can't do this alone, and when you believe the time is right you will tell him." Fox reassured her.
Makenna smiled as she knew he was correct. Now all she had to do was figure out the best time to initiate her plan.