Embers
Summary- Sometimes, even the passage of time cannot put out every fire.
Disclaimer- The characters of Batman Begins and The Dark Knight belong to Christopher Nolan, Jonathan Nolan, David Goyer, Bob Kane, and other associated with the creation of the world of Gotham. I do not own the character. I merely dabble in the world.
"I have business in Gotham. If you leave well enough alone, there will be no bloodshed. If you complicate matters, I cannot promise a lack of fatalities."
Bruce Wayne replayed the message. He knew that voice. How could he ever forget it? Even after three years, he could close his eyes and conjure up the image of Talia.
"You've taken notice of the date, sir?" a quiet, polite tone prompted.
"Yes, Alfred." Bruce chuckled as he thought about it. "It's the thirteenth of May."
Alfred frowned as Bruce listened to the message again. "Punctual, certainly. You aren't—"
"I am." Bruce stopped the playback without deleting it.
*
A man dressed in black let himself into a Gotham hotel suite through the window. He left the lights off, but quickly took stock of the room. She'd come with few belongings, and she'd unpacked even less. The trip was only meant to last a few days.
Bruce Wayne removed his ski mask— having forgone his Batman costume tonight— and waited.
*
Not more than an hour later, the suite's door opened. The woman removed the hairpins from her hair as she turned on the lights. She met Bruce's gaze briefly before she resumed making herself comfortable in her hotel room.
"Thank you for just observing," she said as she unbuttoned her shirt's collar.
Bruce wasn't surprised. He'd seen Talia see him, and he meant her to see him. She had to be reminded that Gotham was his city. She didn't have free reign here. "You had it under control," he replied. "What's your next step?"
"The new spokesman for the union has strong financial ties. He'll raise a fuss, and the right people will notice."
"And the League?"
"Will do what is necessary."
Their eyes met, and Bruce conceded. She wouldn't tell him any more than she wanted.
In the silence that followed, he studied her. She hardly looked any different. The scar on her cheek— gotten from a brush with death at the Joker's hand— had faded, but he could still see it. He looked at her eyes and knew she was assessing him every bit as closely as he was her. He drew closer.
"It's May thirteenth," he murmured.
She hesitated briefly before she nodded. "I know."
Bruce touched her cheek. Talia stared up at him, but he knew her impassive expression was forced. He bowed his head and kissed her. She wrapped an arm around his neck and returned the kiss.
He heard her whisper, "Xin ai."