Gotham from a distance looked like an achievement, an achievement of the people who built this place. The numerous skyscrapers that covered soo much of Gotham, gave the impression that this great city wasn't created in one day but took blood, sweat, and tears to get it to where it is today. If only it were that simple, the most recent buildings were built by corrupt officials, alleged crime lords, mob bosses for their own gains, to make themselves even richer than they already were. They feasted on the wealth of the people, the innocent men and women, forcing them to resort to petty methods to get their children to not go hungry each night. When an outsider looks at the city streets, he witnesses a foggy, old rundown place with dead trees, and mostly broken streetlights; he would walk across the Gotham bridge, and the only thing that would catch his attention is the muddy, and dark water of the Gotham river. He would than walk on the side of the road and look at the shady people in the alleyway, making him feel insecure, all the while he sees the grand litter on each side of the road. He would look at the buildings and realize that they don't look nearly as good as they did from a distance, most of the buildings are old, worn out, and missing more than a dozen windows. He than looks to go to a convenient store and buy something there. He finds little of value, most of the food is old, the employees are rude and careless, rushing through their work instead of making sure that it is actually done. The person finds that disgusting and refuses to buy anything from there. He leaves and returns home, saying that this city is nothing more than just a mess. Most of Gotham has learned to live with it, and the newer generations find this the norm. If only someone knew how much better their lives could be or how their assets are being taken without their permission.
Despite all the filth, all the terrible things in Gotham, there is something special about this place. The city has its own unique aesthetic, an identity that could never be replicated. It's a lived-in city, it's a place where crazy things can happen but the streets are still filled with people going about their everyday lives, not caring what might lie in the way. Some of Gotham's citizens are afraid to raise a finger against the corrupt people of Gotham but there are those who will stop at nothing, continuing to fight these people without hesitation, proud to call themselves a citizen of Gotham. These people believe that this city is worth fighting for, worth protecting, worth rebuilding. And for this alone, the city was worth fighting for.
The people who had come to accept their new way of life was out of fear and desperation, they could not standup for themselves and say 'We don't want to live like this!' because they knew that would be their end, and of their loved ones; they needed someone to tell them that they were safe and had nothing to fear, they can take a stand, someone who is dangerous but on the side of the people. The people needed someone to give them hope, hope that they too can become brave like him, if he can do it than why can't they? This was the thought that Bruce had, he saw himself as someone who can pull this off, give the people hope, and always looking for the best in people. Bruce wanted to pull this off because he was the one who could do it, because he had the tools to pull it off.
Wayne manor was a mansion on the outskirts of Gotham, it was the place where Gotham's wealthiest family had been living for the past four generations, the Waynes. It was built over a century ago but was still strong and standing. It was a large place, not the largest mansion in Gotham but a large place nonetheless. However, there were many secrets in the manor that no one knew about, secrets that were there for as long as the manor itself. The manor's lowest foundation was unheard of for many generations until it was discovered by Bruce Wayne. Bruce began to use this as the center of his operations. The place was on the perfect spot, it's one end was connected to the abandoned subway, and the other end was connected to a dirt road that lead to the highway leading out of Gotham. When Bruce arrived back to Gotham, no one knew about it. He never made his presence known to anyone except Alfred, his butler and his father figure. Bruce spent the first four months working inside the cave, installing ceiling lights and connecting the cave with the subway. He did most of the work by himself, refusing Alfred whenever he offered him assistance. One time, while cutting through the rocks, he broke his wrist but didn't stop and cut through anyway.
Bruce's great-great-grandfather had started the construction of several bases across Gotham (for unknown purposes), many of which were bought by the government while the rest were left as they were, and this cave was one of those bases. The deceased Wayne ordered the construction of three floors which allowed them to utilize every corner of the cave and connect it all together. This made this place his center of operations all the more easy, the foundation was set and he had to build on top of it. Bruce spent days in there, while the world didn't even knew that the long lost heir to the Wayne fortune had returned. The cave proved to be a perfect place, it was connected to Gotham and its outskirts and provided the perfect space.