Prologue.
There isn't much to complain about on calm nights.
The air is warm but clear and most of the city sounds quiet, robins out down the south of the city and no word from him.
The one thing that's setting me off is... It's quiet in Gotham city.
Jokers been missing for a year, and Selina has been on the down low for longer.
There are the thugs at least since penguin likes to be a Workaholic.
I have mostly everyone in Arkham right now except Solomon and penguin." Bruce takes a sip of his whiskey while he relaxes deeper into his chair.
Gordon takes a long drag of his cigar while he stares at Bruce.
"Bruce if it's calm and everyone's accounted" Gordon rubs his neck "then what's the use in getting paranoid?"
Bruce locks eyes with Jim. "last time I got sloppy Jason died. Another time I got my back broken... You of all people should understand I cannot afford to make myself idle." Bruce cuts into his steak as an excuse to ease off the eye contact since it's one of the few things that makes him truly uncomfortable.
Jim took notice of this and offers Bruce a smile. "Look Bruce, I understand it's hard to trust this city after everything, but if you don't relax, you will make a mistake."
Bruce chews his steak carefully as he considers how to take this.
"I don't make mistakes. I find errors and never let those errors happen again." Bruce drinks his whiskey, this time taking more than a sip.
Jim adjusts his tie and looks down at his watch. "funny you mention that. Barbara needs me to get her meds so I best be heading out."
Bruce knows what he means, yes he has avoided another Jason Tod. What he didn't do, though, was keep Barbara safe from the joker. The bullet lodged itself deeply into her spine and it's safe to say joker probably did a lot more to her than she will admit; she had bite marks and scratches all down her shoulders from what Bruce could see when he saw her at the hospital last.
Bruce hands Gordon a cheque "this is the right amount for her therapy yes?"
Jim takes it. "yes but why don't you ask her yourself? It's been a year since you last spoke to her. She misses you."
Bruce stands up and leaves to the elevator before Gordon could say a word.
Chapter 1: old debt's
Bruce wakes up, his back aching, Alfred takes Bruce's arm. "morning master Bruce" he injects a needle into his arm. The liquid shoots up his veins like a bolt of lightning, soothing every muscle it crosses but burns each bullet hole and stab mark it touches till they felt practically none existent.
"Thank you Alfred," Bruce starts doing push-ups.
"Your stock has risen 12% this week and we still list the crime rate as stable. Dick got home at 4am with only a minor bruise to his chin. The board wants to meet with you at 8 and Harvey wants to speak to you around 11am for coffee." Alfred places an enormous weight onto Bruce's back.
"what about the Arkham meeting isn't that today?" Bruce adjusted himself to one handed push-ups.
"that's pushed forward to 6pm since Mr strange is being called for an emergency appointment later regarding Harley's latest escape attempt, says here she killed 12 men injured 5 and made one of them sterile with a sharpened spoon... So nothing out of the ordinary, I suppose?" Alfred sighs.
Bruce stopped at his 100th push up. "Since she lost Joker she's been truly insane. I want to help her but at the rate it's going, I fear she may have to be sent to Blackgate." Bruce was now skipping on the spot while Alfred timed him.
"30 minutes with no missed steps, master Bruce." Alfred stopped the timer. "Now please, will it be breakfast this morning or fasting?"
Bruce turned with a grin. "blue berries and oatmeal please."
Bruce put on his best suit and made sure to get his hair at its finest.
The board wants to see him, which usually means he's in trouble or he's done something brilliant, but only the meeting will let him know.
Wayne tower stood over Gotham. Bruce hated the attention but knew that the Wayne name is a beacon of hope that needs its self burning bright. He put a 41 billion dollar expansion into the building to make it the largest and brightest in the city. This also allowed1200 more people into the building, so all in all, he's happy.
The air in the meeting room was harsh and cold. Everyone looked at each other anxiously awaiting Bruce's arrival.
As he enters, everyone rises quickly and adjusts their suits.
"good morning Bruce" chairman Scott Howard beams and offers a hand. he was a short skinny man with a smile that could best be described as 'yikes'
Bruce shakes it quickly and sits down. "morning everyone. Sorry I was late. Traffic felt like getting beaten with a stick."
Arms planted firmly to the table, he makes a point of giving everyone a smile while sitting back in his chair confident.
Scott takes the lead "Bruce I'm sorry we called you in like this at a moment's notice but we just have some pressing issues to attend to" he grins wide and warm at Bruce. "don't worry we avoided any trouble for now."
Bruce was monitoring everyone. some fidgeted and others stared around aimlessly. No one wanted to look at him.
Scott continued, "we got hold of a press story before it could leak... Is it true you're running for mayor?" his bluntness took aback everyone but Bruce appreciated it.
"Yes. I am going to run for mayor after I announce a brand new community centre." Now everyone was staring at Bruce with daggers in their eyes. "With my parents' murder reaching its 20th anniversary I figured now would be time to establish that the Wayne spirit is alive and well."
Scott sat back and stared down Bruce like he was some kind of unicorn. "how do you plan to handle this business? While not explicitly illegal, it would look bad on you if you run a business that can directly benefit from your policies." Scott was playing with his pen like a happy schoolboy. Bruce knows what Scott is really asking.
"I look forward to a break from business. I will admit..." Bruce took a moment to weigh his words. "temporarily ill be relinquishing control over the Wayne empire to my friend Lucius Fox. I will hold an interview with Vicki Vale tomorrow for a public broadcast announcement of my temporary resignation along with the Wayne community center." Bruce waited for questions calmly with a smile he's practiced 1000 times. But inside this was more terrifying than anything some thug has pulled on him. Batman is a battle he knows and understands... Bruce Wayne is a war he usually avoids.
"Is it the right thing to do, sir? If your campaign we're to fail and I'm not saying it will but if it does the bad press could cripple this company!" Ms Grimshaw has been in this company for 60 years, this woman knew the family so well she's possibly changed Bruce's diapers at some point. If there's anyone in this room, he can trust it's her.
"Please Ms Grimshaw call me Bruce you've earned that- now to address your questions. Yes, I'm aware I could very easily fail and we all know my connection to the Harvey already hurt my chances and our stock, but I have to stop sitting on this throne and actually help those below us. You and I both know my mother and father would want this." Bruce held her hand attentively while Ms Grimshaw dabbed her eyes. "Now sadly, unless there's more to address, I have a meeting,"
Bruce walks up to his limo and waves to the press. "please make room for my driver" he quickly gets inside and locks the door.
"Did it go well master Bruce?" Alfred asks as he bully's the car out of the press mob.
"well to say it's scared everyone is an understatement, I need to be clear as possible if we have any controversy for the next year then I might tank everything... It's best we keep Vicki close as we can to keep on top of everything" Bruce makes a point of buckling his seatbelt as someone takes another photo "role model is the campaign model after all."
Alfred adjusts his mirror to focus on Bruce. What does batman think about this?
Bruce's face drops and his posture straightens while his voice drops. "it will help this city greatly for us to start attacking crime in all corners of this city, but the fact I have to semi-retire is not comforting. I'll have to make sure robin is ready, but I trust him and the green arrow to effectively hold our steady crime rate." Batman unlocks the door and opens the window a jar so as to listen out for the city.
"please remember we're all here for you master Bruce," Alfred finally gets away from the mob.
Bruce leans his head back and rubs his eyes. "yeah Alfred, I know. Whatever happens know I love you" this was far too touching by Bruce's standards but he knows Alfreds been worried sick since Joker last attacked.
Harvey was sitting outside the coffee shop and waves down Alfred. "wish me luck" Bruce gets out excitedly "looking healthy"
Harvey rubs his face a little. "not to bad yourself Bruce" harvey hugs him "can't figure out how you stay in such good shape with all that partying of yours"
They enter the shop and look around, fake gold rims on seats and 'expensive' plates that the customers ignore while they write away like it's a standard Starbucks "gentrifications finest." Harvey remarks under his breath.
Harvey's face was healing nicely. Last time he tried running for mayor, some protestor threw acid at him. It was a pretty vicious compound that nearly ate his bone, but now he just has a nifty scar across his lip.
"12 dollar coffee? Or 8 for a duo order, but it's just the plain stuff." Harvey points to the menu.
"Harvey please I can cover whatever you want." Bruce looked at the cashier apologetic.
They sit down by the window facing the street.
"look outside the window Bruce. What do you see?. I see rundown crumbling apartments and cars 20 years out of fashion" Harvey points outside "but in here we are drinking 20 dollar coffee, and down the road you will see the construction of a target. The rent in those apartments is 1200 a month, no expenses covered. When I run I'll end this and get low income represented."
Bruce's heart drops when he hears this "it's certainly a good idea" Bruce wanted to be sick. he meant this as asking for Harvey's help not to tell him he's a competitor.
"what's the matter Bruce? Looks like you've seen a ghost." Harvey asked jokingly but his grin gave away hints of worry.
"i- Harvey I have something to tell you" Bruce rubbed his hands together. "Harvey I'm already running for mayor. I'm having an interview tomorrow with Vicki. Just please understand I didn't know I thought after- "
Harvey loudly put his cup down. "after what Bruce? After I got burned up! You didn't at all while i spent a year in the hospital. I can accept you not coming because you hate the stress but I cannot believe you. 12 years I've known you and suddenly now you stop being some kid and think 'hey I'll become Mr mayor!' No, Bruce I worked and I paid every dime I could into my face and yet here you are coming in and ruining my career as well!" Harvey was bent over the table up close to Bruce. "you can't even look me in the eye... You can't look anyone in the eye and you mean to tell me you want to start accepting and playing with high society like it's a cakewalk?" Harvey was bending the table as he leaned on it.
Bruce stared directly into Harvey's eyes to spite him. "I funded your entire campaign. I was there for you every step of the way, even when the IRS caught up with your father. Who was the one that gave 400 million to the dents? Me Harvey. I have done nothing but fight for your success." He stands up and towers Harvey. "please let's get out of here and talk in private," bruce asks hushed.
Everyone is staring at them and someone takes a picture.
Bruce tries to rest a hand on Harvey's shoulder but he grabs Bruce's wrist the pushes him away. "that's right, take pity on the monster.." he runs out of the shop.