Making the Best of It
Chapter 5
An Abandoned Farm- 3 miles outside Gotham
Four weeks have passed since Diana's doctor's appointment with Leslie, four more weeks of the Scarecrow free to carry out whatever deviant scheme he has planning. After tearing Gotham City apart, going through Crane's old hideouts and hunting down his old goons, interrogating one old henchmen in particular resulted in gaining information on a current member of Crane's gang.
After hunting said thug down to the My Alibi, a bar, he waited until the goon came out with a stumble then made his move.
It's quite amazing how quickly a man sobers up when they are hanging from the top of a skyscraper. Batman couldn't get the man to shut up after he coughed up what he wanted to know.
Scarecrow's been operating outside an abandoned farm for months' now. It is the perfect hiding place for his plans. Isolated, so no will discover the deranged chemist and no one would report the noises coming from the place. His one mistake was bringing the idiots into the mix. He shouldn't have told his gang where to find him.
After a brief scuffle with the escapee, one of Scarecrow's thugs managed to catch the vigilante off guard and attacked him from behind. The other henchmen at the farm quickly arrive alerted by the noise.
Which brings the vigilante to right now.
Batman being restrained by three men attempting to put him feet first into a woodchipper
Batman grits his teeth struggling to shake them off, his cape hanging down. One thug on each of his arms holding them at bay, while the third is behind him with his large arms wrapped around his torso.
The three crabwalk the caped man closer to the machine, its loud engine rumbling the night.
"Come on already" one of his captors' whines as the vigilante continues to struggle.
"Damn he's strong" another utters holding one of the arms.
"Just move" the one behind Batman commands. "We're almost there."
The black and gray clad man pulls on his arms and breaks their hold on his arms and elbows the two in their faces.
They cry out and fall to the ground clutching their injured faces groaning in pain.
The third one still restraining the great detective tries putting him into the woodchipper by himself. However, the vigilante bends his knees and brings them to his chest and puts all his weight back and backflips over the thug. His feet returning to the ground.
Unfortunately, the move made causes the thug to stumble forward into the machine. His arm tangled up in the crime fighter's cape ends up in the machine. The goon shrieks in agony as his arm is shredded, blood and bits as well as pieces of cape come out the other end. Batman gasps in horror at what happened and unlatches his cape from around his neck before he gets pulled in as well.
Batman gets straight to work pulling the maimed man free and puts him on the ground.
"Oh, shit!" one of the downed henchmen shouts.
"He killed Remy!" the other yells in horror.
Not wanting to end up like Remy, the two ran to their car. "Come on! The boss is already long gone." One says to the other starting the car and guns it.
Batman finds himself at a crossroads. He can go after the escaping thugs and find out where Scarecrow has gone, or he can stop the maimed goon from bleeding to death. No choice at all.
Batman wraps what's left of his cape around the stump of what was once an arm, putting pressure on it to slow the bleeding. He pulls off his utility belt and wraps it around acting as a tourniquet. He hopes the man doesn't go into shock. Blood soaking his gauntlets, some splashed on his face and on his black and yellow outlined bat symbol on his chest. Batwing en route for med evac.
Damn it all.
Wayne Manor
Today is Saturday. Usually most of the house would still be asleep, except for Alfred. However, since the arrival of the Amazon Princess it has gotten quite lively. Except for Damian, whose interaction with the woman has been scarce. The teenager still views the woman's unborn child to be a threat to his position in the family.
Which brings us to now, in the kitchen of the manor where Damian is enjoying an omelet, made by Alfred, whom cleans up, silently scolding the boy for eating in the kitchen and leaving the dining room collecting metaphoric dust, because the Wayne family butler would never overlook any speck of dust in his cleaning duties.
Just then the Amazon of the house enters the kitchen. Dressed in a pair of gray sweatpants and a lavender tank top, her feet bare. Her belly starting to swell as she has just started her second trimester.
"Good morning" she greets the two males. The teenager ignores her greeting but the gentleman bids hello, "Good morning, Miss Diana! And how are you feeling this morning?"
"Fine" she answers opening the refrigerator, seeking the milk. Finding none, she looks to Alfred, "Any milk?"
"I am dreadfully sorry, Miss Diana, but I'm afraid I used the last of it to make Master Damian's omelet" he answers with a frown.
A sigh escapes her ruby lips, so much for cereal for breakfast.
So, she opens the freezer and pulls out a container of cookies and cream ice cream, which she has been craving.
Shutting the door, she stands at the kitchen island and opens it.
The butler looks on with his mouth half open and raising a finger debating whether he should interject on the pregnant woman's choice of breakfast.
Thankfully, he didn't have to as the master of the house returns.
He walks in dressed in a dark suit, white shirt with the collar open, sans tie. He approaches Diana and plucks the dessert from her hands and receives a look from her for his actions.
Instead of speaking to her, he sets down on the island a gallon of milk in a plastic bag. He walks around the kitchen gathering a spoon, a bowl, and cereal. He sets them down in front of Diana.
"Oh. Thanks", she says as Bruce pours the milk into the bowl.
She gives him a small smile but all he does is stare at her blankly. She starts to eat her breakfast and Bruce gets himself some coffee.
Leaning against the island, as she chews, her eyes narrow as she catches something on the milk container. Curious, she swallows and moves the milk gallon in place with her finger.
It takes a few seconds to know what the faded red splotch is. "There's blood on the milk" she states bluntly.
"Not my blood" Bruce calls out as he exits the kitchen. Diana looks over her shoulder to Alfred in worry.
The gentleman simply shrugs his shoulders not knowing what to say.
Watchtower
Batman stalks the corridors of the satellite mentally groaning to himself for having monitor duty. He's stuck looking at computer screens for the next six hours while Scarecrow still roams free in Gotham.
"Batman" a male voice calls out interrupting the vigilante's thoughts.
The dark cloaked man stops in his tracks and mentally sighs, he knows whose voice that was.
He slowly turns his head looking over his shoulder seeing a red and blue clothed man approaching.
Another sigh.
The kryptonian catches up to Batman. "Bruce, how are things?" he greets in his usual chipper tone.
"Fine" the man replies curtly.
"Cool" the red and blue man utters awkwardly. "So, how's Diana?"
"She's fine."
"Okay. And, how are you doing?"
"I'm fine" he bits out having frown annoyed by the barrage of questions.
Feeling that he's on thin ice, he asks what he really wanted to know. "I hear you cut a man's arm off?" he states sternly.
Batman turns his head forward and scoffs. This is why he's facing an inquisition?
"It was an accident" Batman answers wanting to end Superman's inquiry.
"The man's lucky to be alive!" Superman snaps at him.
Finally, having had enough, Batman faces the kryptonian gritting his teeth in fury. "He tried to woodchipper me" he explains.
"And that justifies maiming the man!" the dark-haired man explodes.
"It was an accident!" Batman repeats.
The conversation getting more and more heated with every word.
Seeing as how things are going nowhere, Superman tries another approach, "Look, I know you're going through a rough time," he empathizes. "With Diana and the baby. With Selina. Just know that you can talk to—"
"Enough!" Batman interrupts with a roar. "Yes, I am still dealing with the end of my engagement. Yes, I am still getting used to the idea of a baby and I am still dealing with the fact I wrecked Diana's relationship, but I wouldn't take my frustrations out by maiming a man" he finishes. Every word getting him angrier and angrier.
With nothing left to say, Batman walks off.
"Bruce" Superman calls out.
"Don't you have a building to go leap?!" the vigilante yells leaving Superman alone in the hallway.
Leslie's Clinic
Diana sits atop of the exam table waiting patiently for the doctor to arrive. Dressed in a light blue long-sleeved shirt with a low neckline, dark jeans and boots. Her long dark hair in a ponytail and a pair of thin-rimmed glasses to finish off her appearance.
Sitting in the corner is Bruce quiet and mile away in his own mind. Thoughts on the Scarecrow no doubt. He knows he shouldn't be thinking about a madman right now; he should be here in the room thinking about seeing his child again.
He brings himself to the here and now, glancing at Diana, whom, is slouching slightly, the palm of her hands pressing into the cushioned table absently kicking her legs.
Just then, Leslie enters with a smile and shuts the door behind her. "So, who's ready to see a baby?" she asks pleasantly.
"I am" the pregnant woman answers with a small smile. Excitement raging within her. And why wouldn't she? Today is the day they find out whether they are having a boy or a girl. The Amazon has already expressed her opinion to Bruce on the sex of their child.
The doctor starts to get to work on Diana. Checking her pulse, temperature and blood pressure as well as drawing some blood. As she does this, she asks the woman how she's feeling.
The woman responds that she feels fine. No abnormalities during her pregnancy so far. The older woman expresses how good that is.
Thompkins informs the woman she will be preforming an ultrasound and she should lie back.
Diana nods and does so.
Leslie drags the sonographer from the corner to Diana and activates it.
Diana calls Bruce over to be there to witness this moment. Wanting to be there as well the man gets up from his seat and walks over to her.
Diana pulls up her shirt revealing her swollen belly. It is a bump. A lovely bump if you asked anyone in the room.
Leslie squirts gel on the exposed stomach and presses the wand into the flesh. The wand is moved around collecting images.
While this is happening, Diana reaches over and grabs Bruce's hand tightly. He doesn't say anything nor gives her a look. He's completely entranced by the ultrasound.
Leslie flips a switch on the machine to help capture an image.
After a few more minutes pass, Leslie responds, "Here we are" she states joy evident in her words. Her words catch the expectant parents' attention.
"Do you want to know what you're having?" she asks.
"Yes!" the two exclaim simultaneously.
Their reaction brings an even bigger smile to the old woman's face. "Well, I can assure you both that your daughter is perfectly healthy in this stage of her development."
"Daughter?" Bruce murmurs in disbelief. He's going to have a daughter. The thought causes the corner of his lip to twitch upwards slightly.
Diana looks back over her shoulder to Bruce, "Told ya" she says with a smug smile.
"You had a fifty-fifty shot" the man replies with a grimace. She teasingly sticks her tongue out at him.
"It's a good thing we didn't bet. Otherwise, I'd be the billionaire and you… "she pauses trying to put this delicately, "would be penniless" she decides to be tactless.
The dark-haired man however is not amused. He slightly glares at the Amazon, whom still gives him a beautiful teasing smile.
The man looks away and exhales through his nose deeply and returns to her. His stoicism is broken as her smile breaks through and he cracks a small smile of his own.
Leslie interrupts the pair's exchange by clearing her throat, successfully gaining their attention. She continues her medical explanations by pointing to an area on the ultrasound and circles it with her index finger. "This here is where you can see the baby's sex, if you two were wondering. Ten little fingers and toes too."
"Can we get a copy?" Diana asks, her eyes transfixed on the image of her daughter. The idea brings her warm feeling inside.
"Of course."
Suddenly, Diana gasps, her azure-eyes wide.
"What's wrong?" Bruce exclaims worriedly.
The raven-haired woman's eyes slowly tera up and starts to sob.
"Diana?" Bruce utters panicked. His hands out not knowing what's wrong. Hundreds of horrible things flash through his mind.
The pregnant woman slowly collects herself and turns to Bruce, "She moved" she sniffs. "I felt her move."
The dark-haired man breathes a sigh of relief. For a second, he thought something terrible had occurred.
Leslie, whom was quiet offers her medical expertise, "That's called quickening" she explains. "The first movement of the fetus. Usually, occurs during the first few weeks of the second trimester."
When the two returned to the manor and told Alfred the news that a daughter of the Wayne family will soon pass through the threshold of Wayne Manor.
Bruce and Diana know one thing for certain. They can't wait to see their daughter.
Wayne Enterprises- Bruce Wayne's Office
Bruce sits at his desk, cursing the day he met the Gentle Man and wishes he never agreed to sub in for him once a year.
And Lucius was right. Regina Zellerbach would raise holly hell. And she is.
Bringing him to the two other occupants of his office. Lucius Fox and Regina Zellerbach.
The latter is shouting at the billionaire regarding some news floating around the company building.
Diana Prince is having Bruce Wayne's baby. Someone apparently saw the two leave Wayne Tower together as well as someone finding out Diana's seeing an OBGYN.
God, he wants to strangle someone right now.
"How dare you give one of your floozies the highest position in the Wayne Foundation" Regina explodes.
The billionaire keeps his cool and keeps up his mask. The man leans back in his seat and crosses his arms across his chest.
Lucius remains silent, more than happy for Bruce to handle his own mess. As well as awaiting an opportunity to step in of things get ugly.
"Regina, relax" Bruce replies waving his hand as if it's nothing.
The older woman slams her hands on the rich man's desk, startling Fox and shaking some of the items on the desk, "Don't tell me to relax!" Regina yells. "I wanted that promotion and you knew it! And gave it to some slut you knocked up!" she accuses glaring at the man.
And with that civilities are gone.
"Alright enough!" Bruce commands angrily. "Diana has proven to be a competent head as well managing to find over half the embezzled money from the previous head's time" he tells her. He rests his arms on his desk, "Diana's going on maternity leave in a few months. You'll get your chance to be the head of the Wayne Foundation then. Now, get out" he orders annoyed.
Regina grimaces angrily and straightens up and walks to the door. As she opens said door, she yells, "This isn't over" slamming the door shut.
Fox sighs, "That went well" he jokes.
Bruce just glares at the older man.
Sorry for the delay and sorry for another small chapter but this is how I planned it out. Thank you all for the reviews, follows and favs! Small little hiatus for this story. Going to work on Beware the wonderbat and life unexpected. Already have the beginning of the BWB started and then want to get to work on LE because I am very psyched for the next chapter. I have so much planned for it! But I will still be working on the Making the best of it willing working on the others I promise. TDKT will be delayed for a little while because I can seem to find the will to get on with it and I don't want to force myself to do it because then no one's gonna enjoy. But this also helps me plan out the rest of the first act which will be spectacular.
Finally, I have a question for all of you. Can you give me feedback on if I'm doing Bruce right? I feel like my Bruce is lacking. I just thought that if Batman went through hell and ruined his own and Diana's relationship and found out he's having a baby with her he'd do the most Batman thing of all: throw himself into his work. I am working on helping him resolve his problems over time with Diana, whom will also be having some of her own problems. Also Diana. Let me know if I am doing her character justice. Anyway, see you next time!