Beacon
Wayne Manner
- Gym -
Bruce's eyes focus to his front as he repeatedly strikes a red punching bag that hangs from the ceiling. His fists were concealed by hand wraps. He was shirtless, dressed in cargo pants and black socks. He keeps up the efforts of his hits forward at the bag. He upper body sweats, his breath lags behind his swift motions as if his mind and body were fighting each other. He ears blare with the sound booming from the radio stationed on the other side of the room.
"A Family of four were found brutally murdered this morning, the authorities have yet to comment on the suspect's identity"
"A surge in gang violence has swept the city of Gotham, experts are saying that the numerous increase of gang members is being caused by Oswald Cobblepot A.K.A The Penguin, along with several other warring factions, such as Johnathan Crane, also known as the Scarecrow..."
Bruce continues his assault, over and over. His knuckles bleed and scar. The once night had slowly faded away as with it came the flare of the early hours of the morning that creep through the curtains and into the room with Bruce.
"A new member to the organized game, going by "Joker" has claimed responsivity for a lethal chemical attack which left several dozen people dead and with what eye-witnesses claim to be *smile on the victims faces*. These are truly dark days for Gotham"
Something deep inside Bruce snaps, as he jumps and rams his leg into the side of the punching bag, tripping over and dropping to the ground, lying on his front and using his elbows for support. He pans his gaze across until a pair of polished black shoes come into view. He lifts his face and sees Alfred standing before him with a towel wrapped around his arm and with a tray resting in his hand. Alfred delivers a firm glare to the young man "Master Bruce, you have been up all bloody night going at it. look at you, you are a mess"
"Thanks, Alfred. I can always count on you for moral support" Bruce lifts himself up from the ground slowly, grabbing onto Alfred for support.
"And I can always count on you to not listen to a bloody word that I say" Alfred hands the towel over to the other man. Bruce takes it and throws it around the back of his neck "Sure you can stand now, but what good will that do you when spending all that time immobile has left you quite stiff. And last time I checked, punching a bag doesn't quite make up for all of your advanced combat training"
"I know that" Bruce turns from Alfred "It took me years to learn all of that, now look at me? I can barely move, I can't even run because my legs are stiff as hell. My entire body is aching now"
"And here you are... making that problem of yours even worse... you do have quite the tendency to do that, don't you? I suggest that you be more careful, sir, otherwise you will end up ruining you back... for a second time" Alfred steps aside and sets down the tray onto a wooden table, turning the dial down on the radio "Now... some breakfast and some well-needed rest will be vital in getting you back in tip-top shape"
"Not hungry, not tired either," Bruce says as he unwraps the blood-stained hand wraps "I need to get back to the action"
"Did not a single word get through your head, Master Bruce? You and I have been through this... more times than I can count"
Bruce stops his actions, turning his head to Alfred "I need to be out there. People need me..."
Alfred holds his arms behind his back and steps towards Bruce "And what are you planning to do about it? Stand in the corner and look scary? If you haven't noticed, you can't hold your own in a fight anymore. What is to happen if you are put into a situation where you must fight for your survivor? What if you encounter Bane again?"
"I can handle it!" Bruce turns and yells at the older man "... I have to..."
Alfred inches closer and places his hand on Bruce's shoulders "... Listen to me, son. You are my boy, I watched over you as you became the man that you were today, I have also been there for you, you and I are family, Bruce. Not through blood, but through something much more powerful. We have been there for each other in our darkest days, our most dangerous of battles. No matter how hard the world tried to break us apart, we stayed together, I raised you and you gave me something that I could have never dreamed of... someone that I can be truly proud of..."
"...The city needs me" Bruce lowers his head.
"I'm not dismissing that, but you and I both have different people in mind for the job. If you are to venture out into the wild of Gotham, then promise me one thing. Let Bruce Wayne be the one in the spotlight, reminding the city of your parent's legacy... make me proud. Batman has no place in bringing new light to Gotham"
Sirens Club
Selina sits at the front of the bar, holding a glass in hand. The club was empty, closed. With Selina and Barbara being the only ones present. The redhead stands behind the counter, kneeling over to face the raven-haired woman. Barbara's hand slides over Selina's hand as she pushes down in an attempt to get the younger woman to put the glass down "When I said that I would do you a drink. I meant only one, you clearly are not in the right state of mind to be trying to drown your sorrows away. Are you going to finally tell me why you are in this mood of yours?"
"Can I get a second opinion on that? Lee's a doctor, right?" Selina musses much to the dismay of Barbara who sighs.
"No, you can't. Seriously, what is your deal? You're too old to use the excuse of teenage angst"
Selina lifts her head, her green eyes pierce at Barbara "I've recently gone through a load of emotion all in one go, I've done enough crying to dry up my eyes for life, and I have this urge to punch someone, really, really hard"
"That someone wouldn't be named Bruce would they? I gotta say, he's a lucky bastard for getting out of the city right before all the madness went down. What did Lucius say that he was? A ski resort or something like that. If Bruce only waited a few weeks, he would have had more than enough snow" Barbara's eyes fixate on Selina "I never did get around to asking you, how did it go down between you two"
"Complicated" Selina replies as she runs her hand through her hair "Went as it usually does. It was amazing for a while but as always, it ended with me getting my heart broken. I should have never listened to your advice"
"I'm sorry to hear that" Barbara apologetically replies "... you two always seemed... perfect for each other. Don't worry about it, Selina. I'll kick his ass once he gets back." Barbara stands straight and hands the glass back to the other woman "Billionaires... no matter how nice they seem, they always seem to turn out to be assholes"
"Bruce isn't a bad man, just a complicated one. Even I can't understand him sometimes"
"If you say so, but I doubt there is any dark secret to Bruce Wayne. He's just a man with a lot of money, and just as much free time"
Selina curls her fingers around the glass "Well out of sight, out of mind. Bruce and I have already done this dance before and I am in no mood for an encore." She pushes the glass towards the redhead "How about a refill, then I might tell you what is really bothering me"
"You've had enough, Selina" Barbara firmly reinforces.
"You haven't heard what I had to say yet. I'm going to need an entire bottle" Selina gests as she leans forward "Carmine Falcone is my father. And my mother is back in town." Barbara loses her firm look and replaces it with a shocked expression.
"... Noted... I'll go get something heavier" she leaves the back of the bar and walks into the side room. Selina sits in silence as she waits for Barbara to return. Her ears prick as she hears footsteps from behind as sees a figure sit up onto the counter. She swiftly turns her head towards the individual. Her eyes widen as she sees Bruce sitting with his legs crossed in a white loose-collar shirt under a black loose jacket. His hair was perfectly combed back and his smile was as smug as ever.
"What are you doing here?!" Selina spits as she jumps to her feet and glares at the man on the counter.
"I wanted to see you, plus you very crudely cut me off last night. I thought we could continue from where we left off" Bruce grabs the glass from the counter along with near-empty bottle beside it. Bruce pours the wine into the glass, keeping his eyes on Selina "Oh right, you are the illegitimate love child Carmine Falcone and Maria Kyle, that was quite the shocker wasn't it? Or was it...? You can't honestly feel that such a revelation is completely out of left field"
"Leave now..."
"Oh come on, love. There is no need to be such a spoiled sport about it. Though... I cannot begin to imagine the complete cluster fuck of emotions that are going on through your head right now. Hell, you might even be crazier than even I am. Gotham's most notorious crime boss is your daddy... and a washed-out bimbo is your mother. That's a match made in heaven if I ever saw one." Bruce sips from the glass as he keeps his eyes on Selina.
"And a sleazy douchebag is my ex, get out!" Selina hisses.
"Ouch" Bruce shrugs "You may not quite understand what's going on right now, but I'm trying to save you here". Bruce slides off the counter and onto his feet, lifting the glass "I'm the Jiminy Cricket to your Pinocchio. I suggest that you open up those pretty ears..."
"You don't get to tell me what to do"
"Of course not. You live on the edge, you live for thrills, right? Is that why you formed a crime fighter band with Harleen and Talia?" Bruce raises an eyebrow "See... I can understand with Talia. She knows how to hold her own you... you do as well but the little cute blonde? She watched someone she cared about getting brutally beaten to a bloody pulp right before her own eyes and she couldn't do anything about it. That must full someone with so much anger, anger that they were want to unleash on the world..."
Selina folds her arms and glares at Bruce "Where are you going with this? Harleen needed a way to vent her anger rather than letting it consume her. You aren't telling me that you wouldn't give someone the same opportunity if they needed it? It's what you would have done"
"Maybe it is, but you made one fatal error," Bruce says as he begins to circle the woman "Having her seek justice is one thing but we both know very well what she is looking for. She is looking for vengeance, to vent her anger. She doesn't care who she hurts, you've seen it. When she nearly killed that man, you know it, I know it, she is losing control of herself. And you are the one who gave her the means to do so"
"... How did you know that? Harley and I were the only ones there..." Selina asks puzzled.
"You still haven't figured it out? Oh dear..." Bruce sits down on the barstool and spreads his arms out across the counter "Someone hasn't been keeping up with their Pinocchio. *What's a conscience! I'll tell ya! A conscience is that still small voice that people won't listen to*" Bruce leans forward "I say it's about time you begin to hear me out"
"You're my conscience... right..." Selina purrs "Get out of here, both figuratively and literally. You've worn out your welcome, not like you even had it to begin with"
"Always ready to pounce on whatever you feel is antagonistic towards you. Your mother, your friends... even your own conscience" Bruce sips from the glass in his hand "You are always trying to find someone to pass the blame on to, someone who you can hold accountable for all of your misdeeds. You have been so busy trying to find that enemy that you have even forsaken your own friends, and in this city, you need all the friends that you can get"
"This is ridiculous. You're not my conscience! That would mean that I am crazy, and I sure as hell ain't. Tell me one thing, one thing that only I would know" Selina asks with widened lips, a strong look of anger in her eyes and a visibly shaking hand.
"Crazy? No. But something is happening to you, something that is changing you, something that is trying to take away any good intentions that you have. Almost like a chemical being released inside your little brain." Bruce stands up, dusting off his jacket "As per your request. When you were eight, you were already accustomed to life on the streets of Gotham. The smell, the animals, the monsters. It was like an entirely different world compared to the life of those who knew no such way of living..."
"You didn't know what day it was, all you knew was that the storm was strong, strong winds and even some lightning for some dramatic effect. You forced into a shelter to hide from the harsh elements. You were hungry, soaked, you haven't eaten for days or even drank. You were tired, with only a small chunk left from the tuna can that you stole. You were hurting, in pain. But then you saw something, a stray cat left out to suffer from the harsh elements, malnourished, to a level of being hard to look at. A tiny black cat"
"Though you were starving, you gave what little you had to that poor thing. You took it in, played with it, gave it the love that you and it both needed, the two of you took shelter together from the storm for the night. It was the best night that you had for a long time, being able to sleep soundly, even feeling safe. You even named the little bastard, right? Ah yes, Isis. That must have been where you got your affinity for felines" Bruce sets the glass down on the counter, looking over to the dark-haired woman "Shame that the little rascal didn't make it, all those hungry nights, all those rapid dogs, what did her in was you not having the means to pay for a basic trip to the vets"
Selina's emerald eyes slowly begin to water "I just woke up one morning and she was... she was gone. It was like losing my family all over again. Back then I didn't have a single thing except for her, I still dream of her," she says with trembling lips and a drowning gaze.
"And now what do you have? Friends, a fancy apartment and someone who you love. That's a lot more than most people, and now the news of your true lineage has come knocking, breaking into the life that you once had. What happens next is your call princess. I'd say you better keep your eyes pealed"
"Selina? Who are you talking to?" Barbara asks concerned as she has returned to the back of the counter as she gives the woman a suspicious look. Selina looks to her side only to see that the man was gone, vanished from the room. Selina shakes her head and returns her focus towards the redhead.
"No one" Selina replies.
"Really...? I've been standing here for a solid minute trying to get your attention, you seemed to be having quite the conversation with yourself" Barbara leans over the counter to inch closer to the other woman "Are you're sure that you are alright? You do look a little bit tired. That added with the recent bombshell that you told me can't be doing you any favours"
"I'm fine" Selina firmly reinforces "Just going through a lot, okay?"
"Just don't go through it on your own. You have friends here"
Wayne Tower
- Research & Development -
Lucius hunches over the workbench, his eyes looking through the lens of the microscope, examining the small chip. He twists and turns the dial to get a focused sight on the object in question. With marked intervals, he looks between the eyes of the lens and the laptop that showed the chip's inner workings. His other hand softly presses against the mouse, selecting different parts of the image "The wiring is standard military affair but the outer casing is anything but that. Whatever the compound is, it has to be able to be put into a person without causing metal poisoning, nor affect the body's core functions nor disrupt blood flow"
"I'm bored," Harleen says sheepishly, covering her mouth when she yawns. Sitting on the workbench, arms lifting her chin up and gently kicking her legs. Dressed in a red dress and black tights with high-heels. Her hair was tied back into a ponytail and she had her glasses on. She was almost child-like in her posture, constantly fidgeting with the non-stop kicks of her legs and the countless times she would adjust herself, either folding her legs over only to undo them and hang them down mere moments later. Occasionally she would fiddle with strands of her hair with her fingers.
With the haymaker that kept intruding on Lucius' attention taking the form of a large pink bubble of gum that the blonde would keep blowing, just to pop it and begin anew with sizing up the bubble to break her previous score. The pop echoes throughout the room, almost like a momentary blast of thunder which was not helped by the hollow walls "Ya been at this for hours, do ya ever take a day off?" the blonde asks in her trademarked ditz-like manner.
"You are free to leave whenever you like, Miss Quinzel" Lucius tiredly informs the woman as he uses the laptop to zoom in on the blueprints of the half-broken device.
Harleen replies with another pop of the large bubble and returns to chewing the gum "I thought ya said that ya needed me here," Harleen lowers her arms and plants her palms on the surface of the workbench, she begins to tap the tips of her fingers against the hard top which were made aggrandizement by the echo that also seemed to haunt the room.
"No, I said that you are welcome to stay if you would like" Lucius steps away from his station, looking down to his watch "Don't take this the wrong way but I think that I can maximize the result of my research if you would ever so elegantly leave me to my own devices"
"Ya want me to scram?" Harleen bellows in a soft tone "One moment ya wanna invite me to stay and next ya wanna see my butt walk out of the door? I'm not that annoyin', am I?" Harleen coax Lucius for an answer. The man refrains himself from answering on impulse and instead gives himself time to rethink his rejoinder.
"I'm not going to lie to you but I'm also not going to answer that. I said that you could stay but foreboding hours of constant interruption and bumble gum pops... which I have seen you stick under the table has undoubtedly changed my initial offer, heck you don't even have the clearance to get in this department in the first place" Lucius responds in the best and well-rounded way that he could manage. Harleen's bubble gum pops again when she hears his answer.
"Then what the hell am I even supposed to do? Ya were nice enough to pull enough strings to get me a job here but ya never give me a single thing to do? Ya don't even want me as your PA" Harleen emphasises her point with a flutter of her eyes.
"That's because I already have a PA, Harleen. And second, Bruce is the one who gave me the go-ahead to get you employed here, he didn't tell me what he wanted you to do nor the role he wanted you to play in this company" Lucius returns his attention to the laptop "Plus... you and the other girls' nightly activity should be more than enough excitement for you"
"Ya would think but gettin' shot at is only excitin' for so long, now it's just all samey. I'm really a simple girl, I just want a bit more flair" the blonde leans backwards, pressing her back to the wall behind her "Back at Arkham I meant something...," she presses her hand against her chest "I made a difference. I helped a lot of people, mostly just givin' them someone who would listen to them - people forget just how far that can go for some people. As much as I love the solace I get from beatin' those checkmate guys to they are black and blue, it's not the same as helping people on an emotional level. I need to be able to do something that matters, that's just what I want"
"I get it, Harleen. You want to open up and try to help others - that's great, but I'm really, really busy right now. I have an appointment to get to in a few minutes, plus I need to see several high-ranking people inside the company. Can this... can this just wait?"
"Ya wanna know the curse of living as someone who wants to listen to the problems and needs of people? No one ever wants to hear mine..." Harleen picks the gum out of her mouth "I'm only askin' for somethin' to do in this company. I would even be Bruce's PA. Didn't his last one get killed when the Jerome fanatics broke into Wayne Enterprise?"
"Yeah, he didn't really have the time to go through with getting a new one" Lucius folds his arms "But Bruce isn't here... you would be in the exact same position of having nothing to do"
"Not goin' forward, but he's gotta have a bunch of previous work that has been left on his desk. I could see if I can try to at least alleviate his workload for when he comes back from that fancy ski trip of his. Maybe if you can give me his direct line, I could have him tell me just what needs to be taken care of first?" the blonde suggests with a whimsical smile and tone.
"I need to get going, Harleen. But I'll give him a call later and see what he thinks of it. Just don't go getting your hopes up"
"Wouldn't dream of it" Harleen salutes Lucius with index and middle finger "Bruce adores me, in fact, I think he has a lil' crush on me"
"Pardon?" Lucius double-takes.
"It's the Brooklyn accent, no man can resist"
"Keep telling yourself that"
Later...
Wayne Manner
- Main Living Room -
Bruce's shoulder jolts, stiffening as Alfred brought his arms around Bruce's neck and straightens his tie "All these years Master Bruce and you are still clueless when it comes to sorting out your own tie. You are a full man now, there is no excuse for this tardiness" Alfred remarks. Bruce stood in a black suit over a white shirt. He brings his left arm over his right shoulder and rubs it. His eyes wincing in pain with each touch. He looked unconformable in the attire.
"I think being unable to move or walk for last few months is a half-decent excuse" Bruce shoots back with a friendly tone. He brings his hands over his tie "Plus it's always the last knot that I have trouble with. It's hardly a big deal, Alfred"
"It is when you are nearing your thirties, sir. Don't tell me you are going to go around with a loose collar and look like a total poser when I am no longer around to serve you" Alfred lifts his hands and pucks up Bruce's collar "You could always hire another butler, but I doubt they would be as challenging to your whims as I am. Sometimes you just got to be told no"
"I could never replace you, Al. The new guy would never be able to live up to your breakfasts" Bruce presses his thumb down on the cufflinks in his suit "Plus I would have to go through all the trouble of explaining to them why there is a giant cave below the house and that I like to dress up like a bat and glide across Gotham's skyline. Plus getting them to keep it a secret is going to be a whole other can of worms"
"Indeed, Master Bruce. It seems that we are stuck with each other" Alfred steps from Bruce and smiles.
"Wouldn't have it any other way" Bruce coyly smirks "Good thing I bought that penthouse in the city shortly after I got back from my training. It should give me the means to look over Gotham and not draw too much-unwanted attention. Is the chopper ready?"
"Not yet, sir. We are still awaiting clearance from those blasted checkmate hooligans. Give it a little longer, not even they are foolish enough to turn away Bruce Wayne. Remember what we talked about, Bruce. Be on your best behaviour. The people of Gotham are in need of a white knight now more than ever. Bruce Wayne is the hero that it needs. They need something to put their faith in, not something that demands fear." Alfred reminds the man.
"Do I look like Superman do you?" Bruce quips, walking forward and towards the door to the room with Alfred following behind "I'll do my best to regain the peace but my main focus is to get Harvey back in the game. He's the one that Gotham needs, even more than me. He's the ultimate symbol of justice that this city has ever seen"
"Very humble of you. I wish you luck on your travels, Bruce. Godspeed" Alfred notes.
"You're not coming, Alfred?" Bruce stops, turning his head to the older man.
"Afraid not. Word of my apparent death has spread through the city, sir. For me to come out to the public as perfectly alive... well that will certainly put a lot of attention on both me and you. The kind of attention that we cannot risk to have. Do not threat, I shall be here in case you are in need of any of your... more advanced equipment. If the time shall come when you are in need of the Batsuit, you will find that you will have me to send it to you, plus there is a less advance suit beneath Wayne Tower"
"It's too dangerous for you to stay here, Alfred. Jeremiah and Bane know who I am, leaving you alone here is going to put you in a lot of danger" Bruce protests.
"You will find that Jeremiah and Bane are indeed stuck on the island. The safest place for me to be is here. You just need to worry about returning to that troubled love life of yours. Miss Kyle and Miss Al Ghul are both on the island too. Now that could end up being more dangerous than any of your rogues" the older man advises Bruce.
"My main concern is Gotham. Trusting those two only ended up with them betraying me, it made me... it made me... that's in the past now. I need to learn to keep Bruce Wayne and Batman's life separate, including the people from them. I can't risk getting my head that clouded again, it nearly cost me my life and others...," Bruce closes his eyes for a moment "There are only a few people that I can trust in this world now, and I'm glad that you are one of them, Al"
"I am the one who is grateful, Master Bruce. Lucius shall meet you on top of Wayne Tower, safe travels" Alfred holds his arms behind his back and smiles "You will not have to worry about getting swarmed by the media at this hour, though they will eventually catch wind of your return so will the others in your life"
"Paparazzi? Now that is one villain that not even I can't take down" Bruce comments, opening the front door to the manner and walking out. Alfred walks in front of the doors, leaning his back against them to keep them open. The older delivers one final nod to Bruce.
The billionaire walks towards the grounded helicopter on his vast grounds of the Wayne estate. He climbs inside the cockpit on the opposite end of the piolet. The helicopter's blades begin to spin, increasing in speed. It starts to ascend off the ground. "Wear a scarf! It's dreadfully cold out there!" Alfred shouts up towards Bruce as the chopper flies upward and heads towards the city.
Gotham City
- Selina's Apartment -
Selina twists and turns in the bed, grumbling. Her never-ending movements had caused her to kick the bed covers over onto the floor. Her closed eyes tense, her breath spikes, being delayed and then constant and abrupt. Her fingers claw into the bedsheets, curling her fingers into fists. She groans, her chest lifts and she heaves. Standing over her was a seductive looking redhead dressed in a green dress. Her pure white teen looks down to the sleeping woman in a grin.
She gently waves her hand over Selina "My little pretties have done their job. Their microscopic spores are all through your system..." Ivy whispers as she gently brushes her fingers against the skin of Selina's neck, leaving a small trail of cuts from her nails "I always missed us as friends, cat. I say that we give it another shot and really stick it to that billionaire boy. The redhead's eyes glance down Selina's neck as green veins form from under Selina's cuts.
"I will even let you be the one who kills him..." Ivy's lips grin wider.
Gotham City
- Wayne Tower -
Lucius looks up from the roof as he sees the helicopter slowly descending on the helipad near the corner of the roof, its blades beginning to wind down with each passing second that it draws closer to landing. The man adjusts the cufflinks in the wrists of his suit, keeping his eyes high-above "The prodigal son returns... well it's about time." The helicopter fully lands and none other than Bruce steps out, dressed in a tailored-fitted business suit. With one glance at Lucius, his lips curve into a smile.
"When Alfred radioed me about your sudden return, well... I just couldn't believe it. It feels like a lifetime ago since we last spoke." Lucius smiles back and holds out a hand to the other man, Bruce returned the gesture and shakes Lucius' hand.
"Well at least someone missed me, that's something I guess" Bruce shrugs, slowly dropping his smile and replacing it with a firm frown "As much I wish for this to be a social visit, we both know why I'm here and what I'm going to do about it. Prep the Batsuit, Lucius... it's time to go hunting"
"... Alfred said that you promised that you were going to lay off of... you aren't in nearly good enough shape to..."
"Alfred isn't here. The criminals of this city think that they have taken back the streets, regained their power, broken the bat... they're confident... well... they're about to be in for one hell of a wake-up call," Bruce's eyes narrow, full of anger, darkness and something new. Something that is hidden under the surface, something powerful, a mystery. Bruce walks off towards the exit of the roof. Lucius sees Bruce's hurry, he lifts his right arm up.
"By the way, Harleen asked if she could be your assistant, I obviously know that you wouldn't take well to that idea so... I feel that you should let her down lightly... you wouldn't want her to feel-"
"Tell her that she's got the job" Bruce shouts back as he leaves the sight of the roof.
30 Minutes Later
- The Narrows -
"It's him! It's him! IT'S ACTUALLY HIM! I thought he was dead!" a masked man yells as he and another masked individual run through the creaks of the alley. Their boots splash through the trail of puddles throughout the way which echoes against the narrow walls of the rat-infested path, full of rotten garbage that leak out onto the mangled and dented concrete. The man in front hyperventilates, cussing as he runs as fast as his feet could carry him "This can't be HAPPENING?! THIS... THIS CAN'T BE...!"
The masked man following behind was suddenly snared around the ankles by black rope, dropping him to the ground and to be dragged back into the darkness as he claws at the ground avoid his fate. Moments after a silhouette leaps across the rooftops. The masked man saw the swift and blurred movement in the corner of his vision. With his distracting thoughts, he failed to see the dead-end that he was quickly stumbling upon. A fence that cages off the other side of the alley.
The man rushes against the fence, trying over it. His eyes frantically look back and forth over his shoulder. Within the shadows, a black bat-shaped projectile was thrown which sliced itself right into the man's hand; splattering blood across the wall next to him. The masked man screams as he sees the Batarang stuck inside his flesh of his now blood-covered hand.
"Oh... god..., oh... god, oh god..." the man backs against the fence as he looks into the darkness as two white eyes shine from within the void.
"No. I'm not forgiving like he is" the dark knight growls as he steps out of the shadows. Batman grabs the masked man by the throat and uses his other hand to remove the man's balaclava. Revealing him to be a blonde with brown eyes. The man fights against the vigilante's hold, refusing to look at him.
"That ain't right, you're supposed to be gone! Bane said he destroyed you!"
"Looks like someone lied" Batman reaches into the pockets of the man's jacket, pulling out a business card, one belonging to the iceberg lounge "Looks like Cobblepot is up to his old tricks, time to pay him a visit." The dark knight shoves the man onto the ground, splashing his face in a puddle "The medicine you stole, it was meant for the severely ill. Without it, they could die"
"I'm sorry! I'M SORRY, I'M SORRY! PLEASE don't KILL me!"
"Take the medicine back and return it to the people you took it from... then turn yourself in. If you don't... I'll find you again... and next time, I won't be so pleasant" Batman grabs his grapple gun from his utility belt and fires it upward, hurling him upwards.
Batman stands on the roof, his cape swerving through the soft breezes of wind. He looks outward into the city, the home he once fought for was now segregated by checkpoints all throughout it "It's your first night back, sir. Are you sure that you take on Oswald and his goons?"
"Relax, Lucius. I just want to say Hi"
Iceberg Lounge
"As you can see, though Checkmate has intervened is a few of our *business practices*, they have yet to make a real blow to our business operations. In the last four months, their combined efforts roughly equate to a to around sixty-two-percent of the damage that Batman did to our operations in that time frame" Sophia Falcone informs the others that joined her in being seated around a cloth-covered table. Black Mask and Tony Zucco is seated next to her in the well-kept undergrounds, with fully sculpted ice statues, fountains of water and none other than Oswald Cobblepot who mans the front along with Riddler.
"As to be expected from a group of pansy that are all trained to think the same. You learn to knock one down, the rest soon follow" Sionis replies smoking a cigarette "Waller likes to think that she has our backs against the wall... well you know what they say, pride cometh before the fall. And when she does fall, I'll be right there to pop a cap right in her head"
Zucco rolls her eyes "Listen here you two, Checkmate is the least of our worries right now. Are you forgetting about that clown-freak that has been recruiting our men? I tell ya, that clown is planning something, and my gut is telling me that it's not good"
"You're afraid of a circus reject? How pathetic" Sophia lifts one of her eyebrows "If he was going to make a move, he would have done by now. Everyone is so afraid of him, well I'm not one to buy into undeserved hype. He's a madman... that's it"
Zucco straightens his posture, kneeling over the table "May I remind you that he is the same guy that blew up Gotham before and left it as a no man's land? And if what they say about him is true, he is planning something even bigger. A guy like that just doesn't scale down his plays..."
"Mr Zucco may be onto somethin' here, Sophia" Sionis agrees "Joker may not be on the side of the law, but don't think for a second that means that he's on our side. He's a madman, the maddest of them all. He's a sick puppy... and last time I checked... sick puppies get put to sleep, permanently"
Sophia bites her lip "If the boss didn't target Joker as a potential problem... then that's all I need to dismiss that clown. We need to follow the plan if we wish to be blessed with his promise and right now everything is going as planned, I see no reason to endanger the mission, not when we are so close"
"Does that include that woman you saw the other night?" Sionis asks.
"Woman?" Sophia shrugs.
"The one who you rode around within your limo. The one who you gave that envelope. Ringing any bells?" the man in the white suit grins "Selina Kyle, was it? Ah yes... rumour had it that her mother and your farther had... a lot of alone time together. And the timing does check out with her age, so... she wouldn't happen to be your long-lost sister?"
"Spying on me, Roman? Don't you trust me?"
"Whoever is careless with the truth in small matters cannot be trusted with important matters" Roman replies as he sees the anger on the woman's face "Nothing personal, love. It's just the business that we are in, you should understand more than one since you father was the biggest mob boss in Gotham for years," he sees Sophia ready to reply but the lights to the club were shut off and with it, they were left in complete darkness. Oswald and Ed both glance around, trying to see within the dark.
Sionis strains his eyes, trying to focus on the slightest bit of detail that he could see. His eyes eventually land upon a pair of white-glowing eyes that glare back at him "No..."
"Shit, shit, shit" Zucco adds.
"That can't be real" Sophia's voice pitches higher.
"I know those angry eyes anywhere, Oswald" Riddler turns Penguin as they both hug each other tightly.
"REALLY, ED? YA DON'T SAY"
"Ladies. Gentlemen. You have eaten well. You've eaten Gotham's wealth. Its spirit. Your feast is nearly over. From this moment on...none of you are safe. One by one. I will take you all down, along with every other criminal in this city, including Waller and her team" The dark knight stands in the middle of the club, motionless and un-phased the number of people around him "Run, scream. Fight if you wish. This is my city and scum like you are not welcome. Tell your men, tell your enemies, tell everyone in the streets... that I have returned... and that there is no crime boss that I cannot reach, there is no corrupt politician, a dirty cop, murderer, mugger that I cannot bring to justice"
"Remember these words, let them haunt you, let them weigh upon your souls, let them cause you all sleepless nights... as you will want to keep your eyes open, blink... for even a moment... and I could be there, ready to take you down... to destroy your empire, to put the fear of God in you... and then... lock you away for the rest of your days..."
"I will be back for you, for all of you. Maybe in an hour, a day, a week, a month... but eventually... you will all be stopped, I will come for every single one of you. Do not close your eyes, do not step into the darkness, do not turn your back on the smallest of sounds, don't rest easy near the slightest shadow. Do not think that you will not be the first, do not think that you will be the last. Because right now, I am planning each and every one of your falls as I speak"
Batman reaches into his utility belt and throws down a smoke pellet, encasing the whole room in a thick cloud of grey and ash-like fumes. Moments later, the lights to the club return back on with Sophia, Sionis, Zucco left speechless along with Penguin and Riddler.
"You wanna play games, dark knight?" Roman growls as he stands up "This time betting on black won't do you any good. No one threatens me and gets away with it, YA HEAR ME YA FREAK! NO ONE THREATENS BLACK MASK... no one..."
Wayne Tower
Research & Development
- The Next Morning -
"You know that Alfred is going to be pissed at you when he finds out about your adventures last night, especially since you promised him that you wouldn't suit up until you were fully recovered" Lucius advises as he and Bruce walk beside each other. Lucius holds a folder under his arm. He takes note of how care free the man was about the promise that he had broken, a promise to the closest person that Bruce had to a father, a man that Bruce respected, yet he broke his vow so quickly and without any guilt.
"I have no regrets. I did what I had to. These criminals don't fear Bruce Wayne, but Batman? After last night they should be scared, they should be on edge. They should be more likely to slip up... blow their cover. Not many people can work as adequately under pressure" Bruce shoots back, dressed in a white shirt with the collar undone and the sleeves rolled up "That's pressure that Bruce can't put on them".
"Well... I'm not going to say that this venture of yours is a complete lapse in judgment. Batman did manage to bug the iceberg Lounge during that little intimidation tactic of yours. Though I doubt that they will be too much help now, they will move to another location now that they are aware that you discovered their hideout" Lucius says as he and Bruce reach a secured door with a keypad "As well there is also the fact that both Bruce Wayne and The Batman have both returned to Gotham in the same night, that is sure going to draw up unwanted attention"
"I'm a billionaire playboy philanthropist, Lucius. I deal with unwanted attention by the medial on a daily basis" Bruce sees Lucius begin to enter the code to unlock the door "That Ski trip that the media thought that I was on? I was there... well... a very convincing body double anyway. I paid sources to *leak* the photos of my time away and the record of my back injury from the skiing. All I have to do is keep my head down and only go out as Batman for a week or so... as far as the public is concerned Bruce Wayne is still recovering in Alaska"
Lucius unlocks the door to the lad and they both enter "That should do it, considering that you can keep a low profile... all it takes is for the wrong person to see you"
"I trained with the League of Shadows for years, I think that I know a thing or two about keeping out of-" Bruce stammers as both he and Lucius' jaws drop as they both spot a familiar blonde woman sitting over by the lab computer. Harleen Quinzel looks dazed, her eyes now fixated on Bruce. The blonde wore her casual wear. A red dress and black leggings, her hair tied into a pony tail and her glasses on. Her blue eyes stammer as she was still in awe.
"You... you had one job, Lucius" Bruce exhales softly.
"Indeed I do, yet you have me do all the other crap for you"
"Bruce...? You're back? But... but weren't you meant to still be on that ski trip...?" Harleen stands and hurries towards the dark-haired man "Lucius said that you would be back soon, but I never figured... it would be this soon... wow..."
"How did you get in here? This is a secure area..." Lucius intervenes between the blonde and Bruce.
"About that..." Harleen turns her head to the computer with a red jacket laying over the desk "When I was in here before... I kinda forgot my jacket... so... with having the photographic memory that I have - which was the only thing I got from my mom... well besides all those years of verbal... and sometimes physical abuse... I sorta remembered the code. So... instead of coming over and disturbing you... I kinda thought I could just come and get it without bothering you..."
"Well... crises averted then. Now if you don't mind... Lucius and I have important business to go over" Bruce informs Harleen with a stern look.
"All the way down here? Doncha have an office for that sorta thing?"
"It's private business, Harleen" Bruce adds.
"You could always lock ya door and draw the blinds. Don't see the need to come all the way down here"
"Very, Very private business, Harleen"
"Have it ya way, boss" Harleen moves over and puts on her jacket. Her eyes glimmer as a look of clarity washes over her features. Bruce looks to her, confronted by his own image in the blonde's glasses "We haven't seen each other for months, Bruce. Would a *hello* kill ya? Harvey needs ya, Bruce. He's already been betrayed by one friend... please don't let him lose faith in ya. He's goin' through a real rough patch, Bruce. He needs ya, I need ya - but by all means... keep hiding down here"
"Rough path? What happened to him? Is he alright?" Bruce lost his stern glare, changing his expression to a worried appearance.
"Ya haven't heard?" Harleen lifts her eyebrows with a frown "Why doncha ask ya friend the commissioner. That is if he even has in him to tell ya the truth..." she heads towards the exit of the room. Her lips slightly curve into a smile as she looks back to Bruce "It's good to see ya, Bruce... I mean that..." Harleen leaves the room which left the two men by their selves.
"Well... there's my cover story blown..." Bruce rolls his eyes, leaning over and sitting on the desk, crossing his arms.
"I'll take it that it's not the best time to bring up that Harleen isn't the only woman who has a bone to pick with you" Lucius walks over to the computer, searching over the monitor "The last time you and Selina spoke to each other... some words were thrown, probably some words that you didn't mean... maybe some words that you should consider apologizing for. Maybe to Talia too..."
"I may have had my back broken that night... but I took home something else. A realization that I can't afford to trust everyone that I care about. I should have kept Selina far away from me, not just for her sake... but for mine. Joker messed with her head because she was important to me... he used her to stab another woman that I had feelings for... Joker used her, like a toy... all to spite me..." Bruce looks down to the floor "And to top it all off, Selina used Talia's knowledge of Alfred as blackmail... they both hid it from me... they both hid hope from me... they treated Alfred like he wasn't even a human being... just to play mind games with each other..." Bruce turns to Lucius "...How can I forgive that?"
"Bruce..." Lucius sees the hurt in the other man's eyes "Trust me, Bruce. They don't feel good about doing that, I see the regret in their eyes every time that I see them. Forgiveness... isn't about forgetting one's past transgressions but rather seeing their potential for good, not to ignore all the good that they have also done... I guess that it's up to you to decide which is more important to you. All the times that they betrayed your trust or all the times that they proved it wasn't ill-placed"
"Believing in the best of people... is Superman's thing, I'm there to stop them at their worst"
"Whatever you decide, Bruce... Harvey and Harleen aren't the ones who betrayed your trust... and funny enough... you still just pushed one of them away. Harleen is an alley... maybe not to Batman... but to someone just as important... Bruce Wayne. So stop acting like Bruce can't make a difference... because he already has..."
"Thanks, Lucius... it's like I haven't even left home" Bruce pushes himself off of the desk.
"Gotham is your home, Bruce. It's our home. This city is now a warzone... not just between police and criminals... but also the people of the streets... so... what good will even more people hating each other bring? if you can't bring yourself to forgive them for yourself... do it for the city... just as all the other sacrifices that you have made" Lucius offers as he works on the computer "Your parents saw the good in Gotham and now it's up to you to bring their vision to life..."
Gotham Docks
The early hours of the morning brought about a dull grey sky with little snowfall. It was cold, cold enough to make one's breath visible. Sophia Falcone steps out of her limousine, covering her eyes with a pair of sunglasses. Hands tucked within the pockets of her trench coat. She spots another limo across from her, she slowly makes her away towards it and enters. She now sits opposite a shadowed man disguised among darkness.
Sophia grins "I know that you aren't too fond of being drawn away from your work but we have a situation... one with a pair of pointy ears and a cape... Batman is back in Gotham and sure as hell made it known. He crashed our party and warned us that he was going to be coming for us. I think that it is best that we act now and take him about before he can stop the plan... and the arrival of the meteor." Sophia sees the shadowed figure remained still, not even being moved by the information.
"He is of no concern. Let him have his fun" the silhouetted figure grumbles "I have walked this earth for millenniums and have encountered the most righteous of men... and history has forgotten them all. Humans are just dust awaiting to be collected... a day will come where no one shall remember him nor the lives he saved..." the male voice adds.
"But if he is to stop us... we may never live to see the day that our plan comes to pass" Sophia argues.
"No... but I will" the man replies with a cold tone "Dark days are coming, they are near and when they finally arrive. Humanity will be forced to ascend to survive, it is up to us to see that we as a species are able to survive the oncoming storm... in just over seven months... the world shall be reborn and humans along with it"
"I understand what needs to be done, Vandal. But what is stumping me is that even with the working relationship that we have, you parade Sionis around as being your right-hand. Have I not shown to you that I am the one who can be counted on?" Sophia crosses her legs and leans towards the shadowed man "Why is he still bossing me around?"
"He has the biggest influence in Gotham among us, his involvement is mandatory for what is to come... though he ruled by his pride - the most damning of the seven sins. His ego would not allow him to answer to anyone besides what he considers a god" the shadowed man moves forward, showing to be a man with short-dark haire that was combed back with grey pupils and a clean-shaven face. The man has a scar over his left eye. He is dressed in a Victorian-style tailed black coat that was buttoned up half-way. The man was known by many names and one of his most favoured aliases was Vandal Savage.
"In due time you shall take your place next to me but for now you need to wait. Take my words to be true as only I am familiar with the true meaning of patience" Vandal smirks.
The Narrows
- Harleen's Apartment -
"Are you sure that he's back?" Harvey Dent stammers, hands shaking and spilling the cup of coffee in his grip. The left side of his face was still hidden, bandaged over and shielded from the world. He sits on the couch with Harleen as they feel the warmth from the heater. They were tucked under a red and black demanded-themed blanket as their eyes were focused on the television on the stand in front of them. Harvey was shivering, not on the level of shaking but still enough for Harleen to feel the vibrations "He can't be... can he? Why would he come back...? I don't understand"
"I don't know. He looked like he had a lot on his mind - I don't need my psychology degree to see that" the blonde warmly answers to the best of her ability as she held onto her own cup, one of hot chocolate "It looked like his return was meant to be kept a secret or somethin'. And I didn't even get a *hiya* from him. He looked at me like I was dirt, no... like I was less than dirt"
"Can't think clearly... can't think... need... need... need..." Harvey winces in pain "Wish... he... was here..."
"I know, Harv" Harleen smiles to him "Guess we just have to accept that we are on our own..."
Harley and Harvey both turn as they hear a knock at the door of the apartment. Harleen gets up, patting the man on the shoulder "Be back in a sec," she heads towards the entrance of her apartment and glances through the viewer. Her eyes widen as Bruce Wayne was standing at her door. She takes a step back as inhales. She quickly dusts herself off and tries to fix her hair. A smile forms on her lips as she opens the door and comes face to face with the man.
Bruce Wayne stood, dressed in a white-plain shirt with the collar undone under a black jacket. His hair was combed back, though a few stands found their place over his forehead. He stands with a soft smile, hands held behind his back "Hope that I'm not interrupting anything... can I come in?"
"Oh... yes..." Harleen sheepishly nods, stepping back and letting the billionaire walks in with his right hand behind his back. Bruce closes the door behind him while keeping his eyes on the blonde. Harleen looks over her shoulder to the path that leads into the living room "I only asked for the part of your assistant and you're already over mine? Wow... ya... don't waste any time do you?" she nervously laughs only to straighten her posture. She shyly looks back to him "That was... inappropriate, wasn't it? I'm sorry... I wasn't... wasn't expecting you... in my apartment... this late... I mean... I dreamed about it... but I never expected for you- ya know what... never mind"
"Hello, Harley" Bruce smiles "Listen... about earlier... I'm sorry. I shouldn't have treated you like that. I was a jerk and I apologize..." he brings his right hand around and holds it to the blonde which showed her the bouquet of flowers in his hand "I'm used to being in the doghouse with women... but you're one of the first that isn't one of my exes"
"Well... I've been treated worse... no worries. I'll put these somewhere..." Harleen grabs the bouquet from Bruce and heads towards the kitchen "He's in the living room..."
Bruce inhales as he readies himself for what happens next. He enters the living room where he sees Harvey having his back to him. The billionaire pushes himself forward and walks until he stands behind the couch. His eyes look at the television. It was on the news and had the reporter he recognized, a redhead woman with blue eyes. He thinks her name was Vicky Vale, he wasn't really one to pay too much attention to the news when it didn't involve him.
His eyes focus on the headline
BATMAN RETURNS?
"After four months since the last sighting, there has been a sudden emergence of eye-witnesses accounts of seeing the well-documented vigilante. As well a man in the G.C.P.D custody claim that he was attacked by The Batman. With the all-but-confirmed return of the dark knight, it brings up a whole new number of questions in an already hopeless time. Is Batman going to save the city or will he add to the mayhem that is shaking the city to its core? Will Batman bring more fear to an already scared public - only time will tell"
"I guess we're about to find out," Bruce says under his breath, glancing down to Harvey "Hi, Harv"
Dent slowly turns his head, almost as if he was scared, petrified even. He eyes eventually land on Bruce and with it, his eyes light up. Harvey pulls himself up, still shaking and shy "...It's really you?"
"I'm sorry that I wasn't here sooner, Harvey... Lucius told me what happened... I'm... so... sorry"
"It wasn't your fault, Bruce. You weren't there..." Harvey walks around and throws his arms around Bruce. Bruce's eye widens as he sees the distress in the man's tone, posture. His trembling voice, his shaking hands. Bruce's eyes begin to water.
"No... I should have been there. I could... I could have..." Bruce couldn't get the words out as he feels the disturbed man begin to cry.
"I... I thought that I was going to die... I thought I was going to die..." Harvey cries, whimpering and tightening his hold around Bruce "I was... was lying in a pool of my own blood... my face was stuck to the ground... I was chocking on my blood... I can't sleep since then... Can't even sleep..."
"I should have been there, Harvey... maybe I could have stopped what happened to you. But I swear to you, I'm here now. I'm here for you now, Harvey" Bruce witnesses Harvey still sobbing, breaking down as if he was holding back all of his trauma, keeping as strong as he could... for as long as he could until he just couldn't anymore.
[Bruce - P.0.V]
*Harvey and I both almost died that night, I by the criminals I swore to stop. Him, the people who swore to protect the people of Gotham. For the four months where I couldn't walk or do anything by myself, I only had one thought that kept me going. That I would eventually heal and come back to stop the scum of Gotham just like when I first dawned the cowl. But. Selina, Talia, Gordon, Lucius, Harleen, Harvey? I never thought about them once... my whole mind was ruled by vengeance, by Batman. I let my anger blind me, in my attempt to become strong enough to protect my city, I walled off the people that made me want to fight for it in the first place. I know that now, I can't save a world that I refuse to be a part of*
Harleen stands at the doorframe of the room, arms folded as she looks at the two men. Her lips curve into a smile "I guess the band is back together then? Good. It rocks being friends with a billionaire. Speaking of which... about that job. I don't want ya to feel like I'm rushing you... but have you... come up with an answer" she nervously pushes her digits together.
"What?" Bruce turns to Harleen "Oh. Of course... I'm in need of a new assistant since... my last one... is dead. Hopefully, I can make it a safer position this time." Bruce and Harvey both turn their bodies to match the direction of their gaze "Actually, that's the other reason that I'm here. Wayne Enterprise owns a number of penthouses all over the city. I think that they will be safer for you then... here. Oh... and you start on Monday, Harley. Be there bright and early"
"Thanks, Bruce... I won't let you down... you can trust me..." Harleen smiles.
"I know" the man returns with his own smile "Harvey... your welcome to join Wayne Enterprise too. I'm always in the market for even more lawyers. You can never too safe," Bruce sees Harvey nod in agreement with his offer.
"Let's change the city, Bruce. Like we promised"
"That's one promise that I'm not planning on breaking anytime soon," Bruce and Harvey both walk out of the room which left Harleen by herself. The blonde's eyes begin to water, messing up her eye-liner and causing black trails to drip down her cheeks. She holds her hands over her chest and looks down to the ground.
Across Gotham Skyline
Bruce's P.O.V
That night in Crime Alley changed me, it changed my world and everyone around me. Martha and Thomas Wayne were murdered because they fought against the corruption that plagued this city. That night still haunts me, I can still see that moment every time I close my eyes. I may have promised Harvey that I was going to save the city... but I made the promise a long time ago. I made that vow as the first pearl hit the ground, as the first shot went off, as the first scream echoed off the walls. As the first drop of blood was spilt. That is when I made that promise.
In that moment, the Wayne name meant nothing. It was worthless to me, my mother, my father and the bastard that killed them. At that moment I wasn't a Wayne, I was a scared little kid. For years the Wayne name meant nothing to me... it meant nothing to their killer. It was just a job for him, he would have gone through with it if they had any other name. But I do know one name that matters, a name that makes all the difference, one that brings the same fear to the criminals of Gotham as the dread I felt in crime alley on that night.
Batman
And
It
Will
Be
Remembered.
Wayne Tower
- Lucius' Office -
Lucius gets up from his chair as his eyes look out through the large glass window that leads out to the city. His eyes faintly reflect the sight of a large bat symbol. He folds his arms as he steps closer towards the glass "Oh... you got to be kidding me..."
Across Gotham
- Sirens Club -
Barbara Kean looks closer through the window into the outside world as she too sees the brightened sky. Her eyes fixate as her daughter too glances at the light through the glass "Cool...!" the girl smiles as she looks to be dazed by the light.
"Looks like Jimmy is going to have some explaining to do" Barbara Kean smirks.
Streets of Gotham
Selina Kyle looks up from the streets into the sky above the city. Her eyes reflect the bat symbol that shines brightly high above. Her eyes narrow into a glare and she grits her teeth "And here we go... again..." the dark-haired woman says in a cold-as-ice tone.
Across Gotham
Talia al Ghul smirks as she too sees the beam of light aimed high above in the clouds. Dressed in a tight-fitting black dress and a cup of wine in her hand. She raises her eyebrows and steadily shakes her head "Subtlety never was your specialty, has it? Happy hunting, my beloved"
Gotham Rooftops
A knight-themed armoured man leaps off onto the next rooftop over. He lands in a kneeling position. His eyes look up to the sign in the sky "It is as the prophecy foretold… the dark knight lives once more..." The knight slowly ascends to his knees. Azrael stands on the ledge with his hands on his hips. His red cape fluttering through the wind.
G.C.P.D Precinct
"Jim! Jim! JIM! COME AND LOOK AT THIS!" Harvey Bullock's voice cracks as he alerts his partner to the sight outside. Jim Gordon runs out of the building and stops when he's standing beside Bullock. James' eyes widen as he too beholds the sight, the same as Harvey "Holy..."
"...Scare away the darkness..." Gordon mumbles to himself.
On top of the G.C.P.D the large shines brightly into the night-sky and with it came a clear-as-day large bat-symbol. The Dark Knight stands above on the rooftop next to the signal as he too looks up at his own work. His cape slowly swerves. His hands tighten into fists and a look of certainly takes over his face. The white eyes from the cowl glare upward. Lightning strikes down in the middle of the city and a harsh storm of thunder and rain soon follow.
To Be Continued...