- Maria Kyle -
Wayne Tower
- CEO Office -
"we'll see each other again soon enough. But if you want answers, then go to the island of the gods. Your destiny awaits"
"Boss?"
"Boss?"
"'Hello?"
"Huh, B-man?"
"You in there?"
"Earth to Bruce"
"B-Man?
"Oh for... STOP IGNORING ME, B-Man!" Harleen yells.
Bruce stirs from his thoughts, nearly jumping out of his chair, "Huh? What? What's going on?" he looks around, seeing Harleen standing at his desk, "Oh, hi...?" he eases down, interlocking his fingers and smiles at the blonde, "Sorry, Harley... I was... forget about it. What's up?"
The blonde smiles, "I've been standing here for ten minutes trying to get your attention... that's *what's up* with me. I brought you those plans on that *project skylight* or whatevs. And thanks to you, I am now late for my lunch break," Harleen sets the file down by Bruce. The billionaire takes the file and opens it, looking through the papers inside.
"Thank you, Harley. Feel free to take an extended lunch."
""Ya got it, B-man" Harleen chirps. She heads for the exit, walking out the doors. She stops, peaking her head back in through to look to Bruce, "Uh, B? Ya lookin' a bit down? Everythin' alright on your end?"
"Peachy" Bruce delves back into the file.
"...Say...," the blonde snakes her way back into the office, pushing her back against the doors to close them. Harleen blushes, looking over Bruce, "Uh... can I ask ya somethin'?" she shyly plays with her hands, walking to Bruce's desk.
Bruce rips his eyes from the files to make eye-contact with her, "Harley, I'm trying to work. If you have something to say, then just say it."
"W-would ya like to get a coffee? Maybe uh- we can talk? I kinda miss your company..."
"Maria?" Bruce stands.
"Huh? Maria?" Harley turns to see a blonde woman standing at the doors.
Maria Kyle walks with her hands in her pockets, "Bruce? You've grown...into quite the man."
"Oh my..." Bruce leaves his desk and makes his way to her, "You're in Gotham? Does Selina know that you're here? This is... this...," he spots the look in her eyes and recognized it. Fear, she was afraid. Scared for her life even. He Notices Maria's eyes to be identical to Selina, even with the way that they trembled to fear, "... Something's telling me that this isn't a social visit, is there something wrong? I should tell Selina that you are here..."
"Actually, Selina is the reason why I'm here. I need your help," she stops him, wrapping her hand around his wrist, "I tried talking to her before, but she didn't want to hear me out. She doesn't trust me, rightfully so... I have hurt her so many times..."
"Selina didn't tell me about you coming to Gotham..." Bruce says under his breath, "How long have you been here?"
"A few months, I've been trying to get by...but there's only so much you can get on the streets," she tells Bruce who leads her over to his desk, "This city is even crazier than I remember, it's a mess. I need your help, Bruce, please..."
Bruce faces Harleen, "Could you leave us?"
The blonde sadly nods, "What 'bout our coffee?"
"Rain check," Bruce replies as he sits back down, Maria doing the same.
"Oh...okay. I'll have lunch...alone, again...where everyone can see my loneliness because I'll be alone...all by myself, in the café that is usually dominated by couples...and not people who are alone... which I'll be...because I'll be alone..." Harley pouts as she leaves.
Maria turns to Bruce.
"She's.. new..." Bruce plays off, "Would you believe that she used to be a psychiatrist? It was a paid gig and all..."
Elliot Memorial Hospital
"He's fine. Do you want me to say that another hundred times?" Tommy Elliot reassures Lee. They stand at the bedside of Kirk Langstrum, "Vitals are normal. He's good to go. Honestly, I don't see why you felt the need to admit him here... there are a lot more people that are in more need for these beds."
Lee observes the unconscious Langstrum, "I know that, but he's been missing for seven months. I wasn't sure if he was fine or... needed treatment."
Tommy eyes Lee, "Very strange, since you're a doctor too. Weren't you, his right hand back at Gotham General? Mr Langstrum here isn't showing any signs of trauma or anything that would indicate illness. This is standard stuff, Miss Tompkins, or Mrs Gordon? I'm sorry, which is it?"
"Tompkins. My husband and I agreed for me to keep my name, thank you for taking care of him. It really means a lot," Lee thanks him.
"Oh hush, Lee. Any friend of Bruce...is a friend of mine. I'm just doing my due diligence," Elliot looks over to Langstrum, "Truthfully, I'm just glad that I managed to help someone here. There's still no change in the girl's condition..."
"I know..." Lee closes her eyes, "It's awful. While I'm treating a stranger, my husband's daughter is across the hall, holding on for dear life. I feel like I can help everyone, besides her... I feel like I'm failing her, her mother and her father. I feel useless..."
"Hey..." Elliot taps Lee's arm, "You're doing your best. That's the only thing that we can do in this situation. It may not feel like it, but there's not much else that we can do. You're making a difference here. Think of all the low-income families that we are helping, that all the other hospitals would just turn away. Don't ever tell yourself that you aren't making an impact,...okay?" the man smiles.
Wayne Tower
- CEO Office -
"Let me get this straight, someone's trying to kill you? And Selina just turned you away?" Bruce asks as he sees the worried look coming from Maria, "This... Have you gone to the G.C.P.D about this? This is very serious, Miss Kyle. Your life is in danger"
"And tell them what? That's there's an assassin after me that has chased me around the world? It's too late for me, any day now, I am expecting to be killed. I was just hoping, no wishing that you can talk to my daughter. I want us to not be on such bad terms when I die...please... help me with this request..."
Bruce leans forward, "One issue with that request, Miss Kyle. You're not going to die. I promise you that you won't. For now, I have a friend in the G.C.P.D. His name is James Gordon, I'm going to let him know about the situation, for now... you're going to stay here... this building his highly fortified with security, you will be safe..."
"You believe me? Why...? Cole and I tricked you into giving us that money...why would even think of trusting me again? I don't deserve it..."
Bruce stands, "You didn't trick me. I knew what you are up to, just like I know there's more you are not telling me. Your body language is telling me that you still have a few secrets left. Cole borrowed that money from the Falcone family, I wanna know why? Why rely on a crime family based in Gotham when you were nowhere near New Jersey. Quite odd that Carmine would have agreed to it?"
"Carmine...was a very interesting man. Dig enough and you would find a heart of gold..." Maria replies.
"Another thing that is bothering me, he left Selina alone. Now, Sofia is leaving Selina alone. That doesn't sound like their usual modus operandi. Usually, if the mob's got an issue, they let everyone in the family know about it... and Sofia's petty enough to keep up that tradition."
"I wouldn't know. Sofia and I haven't been formally introduced. So... you don't trust me? I understand... I'll take my leave..." Maria gets up.
"I don't believe you but that doesn't mean that I'm going to let you die. I don't know what you feel the need to hide, but it going's to come out. If Sofia is behind the hit on you, she will use every means to turn people against you, so you better hope that what your hiding won't make you worse than her in my eyes..." Bruce leaves the desk, "But first, Selina needs to know that you are here. She will want to talk to you..."
"She won't be happy to see me. She hates me, she hates me..."
"Maybe so, but she has a chance to reconcile with her mother, a chance that few people get. She will be beyond relieved for closure. Trust me, Selina will be there for you, regardless of what you have done. She will be there for you, she will be..."
Later
Barbara Kean's Apartment
"WHY THE HELL ARE YOU HELPING HER?!" Selina yells at Bruce, "SHE'S A LAIR, A THIEF, SHE USED HER OWN DAUGHTER TO GET YOU TO GIVE HER THAT MONEY! She made her bed, now leave her to sleep in it. Leave her to die in the gutter!"
"Maria was right, should've gone for the phone call..." Bruce says to himself. He holds his hands up in defence, "So, Selina. She's your mother...and is fearing for her life. And she only wants to make things right with you. Personally, I feel that you should try to make amends to your relationship with her."
"NO! I can't believe you, Bruce... you're picking her side? After she abandoned me for the streets, left me to fend for myself, only to come back and destroy what little respect that I had for her? She had a chance to make thing's right, and she blew it. She decided that Cole were more important to her than her OWN daughter! And look what happened, Cole screwed up and pissed off the Falcones. She can die for all I care," Selina, still red-faced sighs.
"If what she is saying is true, then it's my job to help her. If her life is truly in danger, then I need to be there to save her. Whether with you or without you, I'm not letting your mother die. Trust me, Selina. Your going thank me for this one day...," Bruce tells Selina, "But your help will be more than valuable. You don't have to trust her or care for her. I just need you to be there for her. Maria hasn't been the best mother for you, but maybe...you can be the best daughter that you can be for her..."
Selina shakes her head, "Like hell. She doesn't deserve to even have a daughter! I'm sorry, Bruce, not her. She's dead to me. Nothing will be lost from her actual death," she turns her back on the man, "My main concern now is Barb, Bruce. My mother doesn't even compare to my love for Barb. Now please...just leave me alone. I'm tired..."
"Okay..." Bruce agrees, "I can see that I'm not making any progress here..."
"No. No, you're not and will not. What kind of parent abandons their child? Then have the nerve to come back, only to use them, to twist their emotions. She's just sick, Bruce. She should have been the one to bleed out on crime alley, not your parents..."
Bruce's body stiffens at Selina's words, "No matter what happens, no matter how bad a person is, no matter what they have done, I have never wished that fate on anyone," he holds onto Selina's shoulder, "Do you have any idea just what I'll give to see my parents again? Not a day goes by where I wouldn't would give everything to have them back. But no matter how hard I want them back, truth is that they're gone and never coming back. Sure, you might hate your mother now... but one day, you're going feel something. A lingering feeling that will haunt you... you're going to feel regret and hate yourself for not taking this chance to help her. You don't have to forgive her, Selina... you just need be there for her. That's all that she wants from you."
"I hate you," Selina bites her lip, "I really, really hate you sometimes..."
"So... does that mean that you'll talk to her?"
"...I don't know... maybe? I'll consider it. That's the best that your gonna get from me," Selina throws her arms over her chest and heaves, "Just promise me one thing? Don't believe her. Help her all that you want, but please don't fool for her lies..."
Bruce heads towards the door, "Selina, I'm not saying that your anger towards her isn't justified, that's not for me to decide. That's a call that you have to make on your own," he walks out the door, holding his hand over the frame. He turns his neck back and looks to the woman, "When you feel ready, go to Wayne Tower. You'll find your mother there... take care, okay?" he walks off, sliding his hand from the door frame. Selina walks over to the door, keeping her eyes on Bruce's back.
She closes the door and stands her back against it, "You an idiot, an adorable idiot..."
Bruce walks down the hallway, taking his phone from his pocket. He opens it and dials, "... Lucius. What's the ETA on Gordon and Bullock? Good. No, tell them that something just came up. I'll meet them shortly, heading back now" he ends the call and stuffs the phone into his coat's pocket. A look of determination posses Bruce's features, his eyes narrow.
Wayne Tower
- Lobby -
Jim Gordon and Harvey Bullock enter, walking shoulder-to-shoulder, "Holy damn, who would've thought that you'd be getting a call from Bruce anytime soon? Gotta say, Jim, this could be a chance to repair that broken relationship with him. Try not to mess this one up, partner."
"Bruce sounded serious. He probably didn't have a choice but to bring us into the loop, whatever this situation is," Gordon looks ahead, "He certainly didn't make it easy, putting Waller on blast at that party. She was pissed, and I do not envy Bruce right now."
"Oh, come on, Jim. Don't deny it, you loved the look on her face. I know that I would have drunk her tears," Harvey Bullock, along with his partner, make their way to the elevator and head upwards, "She's been driving the whole city wild. More Gothamites are after head than Penguin or the other usual suspects."
"Crane, Tetch, Cobblepot, Ivy, Nygma, Valeska... are still at large. Fries has been keeping low. We need to deal with them soon, maybe then we can have Waller and her men out of the city and finally get back to normal..."
"Well, normal for Gotham," Bullock shrugs.
The pair reach their destination and step out onto the floor. Gordon looks to Bruce's office and spots a familiar blonde, "This is going to go well," he sighs. He and Harvey walk over to Harleen. The blonde sees them coming towards her, with a look of disdain, she looks to Gordon, "Bruce called me. He said something about needing our help. He didn't tell us anything else besides that. Is he around?"
"You are here...?" Harleen glares at Bullock, "I wasn't aware that Bruce called for you... funny that he would do that since you are the jackass who stood by and did nothin' while Harvey got his face bashed in..."
"Huh?" Bullock touches his face, "I don't remember that-"
"Dent" Gordon corrects Bullock..
"B isn't around. He went to talk to Selina. I don't know what he wanted to talk to you 'bout, so if you would excuse me, I wanna get the hell away from you. Toodles," Harleen leaves the two in the dust.
Bullock taps his feet, "Let's face it, partner, that went as well as is possibly could."
"I don't think you can use *well* to describe the way that went," Gordon marches forward, followed by Bullock. Lucius appears from the side rooms, greeting them.
"There you guys are."
"Here we are," Gordon fakes a smile, "So Bruce called us here but couldn't be assed to meet us here? This is his office, so he would've needed to purposely go out of his way to not be here..."
Lucius fixes his cufflinks, "Mr Wayne is currently out on business, he will be joining us soon."
"Hold on, Blondie told us that he was out seeing Selina?" Harvey asks.
"That is apart of Mr Wayne's business. I feel that it is best to explain behind closed doors. Follow me," Lucius leads the two inside the CEO office and seals the doors shut. Once inside the room, Harvey and Jim spot Maria Kyle.
Lucius sets himself behind the desk and looks to Maria, "It's alright. They're good cops, the best this city has. You can trust them."
"He's right, not to toot my own horn but I haven't taken a single bribe going on seventeen years," Bullock smiles, "Totally trustworthy..."
Gordon slides his hands into the pockets of his coat, "Bruce called us as a favour to help you? What's going on?"
Maria stands, "I'll start from the basics. My name's Maria Kyle, and someone is trying to kill me..."
"Kyle as in... holy mother of gossip," Bullock removes his hat and holds it against his chest, "Selina's mother in the flesh..."
Gordon turns to Harvey, "Is that what caught your attention? Someone's trying to kill you? Do you have any clue who that might be?"
"Sofia Falcone"
Elliot Memorial Hospital
"Selina... you can't be..." Lee rubs her eyes as she looks to the woman that is sitting in the corner of the room, "This... does Bruce know? Does he know that you're pregnant?" Selina looks down to the floor, arms over her knees, "Selina? Are you even listening?"
"Yes, I hear you," Selina lifts her gaze, "Bruce doesn't know. How can I even go about telling him? What would he even say? Would he even say anything? My whole mind is hurting, doesn't help that my mother is back in the picture, this whole situation couldn't get any worse..."
"You picked a great time for this. As if there wasn't enough going on lately," Lee stresses, "So this is happening, just great. Selina, do you know just what this will entail for you and Bruce? Are you prepared to be a mother, is Bruce ready to be a father?"
"I KNOW!" Selina thrusts herself up, "I know that this whole thing is going complicate things between us, I know that I know that... so just stop it!"
"When you asked me to get you that test, I thought that you were just being cautious. I'm not mad that you got yourself pregnant, just disappointed that you would choose a time like this? It's your life, Selina...I respect that, but this is a less than ideal time, with Barbara-Lee... and everything else going on right now," Lee tries to calm down Selina.
"Don't you think that I know that? When Bruce and I... It was in the heat of the moment. I don't think either of was thinking of what was going to happen, we just thought of what was happening there," the dark-haired woman confesses, "I just needed someone, I needed him. And now I'm pregnant, with my mother barging back into my life... I'm scared, Lee... what if I ended up making all the same mistakes as she did? What if I become the monster that I claim that she is?"
Lee rubs her eyes, "That sounds rough, Selina. This must be quite emotional for you, with your mother and all. I'm here if you want to talk. But maybe you are better off talking with Barbs about this, you two always had a stronger connection," Lee picks at her pager when she hears it bleep, "Duties calls. Tommy needs me."
"Isn't it quite weird that you work for someone way younger than you?" Selina asks.
"That *someone's* name is on the building, so I'm willing to make an exception," Lee simpers playfully as she leaves the room, leaving Selina alone. With time, the dark-haired woman takes a seat again and stays in silence.
Minutes go by, nearing passing for an hour until someone joins Selina in the room. The woman lifts her gaze to find Sofia Falcone at Barbara-Lee's bedside, "I hope that I'm not interrupting," Sofia saunters to Selina, "Last time we were face-to-face, I gave you an offer. Batman's identity for Barbara Lee's survival... I believe that I have been more than gracious with the time that I gave you. So sister, what shall you choose?"
Selina stands, "Get the hell out of here, now!"
With her hands on her hips, Sofia comes forward, smirking, "I will, once you make your choice. I told you sister, that I can't be the only one contributing to our new-found family bond. I'm starting to feel like you've been using me. Well, I did what you have asked up to this point, now it's time to pay the piper," she comes closer, "Are you willing to sacrifice the life of an innocent girl, just to protect some guy who is too stuck up in his vendetta to pay you the slightest of mind. A man who will never love you. Will you really choose that over the life of this girl?"
"Shut up!" Selina slaps Sofia, flinging the woman's face to the side. Sofia looks back to Selina, gently brushing a small splat of blood from her bottom lip. Though she was hurt, Sofia still had enough smugness to smirk back.
"So...it's gonna be like that, eh?" Sofia chuckles, "What would your mother think of you for letting a poor girl die? I guess... I'll just have to ask her, if I even get a chance to," she turns and heads out, "Gloves are off, sister. I lover you dearly, but I guess...this is the way that you want us to express our care, right? By death and destruction...," she reaches the door and creeks her neck back to look over to Selina, she taps her nails against the door, "I do care for you...but I also have a reputation to keep up. If I let it slide with you, everyone will expect the same. I have to make an example outta you."
Selina hurries to the door, "What are planning to do?"
"Oh, nothing...," Sofia leans her head back, "Nothing that I wasn't already planning. Truth be told, your mother wasn't in any danger, not with you on my side. But... maybe, this is exactly what you need, to finally show you...that I'm am not to be screwed with...," Sofia exits out into the ward, now surrounded by her guards, "Nice catching up with you. Do take care now...," she marches down the hall. Sofia turns to one of her guards, "Tell them that the hit is back on, and doubled in price..."
Wayne Tower
- Café, Ground Level -
Bruce walks into the café area of the ground floor, spotting a familiar blonde woman at the end. "Harley, do you think that you can do me favour? I would really appreciate it," Bruce asks the blonde who stares blankly at him. Harleen sits in the café of Wayne Enterprise Tower, legs crossed and slurping her coffee like a child. She sets her drink down and slants her upper body to be facing the man.
"What's up, B-man?"
Bruce sits down next to her, "I need your help. See...Selina won't give her mother the time of day. No matter what I say or do, she just doesn't want to hear her out. There are some...underlying issues. Some...that I am not equipped to deal with, but maybe for a psychiatrist like you..."
Harley gives a stretched smile, "You want me to get between those two? I dunno 'bout that, B-man. I worked with criminals... Mommy issues are a whole other can of worms. You should just get someone else to do it."
"C'mon, Harls. I need you. Selina trusts you, I feel that you can make some progress. I'm not asking to have them be best friends, just for them to be in the same room for five minutes without any hostility," Bruce leans forward, "If we don't do something to fix their relationship... Selina will end up regretting not trying to get to know her mother. Selina doesn't even want to listen to me, she thinks that I turned against her. Please, Harley?"
"Maybe Selina doesn't want it fixed? Maybe she never will...," Harley takes another slurp of her coffee, "And she might view what you're doin' as a betrayal of her trust, B-man. From her point of view, you're tryin' to make her apologize for the pain that Maria is actually responsible for. Selina is the victim in all this, yet ya are chastisin' her for not wantin' to talk to the woman who abandoned her," Harleen explains, placing the cup down.
"That's ridiculous, Harls. I'm not taking any sides in this," Bruce tires to rebuttal.
Harleen reaches out and grabs the man's hand, "And there's where ya are messin' up. Ya should be choosin' Selina's side, ya should be there for her, whatever she'll end up deciding... Okay, B-man? I understand why this whole thing is important to ya..."
"Huh?"
Harley sits up straight, "I may be oversteppin' the boundaries of our kinship, but I believe that this sudden urge to mend Selina and Maria's relationship has to do with you not havin' the same chance with your parents...," she traces her thumb over Bruce's palm, "You might be projectin' your feelings for closure for your parents onto Selina and her mother, and as a result, projectin' your personal feelings onto Selina. It's normal for someone who lost their parents to desire closure, maybe just to say farewell to them..."
Bruce sits in silence, refusing to make eye contact with the blonde. After a few moments, he looks back to her, "...Did you just psychoanalyse me?"
"Don't be too down, B-man...you read like an open book anyway, I already know all your secrets," Harleen chirps, "If ya want my advice, some relationships just can't be mended. My sister and I haven't shared a single world since I lost my father, and I'm in no hurry to talk to her. And don't get me started on my mom."
Bruce removes himself, getting up, "You're right. I can't make Selina reconcile with Maria. I should tell Selina to forget it."
"Wait, wait, wait... I never said that" Harley stands, "If Selina decides to come, then that's her choice. I said that they may not be able to mend their bond, but I never said that they shouldn't try. Just don't get your hopes up," the blonde explains, "Listen, If I get the chance, I'll see if I can find a way to get them to talk. But I'm not going as hard as you did. These things need... nuance . We can't go forcing them."
"I understand," Bruce holds onto Harley's shoulders, "Just try your best okay? And uh... don't worry, you'll be compensated for your time?"
"Oh, Bruce... I don't want ya money," Harley nods, "A date will do."
"I'm-sorry-you-want-a-what?" Bruce sputters.
"A date. As in dinner. Maybe at a fancy restaurant. Tomorrow maybe...?"
"Uh, I...? What?"
"Platonical, of course!... If you so choose...?"
"I-would-very-much-like-to-choose-that," Bruce stammers, "Selina and I are sorta in a thing right now," he reaffirms his grip on Harleen's shoulder, "You are a nice girl, Harls. A very nice woman that Selina will hurt if she learns that you asked me that. It's for your safety." Bruce takes his hands off Harleen and heads off, "Gotta go, I'll send you a fruit basket," he jogs out of the café, nearly clashing with a waiter. Harleen sighs, tapping her temple.
"Next time...next time..."
Elsewhere
- Across Gotham -
"$2,000,000 as agreed upon, half now and the other half after the job is finished"
"An effortless task," a raspy voice answers, belonging to a shadowed figure. They slide dual swords into the holsters on their back, "Have the money wired within the hour, or I'm coming for you after," the figure then loads a sniper riffle onto their back. The man steps out of the shadows, being a grey-haired man with an eye-patch over his right eye, wearing a black and orange chromed tactical suit. He holds his arms against his chest, sliding in magazines into a pair of handguns that he holds, "Time to go to work."
Wayne Tower
- CEO Office -
"Is Bruce not coming?" Maria asks.
"He'll be here, promise," Lucius tries to reassure Maria, holding his hand over her shoulder, "Trust me. He won't let anything happen to you."
"He's right that I won't," Bruce enters the office, looking to Gordon and Harvey, "Thanks for coming. I trust that Lucius got you updated on the situation?," he rounds the desk, "The building is on high-alert. Anyone without authentication can't get it, elevators have now been made inactive, and security is sweeping the floors. No one can get in here without us knowing."
"Sounds like you've got a handle on it, guess we aren't needed," Harvey chimes in.
"Not exactly," Bruce looks to his computer's screen, showing the security footage from the their floor, "That's not taking into the possibility of corruption in the ranks. You guys are here because you are the best cops that I know. If it comes down to it, you'll need to be Maria's last line of defence."
"You're putting a lot of trust in us, Bruce...," Gordon lowers his gaze, "It means a lot that you can put your faith in us, Listen, Bruce...we need to address this, with what happened with Dent, I understand that you may not be able to fully tru-"
Bruce looks to Gordon, "Gordon, I would appreciate it if you left our personal issues out of this. This is for Maria's safety, that's all. After we can confirm that she safe, I expect you to get the hell out of my building."
"That sounds fair," Gordon agrees.
Harvey shrugs, "Shouldn't we just take her to the station, there's a literal army there that can protect her."
"Too risky," Lucius replies, "Not only the journey to there, but there's no telling just how many of those guys are on Sofia's payroll, we would basically be handing her over. She's much safer here with us, where we know that none of us is working for Sofia."
Harvey sits in one of the chairs off to the side, "Couldn't we just arrest her? She did try to kill Jim."
Jim runs his hand over his chin, "Apart from the army that she has with her, arresting her is impossible, thanks to our good old pal Aubrey having her cleared of all charges," he paces back and forth, "As awful as it is to say, I'm sleeping easier now that he's dead. Fewer ways for scumbags like Sofia to get off free."
"Yep, Dent did us a real favour...blowing out Aubrey's head like that," Bullock gets comfy in the chair, kicking his legs up and yawning, "Not gonna lie, I almost danced on that son of bitch's grave.
Bruce glares, "Dent didn't do it. He was framed."
Bullock leans forward and holds his hands in his lap, "We'll never know for sure since Aubrey didn't like having cameras in his office, personally, even if Dent did pull the trigger, I say he should get a bloody medal."
Gordon looks at Harvey with suspicion, "That would mean that he shot an unarmed man, doesn't sound like something that you would agree with, Harv."
"Eh, maybe after a few drinks," Bullock leans back.
In the meantime, Bruce concentrates on Maria, "So Sofia hired someone to kill you, do you know anything about that person? Any detail? Anything that could help us identify who we are dealing with? It'll help me protect you and ensure your safety, Miss Kyle."
"*Protect me*?," Maria laughs nervously, "There's no need to act so toughly, Bruce. You're not a hero," she ruffles her hair, "I never saw him close up, just in the distance. I barely saw anything, but what I saw was enough to know... he's good. Probably the best in the business. I just know his name... that's it..."
"You know the name of the man trying to kill you?" Bruce comes in closer, "What is it?"
"..."
"What. Is. His. Name?" Bruce repeats.
"...Deathstroke..."
Bruce's eyes widen, drained of all power and might, "...I made a mistake... I have to get you out of-," he freezes, spotting a glowing red dot overlay on the back of Maria's head, "GET DOWN!" he tackles her to the floor, as the windows to the office was shattered by a bullet. Gordon, Harvey and Lucius all drop to the ground and find cover. Bruce holds Maria close to him, dragging himself and her behind the desk, "Quit! Don't even make a sound!" he tells the others.
Outside
Deathstroke stands on the ledge of the building, several blocks away. He drops his rifle and tilts his head in amusement, "Fast reflexes for a simple playboy," his raspy tone becomes blunter, "Would've been too quick anyway... very well, let the game begin..."