Disclaimer
The characters in my story are not owned by me. They are the property of DC comics and Warner Bros. I just used them for the story which is completely a product of my own imagination.
Chap 4
"John, can you please come out for a while?" Bruce said. GL wanted to ask why, but decided it'd be better to follow him out. He did so.
Awkward silence prevailed for a while.
"I hope it's not serious!" Thomas Wayne said.
Alfred, who was till then silent, but forth the one question troubling him till then.
"Sir, sorry for my interruption, but I have had an experience, which was not something I have everyday!" Alfred was trying to put it as politely as possible.
"What is it, Alfred?" Thomas Wayne inquired.
"I was by the side of when he regained conscious. He seemed all dazed but when he looked at me, he said 'Alfred! Ah, what happened? What am I doing here?' But then I felt he noticed something and quickly apologized." Alfred looked at us for an answer.
"I don't think it is unusual, Alfred" this time it was Jonn, the Archeologist, "He has a butler named Alfred too. He had a concussion, so when he woke up, he must've thought that he is in his home." Fair enough, I thought.
The sound of a slap drew our attention. Apparently little Bruce had slapped Wally's hand.
"Ouch!" Wally mocked. That would be the last thing to cause him any pain. Bruce chuckled joyfully.
"Bruce! Why are you hitting Fush like that?" Thomas Wayne mocked anger. Little Bruce brought all the baby charm he could into his eyes and tried to offer an explanation, all he could do was make up some faces and say 'Fush...fush...fush'. When he realized it was not working, he looked at me for help. That was a strange feeling. It was as if he knew me. Flash had been making faces at Bruce for sometime now, and I was watching. He was extending his arms towards me and pulling my collar and pointing at flash. He was almost going to break into a cry, seeing he couldn't justify his actions.
I took him into my arms and tried comforting him "I know it Bruce, Fush is a bad boy. Diana will hit him real hard, don't worry!" tears were already wetting his cheeks by that time. So, Diana immediately slapped Flash's hand, for real!
"Ouch! That really hurt!" Flash burst out. We all laughed, except for little Bruce. He extended his arms towards Flash. Flash mocked anger, but Bruce wouldn't give up. He was jumping in my lap and going uncontrollable. Flash immediately took him from me.
"Yes, Mister! What do you want to do now?" Flash said, still mocking anger.
He put his little hand on Flash's arm and started rubbing it, as if to ease the pain. And then he started to comfort Flash just the way I tried to comfort him, but with baby words and gestures. All I could understand was he offered to slap Diana!
That was too touching, even for Flash. Tears rolled in his eyes "You are one brave man, Brucy! No point denying that!"
Just then, John and Bruce entered. "I think we should get going." John said.
"Oh, won't you stay for dinner, sir?" Thomas Wayne asked, disappointed.
"I'm sorry sir, but duty calls. And its about time the others resume their journey to Metropolis, for the world fair", Bruce said
Now that was one thing we didn't explain, the reason for our coming to Gotham.
"You're not coming with us!" Diana exclaimed.
"Duty calls, Diana. I am sorry. I'll try to be back, for the weekend." He said, laying his arm on her shoulder. The responses were only going natural, as Diana turned her face away, hiding her emotions.
"It was a pleasure staying here, sir!" Bruce extended his hand for a felt giddy all of a sudden, lost control and almost fell on Thomas wayne. He held Bruce just at the right time for an accidental hug.
"You really should be resting, sir! You're not completely recovered yet. But as you said, duty first" shook his hand."I am only sorry you had to leave so soon without having a meal with us. All the Best for your mission, sir! And take care!"
Bruce found it hard to break the handshake. He was holding his father's hand, after a long time. But he had to.
"Um, Mr. McGill! Next time I would want to see you two together, along with a baby, like my Bruce. Please believe me, you cannot get a better person into your life!" Martha Wayne smiled.
Bruce couldn't speak. He knew she'd never see him again and he's never see her, them! I found the need to speak. "Sure, Mrs. Wayne! I'll make sure it happens!"
"Now that's one strong and loving brother!" Thomas Wayne smiled, "I'd look out for him if I were you, !"
Bruce managed to smile. The little Bruce, as though he understood the situation, smiled at his counterpart and began to wave his hand "Bye! Puce!". The he turned to all of us in turns "Bye, Kak! Bye Fush, bye Jo', Bye Shra" and finally turned to Diana "Bye, picess"
He actually meant princess!
"She is not the Princess, Bruce" Martha wayne exclaimed "She is Diana!"
Bruce was adamant. He pointed at Diana and retorted "Pincess!"
"Sorry, he hears a lot of stories about kings and queens and beautiful princesses. He doesn't even sleep without a princess story. You are so beautiful, he took you for the Princess!" Thomas Wayne remarked.
"No problem, sir!" she said, looking at the big Bruce at the corner of her eye.
"Good night, sir! And thank you for your hospitality!" I shook their hands and picked Bruce's cheek for one last time. Everyone spoke their final words and cuddled bruce for one last time, and with a heavy heart, bade him good bye!
As we left, the Wayne's saw us to the door. And when we were at a sufficient distance away, they turned back to go inside, and as they did, I could hear Thomas Wayne say "Strange! I've only seen that man once and I feel that I've known him for ages. When I hugged him, I felt...some connection, like I was hugging our Bruce!"
"Perhaps he and we do have some connection. Seeing him, I always felt that Bruce would grow up to be like him, you know, the same blue eyes."
"And that chin...more like our family line!"
"Not to mention the jaws!"
I couldn't hear anymore! We were far far away, in both space and time. As I look back at it, Bruce was actually talking to an agency to hire a time travel port for us! At least that was the way I wanted to look at it.
to be contd...
