A/N: I can tell you that I have been dreading this exact chapter since I first started this series forever ago. I absolutely hated playing through this part of the game. I felt terrible and guilty playing it, like I was the one kicking him out of his company.

Thx!

AMM


I try not to drag my feet as I step from the Batmobile, dreading with every fiber of my being the upcoming hours. Regina and the board are out of their mind if they think I'm happy about stepping down or that I'm giving Oz the company for any other reason than the fact that I'm trying to gain their trust back.

Oz could find out who I am. Oz could use the company to fund and supply the Children of Arkham. I do the same thing, to a point, with Batman, but I'm not funneling it into a terrorist group.

"Wow, you must be really distracted if you didn't notice me." A voice says from my desk chair. My head snaps over, seeing Diana looking at me with pity. I look away, not wanting her pity or her sympathy. The company is my burden, was left to me. I alone shoulder the weight of it.

I just wish I didn't have to.

Moving towards the case that holds the suit, I begin pulling off my gloves and cowl, not knowing what to say to Diana, not wanting to admit that she's almost the furthest thing from my mind right now.

As I go to put the top half of my uniform in the case, arms slip around my middle, trailing over the bandages before resting loosely against my sternum, lips pressing just above the bandage wrapped over my shoulder. "You look like shit," she murmurs against my skin and I can't help but huff a laugh.

"I feel like shit." I admit, eyes falling closed.

"Alfred said you stayed over at the cat woman's house."

"Diana, I swear nothing happ-"

"I know," she cuts me off. "I trust you, Bruce. I trust in you, Bruce."

"Yeah, well at least someone does." Despite her loose grip around me, I reach forward to place the top of my uniform in the case.

"Hey, everything will work out. I know you. I know this will not stop you, will not destroy you. You're stronger than you give yourself credit for, babe."

"I don't feel very strong right now." I turn in her grasp and hug her to me, squeezing her tightly. "Diana, I don't even know who I am right now. I don't know who I am without the company. And I'm supposed to just step aside and let a criminal take over the company that I worked so hard to build up from my father's ashes."

"But you're not alone. I'm here, Alfred's here, Lucius is here; we're here for you. Whatever you need." I nod but don't know how to express what I'm feeling.

"I need to get ready." I step from her grasp, hearing her trail behind me as I move for the elevator.

"Have you slept?"

"A little. Selina's couch isn't very comfortable, especially with this." I gesture to my chest and shoulder as we step into the elevator.

"What happened?" Diana reaches out and lightly brushes her fingers over my chest, eyes rising to meet mine.

"Electrical burns, I think. Possibly fractured ribs." I've grown almost numb to the constant twinging of my side or the sting of the burns rubbing against the bandaid.

"Bruce, you should have those wounds looked at," Diana insists.

"I don't have time," I tell her, hoping she understands I would have the burns looked at if I wasn't running so short on time. "Harvey showed up at Selina's this morning." I tell her, changing the subject.

Diana squints at me disapprovingly but allows the topic change. "Isn't he dating Selina?"

"I don't know. They were kind of a thing before the incident but she never went to see him in the hospital and I think this is the first time she's seen him since the incident." Diana remains silent, nodding her head beside me. I can feel her eyes on me but I remain looking ahead, stepping from the elevator as soon as it's reached the library. "I tried hiding, knowing he'd be suspicious if he saw me but Selina's cat knocked the door open after sinking her claws into my leg. To say Harvey was displeased to see me was an understatement. But it was so odd, Diana. Something wasn't right." She stays beside me as we move up the stairs and down the hall towards my room.

"What do you mean?"

"He was referring to himself in third person and it was like he was having a conversation with himself, but a really angry, nasty version of himself." I shake my head, unable to forget how he spoke to and about himself. "He stormed out after throwing a knife and shattering a mirror. He tried to start a fight with me, got me across the jaw," I tilt my head slightly, and see Diana's eyes glance down, more than likely seeing the bruise he left. "That seemed to knock him out of it. He grew so remorseful then started claiming it was all his fault before leaving. I should've gone after him. I tried to go after him. I-"

"Bruce, baby, stop," a gentle hand on my arm makes me pause.

"You have enough on your plate right now. We can worry about Harvey later, I promise. But unfortunately, you have more pressing matters." I glance at the bed where my suit is laid out.

"Right," I mumble, grabbing my suit and moving into the bathroom to change and shave, maybe cover the bruise on my jaw. Can this morning be over already?

"If you need me, Bruce, I'll be right here," Alfred promises as I step from the car, trying not to throw up what little I've eaten and drank before now.

I glance over my shoulder before closing the door, eyes meeting with Alfred before giving him a single nod, unable to handle the look in his eyes. The door slams, catching the attention of most of the reporters and media waiting for my resignation. I take a deep breath and fight to keep my hands from balling into fists at my sides, trying to keep my breathing even and ignore the nasty reporters calling me names and shouting things at me, hoping to get a reaction.

The security guard standing at the base of the stairs scowls at me as I pass him, making my way up the stairs to Regina and Oz.

Regina, seeing me, looks genuinely sad and sympathetic as she approaches me. I don't want her sympathy either but it's nice to know she fought for me till the end. I can't hold this against her. I've known Regina for far too long, and worked with her for years. I relied heavily on her when the company was officially transferred to me after my twenty-first birthday. "I'm so sorry about all of this, Bruce. We've…." she hesitates, glancing away uncomfortably before meeting my eyes once more. Another thing I admire her for. Despite the situation and position she's been put in, she won't hide from me. "We've prepared a brief damage control statement, to make this easier. After I introduce you, all you'll have to do is read what's on the teleprompter." I nod, prepared to do just that when Oz opens his trap and I'm suddenly not so sure I'll be able to keep my cool.

"And then I can take it from there. Got my little coronation speech just waiting." I refuse to look at Oz, aware of the possibility that I might deck him. He has quite the nerve.

"Thank you for being so cooperative about all this, Bruce. It really is for the best."

"For everyone, really." Oz adds and Regina briefly scowls before her face switches to one of neutrality. She carefully places a hand on my arm and guides me aside, away from Oz.

"I know it's unfair to ask this of you, but please; right now your reputation, your entire legacy, depends on your cooperation. Get through today and I can help you. I can convince the board to bring you back. It might not be as CEO, but it will be for something." I don't know if I'd be able to handle working under Oz. "A step to regaining what you're being forced to give up. This is what is best for Gotham." She emphasizes, knowing my dedication to the city.

I glance down, taking another deep breath before putting on the billionaire playboy facade. "Of course, Regina. Whatever I can do to help." I reply sweetly with an ingenuine grin.

"That's good, Bruce. Trust us to sort this all out. Everything will be fine." Trust the board? The board that just gave away everything I've built to Oz? I don't trust them to do jack shit anymore.

Regina steps away and towards the podium. I follow her quietly, refusing to acknowledge Oz. However, he seems to have different plans. "All ready, then? We are going to make quite a splash today, aren't we?" He asks jovially as I walk past him. "I don't think I'm ever going to forget this day. Beautiful weather, corporate intrigue, a well-deserved comeuppance, a noble hero riding in to save the day…." I roll my eyes. "This really does have all the elements."

"I wouldn't be so confident if I were you, Oz. The show hasn't started yet." I tell him under my breath as I stand beside him, hands tucked in my pockets to present an air of indifference.

"Maybe for you, but I've read your script. So, I already know how this story is going to end."

"That's enough, both of you!" Regina quietly scolds as she glances between both of us, clearly unamused before looking at me. "It's time. Bruce, I'm going to introduce you and then you're on. Please, stick to the teleprompter." She stresses before stepping up to the podium.

"Good morning, everyone! And thank you for being here!" Regina begins. "Wayne Enterprises has always taken its role in the community very seriously."

"Isn't it funny?" Oz asks quietly from beside me, looking at the crowd gathered in front of us. "How everything I said in the park has come true? Me, taking everything that's yours? And that's not even the punch line. No, dearheart. Not even close." He says smugly. It's like he's asking to be punched. "No one's gonna follow you around and take pictures now." Not that I actually mind losing that aspect of my life but Oz seems rather fond of gaining it. Wait till they post pictures of him doing every little ordinary thing, if Oz even does ordinary things. It gets really old really fast. "It'd almost be sad if you weren't so bloody handsome."

I refuse to look at Oz, keeping my eyes on Regina. "You're just a pawn, Oswald. Everyone knows that pawns are meant to be sacrificed."

I see fury flash over Oz's face for a second in my peripheral before he smirks. "Ah, perhaps. But at least I get the joy of watching your shocking and surprising descent first. This," he subtly gestures to the crowd. "Is a first step towards making things right. Soon enough, it'll be 'Cobblepot Industries,' 'Cobblepot Medical,' and 'Cobblepot Tech' on the tops of buildings, and you Wayne's will be what you should have been all along: forgotten. 'Cobblepot' will come to mean the future of Gotham. And 'Wayne' will be a story that no one wants to hear."

I debate ignoring him or telling him to leave it up to the board, but he gets under my skin. "That is not going to happen." I grit, noticing Oz's smirk as he knows he's gotten to me.

"Oh, don't be a sore loser, Bruce. It doesn't look nice on you. Oh, I forgot to mention. I did some digging and you know how old Hill admitted he had your mum and dad killed?" I tense up, shoulders straightening at the reminder. "Oh, yeah! And I'll tell you the story, but only if you say 'pretty please.'" He taunts. "It's quite the page turner. I'm sure you're just dying to hear it, aren't you, Bruce?"

"Just tell me," I demand, finally looking at him.

"Nah, ah-ah! That's not what I asked." The joy Oz is getting out of this is obvious and I know I should just ignore him, stop feeding into it. But he's wickedly good at knowing how to capture my attention in all of the worst ways.

"Please," I grit through my teeth, jaw locked tight.

Surprise flicker across Oz's face, clearly not having expected me to actually say it but I have to know. He smirks a second later before saying, "Turns out your dear mum was fed up with what your daddy was up to. Threatened to turn him in, she did. Said she didn't want to be part of it!" Somehow, that soothes an ache in my chest. I didn't want to believe my mom willingly went along with my father's plans. But this all depends on if Oz is telling the truth. He could just be feeding me a bunch of lies right now. "Now, you can imagine Hill wasn't too keen on that idea. So, he slid a few dollars Joe Chill's way and….well, you saw the rest, mate."

A fury erupts deep in my stomach, spreading along each limb and it takes every breathing exercise and all of the training I've put myself through not to react. Then I hear Regina. "And now, Bruce Wayne would like to say a few words." Well, if Oz's plan was to rile me up before I spoke, he succeeded. I'm thoroughly pissed.

"Remember, enjoy yourself, Bruce! After all, you never know how much time you really have left." Oz slaps a hand to my back, jolting me forward and making me clench my jaw harder to prevent wincing.

I step up to the podium, somehow still taken aback by the scowls I'm met with instead of eager smiles. I glance at the teleprompter, scanning quickly through my supposed 'voluntary' resignation but I can't. I can't do this. I can't lie. I've never done something I thought wouldn't benefit Gotham and leaving my company to Oz gives him enough power to ruin my city. I glance down at my hands, which I've pressed to the podium to try and steady myself.

I take a deep breath, mentally trying to prepare for the backlash I know I'm about to receive. "I'm stepping down from my position as CEO of Wayne Enterprises," I begin. "But I am not doing so voluntarily. The Board of Wayne Enterprises has voted me out." I can feel Regina glaring holes through my back. I hope she understands that what I'm saying isn't personal, it isn't' against her, just as her being a part of the board that has helped to destroy my life isn't something I personally hold against her. "At a meeting I was not invited to attend."

The next part of my speech flashes up on the teleprompter, wanting me to claim I'm horrified of my father's corruption, ashamed of his actions; that I'd like to apologize for any pain he caused Gotham. And I do want to say that, I am horrified of my father's past, of his corruption, and I'm so sorry for the pain he caused, but, "I know what my father did, I know how much he hurt you. But I am nothing like him." I insist and murmuring immediately begins in the crowd. "His actions are his own."

"Stop trying to save face," Oz hisses from behind me.

My next part of the speech flashes, claiming how I have complete faith in the board. Not anymore, I don't. "Unfortunately, the board is more concerned with good PR than they are with actual solutions." Well, that was basically a big F-you to people I've worked with for years. "They don't care about making things right. They only care about what looks good."

"What are you doing?" Regina whispers from behind me, clearly upset.

"Thinks he's being cute, that's what he's doing." Oz sneers before snapping and calling for security.

"Step back, Mr. Wayne," one of the guards appears besides me, grabbing my elbow to pull me away from the podium. I go willingly, letting him lead me off the stage.

Regina makes a sound of disgust as I move past her. "That was quite a show you put on, Bruce." I refuse to look at her, knowing she took what I've just done as a personal attack against her. I hoped she wouldn't, that she'd be someone who'd understand but I guess not.

Oz has stepped up to the podium by the time I make it down the stairs. I ignore the scowling reporters I stop beside, turning around to watch Oz. "My apologies, folks! Please forgive me, Mr. Wayne, I, for one, completely understand his behavior today."

Vicki Vale appears beside me. "Nice statement," she says under her breath. "The press seemed to eat it up. I rather enjoyed it myself, not that it will change anything."

"I did what I felt was right." I tell her before looking back at Oz.

"Yeah, well, someone has to. I just didn't think it'd be you." She admits, shrugging a shoulder before she suddenly squats down. "Oh, dropped your pen!"

"That's not min-" I'm cut off with a gasp as she grabs my wrist and jabs her pen into the back of my hand. I yank my hand away from her, holding it to my chest as my blood begins to rush in my ears. I see the pen Vicki had picked up was actually a needle in disguise. Glancing at my hand, I watch as a spiderweb of blue shoots out in all directions from the injection site. Shit. The drug.

I shake my head, trying to clear it as it begins to fog over. "You hear that?" Vicki asks. "That's the drug taking hold of you. Don't fight it."

"You?" I pant. "You're with the Children of Arkham!"

"No," Vicki scoffs. "I am the Children of Arkham!" She considers me for a second before leaning in. "I think it's time you knew my real name. I am Lady Arkham and you already know the Penguin." She gestures to Oz. "Look at him up there! Taking everything that should belong to you. Mocking you, the smug, insignificant bastard!" She whispers in my ear while I try to keep my breathing even, trying to fight the drug.

"He thinks he can get away with it. Because none of them know who he really is. They wouldn't believe you if you told them."

"And, if we can just get one more round of applause for our friend, the man of the hour, Bruce Wayne!" My heartbeat quickens, I suddenly feel clammy and like I might throw up before my mind blissfully clears for a second. Then the rage from the last few days takes over, Vicki's taunting winning.

"He-heh, ouch! Someone's a little touchy it seems!" Oz says from on stage as I shake my head violently, trying desperately not to let the rage consume me.

"It would be so easy to get rid of him," Vicki whispers in my ear. "Who else will deliver justice?" My eyes lock on Oz and his smug grin.

And then everything goes black.


A/N: Not me getting worked up just writing this. I hated this part of the game so much for Bruce. He deserved so much better than to be manipulated like this. I will also be posting a short chapter on Thursday of Diana's POV of the press conference.

Also, side note, I've been watching The Last of Us show and know that Troy Baker played Joel in the games along with Joker in Arkham Origins. However, I forgot he played Bruce in this game! That man is one of many voices!

Thx!

AMM