Yes, I know that this chapter is lame and doesn't really sound like something that would happen, but it's really just a filler chapter. And yes, I do know that the poles in his study dress him and Robin in their suits, but I'm gonna pretend they don't for this story. Sorry it took so long. Love you guys xoxo :) Also, I don't know if I said this, but Robin doesn't really…exist in this story… lol. And in case you were wondering, since Robin isn't there, the extra pole that should be his was put in...i dont know...jeez. Use your imaginations. lol XD
Three days later….
I stood at the door of Uncle Bruce's mansion. Since I was still technically underage, I needed a guardian, and he was the only blood relative I had that was still alive. I had never met this man. Hell, I was pretty sure that he didn't even know I existed until yesterday. He had been Dad's brother, but Dad had never mentioned him. I looked back at the cop car sitting at the front gate, then at the door. I rang the bell and waited. A moment later, an elderly man in a suit answered the door. "Yes, how may I help you?" He asked. "Uh, hello. I'm Julie…Bruce Wayne is my uncle..." "Oh, yes, of course. I'll have Master Wayne out right away." He walked back into the house, shutting the door. As I stood on the porch, it began to rain. A soft drizzle, but still enough for the officer who had driven me here to offer me his jacket. I took it, and as I was putting it on, a younger man, most likely in his 20's, opened the door.
"Hello, I'm Bruce…your uncle.." He said. I gave him a tentative smile. "Julie." "Please, come in." He gestured inside. Me and the officer followed him into a dimly lit foyer and sat down on a couch. "Alfred, could you bring our guests some drinks?" Bruce called. "Of course, master Wayne." I heard the elderly man answer. Alfred brought a glass of wine for the officer, and a glass of water for me. I mumbled my thanks. Looking around, I saw that it was a very nice room, but I didn't know if it could ever be 'home'. The officer's voice broke me out of my reverie. "Mr. Wayne, I'll need you to sign the proper forms to complete this. They're in my car." "Oh, yes, of course. Uh, Julie, Alfred will show you to my study, and I'll be up in a moment." "Alright." Bruce and the officer walked out of the house to his car. Alfred turned to me. "Right this way, master Julie." "Please, just call me Julie." I said. I wasn't completely comfortable with 'master'. "Well, alright, then. Right this way, Julie." He said.
I stood up and followed him to a nicely furnished room. "Master Wayne will be here shortly." He gave me a warm, understanding smile and walked away. I sat in a chair for a few moments before my curiosity got the best of me. I stood up and walked behind the big desk in the center of the room, and sat in the spinney chair. I rolled the chair forward…right onto my foot. "Shit!" I cursed. My knee shot up into the underside of the desk. "Oh!" I yelped and grabbed my knee. I heard a sliding sound behind me. I furrowed my eyebrows and turned around. My eyes went wide. Two tubes with poles in them were where bookshelves had been moments before. "What the.." I trailed off as I walked towards one of them and looked down. It was a lit up as far as I could see.
I looked back at the door before grabbing hold of the pole and stepping in. I let out a gasp as I slid down. I landed with a dull thud and lost my balance, making me fall flat on my butt. I stood up and looked around. The most high tech equipment I had ever seen filled the room. "Woah.." I muttered. I heard a small clank behind me and I swirled around.
Bruce was standing at the base of the pole. He didn't really look angry, just amused. I sputtered out apologies for snooping, for even going down the pole in the first place. He put a hand up to stop me. "I was going to show you anyways… Maybe it wasn't going to be today.. But soon…probably when you graduated." I stared at him. I still didn't even know where I was. "Turn around." He instructed. I did. Before me was a glass case. And in that glass case, I saw a suit. A black and gray suit. With a pointy eared mask. I was in the presence of the Batman's suit. It didn't register what it meant until I had stared for at least a minute. As soon as it hit me, I spun around, my eyes wide. "You mean-you're-oh my-you're Batman?" I finally got out. He chuckled. "Yes.. I was actually…uh well..Alfred convinced me to show you this in the first place..But I myself was wondering…if you would consider..training…to..take my place when I'm gone…? I know it's all a lot to take in..Especially after what's happened. But your situation is very like my own was…And I thought..you might…be interested... Of course I'll give you time to think about it, but I really think you would make a good Batgirl."
I stared at him for a moment, dumbfounded. I couldn't believe I was actually hearing these words. His expression went from hopeful to a little hurt.
"Of course, if you've already decided you don't want to, that's perfectly alright. It was a long shot anyways-"
"Of course I'll do it!" I cut him off, and his expression changed to a happy one.
"That's great! We should start training as soon as possible, and don't expect for me to even consider letting you come with me until you're out of school. School would be too hard to keep up with this job." He paused for a moment and looked at me.
"This…this job…..it isn't something to be taken lightly. You can't just do this because you think it would be cool to do it. Your life is on the line every day, and so are the ones you love-"
I cut him off again. "The ones I love? Like who? I hardly had any friends to start off with, and now what little I did have are back h...there. And Mom and Dad are…." I looked away, fighting back the now threatening tears. I turned back to him, glad the tears hadn't made it past.
"I know you understand the responsibilities. You're smart…just like your parents were. But I'm afraid you're going into this for the wrong reasons. I'm afraid you're going into this to get…revenge…on the Joker. Be honest with me. Was that what you were thinking when you said yes?"
I stared at him.
"Honestly? No. I said yes, so I can help prevent what happened to me…to us….from happening to anyone else." He seemed happy with my answer, and motioned for me to follow him. He led me around what I learned was called the Batcave, showing me one thing after another, explaining what each was for. His grappling hook, his batarangs, the various parts of his suit. By the time we were done, we had put off dinner for nearly an hour, and Alfred wasn't very happy.
"Master Bruce, you haven't eaten any food for more than two days. You need to eat. It's unhealthy." He chided. I snickered behind my hand.
After supper, Bruce dabbed at his face with a napkin as he stood.
"Tomorrow morning, when you get up, we can talk more, but now, I'm afraid I have to go now. Get some sleep. It'll be good for you. Not to mention you should be well rested for tomorrow."
Alfred and I spoke at the same time.
"You can't seriously be going out again? You need sleep too, Master Wayne." He said disapprovingly.
"What's tomorrow?"
"Alfred, I've gone more than two days without sleep before. I'll be fine. And Julie, that's a surprise."
He apologized once again for leaving before walking up to the study. I looked over at the clock as I took a bite of my food. It was nearly 10 p.m. We had definitely spent longer down in the Batcave than I thought. Alfred looked at me thoughtfully for a moment before speaking.
"I do hope you realize what you're getting yourself into, Miss Wa-"
"Julie." He corrected, looking as though he wanted to say more on the subject, though he didn't. "Well, I suppose if you're going to get that rest Master Wayne talked about, I should show you to your room."