Chapter 13

Priorities

Inside the bunker Bruce was at the computer desk studying the sample the he removed from one the vines he encountered when Alfred came from the lift with a paper bag of breakfast.

"If you not sleeping at the Manor, you're either in the cave or down here,"

Bruce turned and looked at his butler with an innocent expression on his face. "Sorry, I didn't have time to make a quick run to the Manor. I'll be heading out once the scan is complete."

Alfred placed the thermos of coffee on the desk in front of his master. Bruce was rubbing his shoulder.

"Did you have an exciting night?" The old butler asked looking at his master's bruises on the forearm. "Judge by those injuries I would suggest you get involved with another brawl last night."

"No, these are from the previous night, Alfred, last night I had to rescue a child from crate that had low oxygen. She's fine by the way, thanks to Diana flying her to Gotham General." He winced as Alfred rolled up his black shirt and saw the mark on his shoulder.

"Miss Prince , has proven to be quiet a partner from your missions wouldn't you say, Master Wayne?"

"Diana , is just a good friend."

Alfred crossed his arms. "Then why are you romancing with her if she is just a good friend?"

Bruce gave his butler a treacherous look with his hazel green eyes squinted. "I…Diana as like no other woman, powerful and able to defend for herself, when I first met at during the invasion I was convinced that she was just a rookie. But then when I saw her take down those alien walkers with her own bare hands I realized that it was wrong of me to judge."

"I remember when she was turned to a pig and you made Zanatana help you."

"Don't mention that night, Alfred that was a onetime thing."

"Oh, yes it was, I heard that your singing voice even made Circe cry."

Bruce rolled his eyes. "That was the only to break the spell unless I took Diana's place."

"Yes, but you prove to Circe you loved Diana."

The billionaire agreed with his butler. "You're right, that night when I was on the stage singing that annoying song that I heard countless of times on stakeout, I realized that I loved her." He rose up from the chair and walked over to a work bench that had a white dress shirt and tie waiting for him. He pulled off his black shirt showing his scars and gashes from the Joker's blade and Dent's bullet. Alfred could see the bullet wound in his master's mid section , he shuttered knowing that was just a preview of what was to come if Bruce continued on living the rough life he choose to live. "What if I was the one that Circe turned into an animal, would Diana have done the same thing for me?"

Alfred shrugged. "I can't answer that question for you sir," He stated.

Bruce buttoned up his dress shirt. "Having Diana watching my back as been both a blessing and a curse Alfred,"

"How so?" Alfred asked.

"Because I love her the gods are displeased with the princess and me. Diana has until midnight to live a life of freedom, after that hour she will become a prisoner to the pits. I will be punished as well."

Alfred cocked up an eyebrow. "You know living on thin ice don't you, Master Wayne?"

Bruce gave his butler a smirk. "You know me to well old man."

"I bloody ought to, since I raised you."

Diana Prince was walking down the streets of down town Gotham looking through the store front windows at her reflection when she heard a voice through the noise of the city traffic.

"Diana?"A tall red haired woman called out from behind. "Sister!"

Diana turned around and saw a familiar face. "Artemis, my sister why are you here in Gotham?"

"You know why my sister. The queen as told me about how you disobeyed Aphrodite's rule of loving a moral." Artemis said as she walked to her sister on the sidewalk wearing normal clothing. "I am here to protect you."

"I appreciate your concern my sister, but this is one battle I must face alone."

"Diana, you don't know what they do to souls in the pits of Tartus."

Diana placed her hand on Artemis shoulder. "Leave Artemis, your place is with our sisters and the queen. I can handle this battle."

The red haired warrior nodded. "As you wish Diana, but know this if anything happened to you while in the pits I will make sure that goddess chokes on my arrows."

Inside the boardroom of Wayne Enterprises Bruce sat at the long black oak table looking at the white painted wall trying to create a hole in the surface with his mind. His expression was neutral as he tuned out the babbling going on around him. He gave a long yawn showing his boredom at the senior members of the board who looking at him with displeasing looks.

Lucius Fox was sitting next to the speaker Mark Winx the owner of Star Labs who was glaring at the billionaire through his thick framed glasses.

"In Metropolis, Star Labs stands for dynamic growth of the pharmaceutical division. A joint venture with Star Labs and Wayne Enterprises will make this a power house for the stock market and funding for projects for the average human welfare."

Fox rose and smiled. "Well, Mr. Winx I speak for the rest of the board and for Bruce Wayne for expressing our excitement for this partnership." He shook Winx's hand.

A female board member smacked Bruce's shoulder. "Mister Wayne," She growled. Wake up for your daydreaming."

Bruce shifted his eyes at Fox and Winx.

"Mister Wayne, do you have anything to say?" Fox asked.

The dark haired young man nodded. "OK, let's do this." He said. "Just tell me where you want me to sign Mr. Winx."

Bruce was waiting in the board room looking at the city when Fox entered.

"These late nights are starting to catch up to, Mr. Wayne." Fox said as Bruce turned and gave him a pleasant smile. "I trust that you heard everything."

"Yes , I think it's a good decision for my families company."

"But that is not the reason why you are here?"

Bruce pulled out a sample of the plant he broke off from the warehouse. "I need to have this looked over."

"What no blood this time?"

"No, Mr. Fox today its plant samples." He handed Fox the small vial. "I just need you to have a closer look."

Fox nodded. 'I'll see what I can do."

"Very good, Mr. Fox," Bruce said walking away heading for the door, he pulled on his sunglasses. "Look me know if you find any abnormalities." He called out exiting the conference room leaving Fox looking at the green stem in the vial.

"Interesting."