Chapter 8 : Underestimating
Wayne Manor
With heat of their bodies and the warm flames of the fireplace Selina curled closer to Bruce who was bare chest. She placed her hand on the center of his chest and listened to the sound of his heartbeat.
Bruce opened his eyes and looked into her soft brown eyes that were full of mystery. "Hey why aren't you sleeping?" He asked with a concerned expression on his face as his dark deep set eyes glared at her crimson lips.
"You of all people should know that I only get a few hours of sleep. But you go on ahead handsome. You need to get your health restored." She run her hand through his greasy chocolate brown hair and he formed his lips into a frown.
"Selina I know that you're hiding something?" He questioned.
"I'm not hiding anything handsome. Go back to sleep." She sunk into the covers as he embraced her. Deep down Selina wanted to taste the freedom of cool air blowing through her thick brunette hair.
Smell the scent of fresh bed backing in the ovens from nearby East End bakerys. She need to released from his arms .
"I can't sleep Selina." He arose. "Not one there is work that needs to be done."
"You're a stubborn piece of work." Selina teased as she leaned her head closer to his and crashed her lips onto his. They were locked into a deep kiss , he ran his hand down her slender back as she laid on top of him showing her passion by not releasing her lips.
Bruce had his eyes closed as he felt her heat enter his body. He didn't want to part his lips. He wanted more.
Selina opened her eyes and waited for him to settle down . Her kiss worked and he was starting to sleep. She gently pulled her lips away and looked down at his pale featured face. "Handsome," She whispered as her lips kissed his forehead. "Sweet dreams Bruce." She arose off his chest and stood on her feet.
"Excuse me handsome, but I have a city scour." She blew the slumbering billionaire a kiss and collected her things.
A few minutes later Selina was walking down the long hallway heading for the front door. She noticed the Alfred was waiting for her by the stairwell with her coat.
"You know me too well..." She smiled as Alfred moved closer and helped her adjust her black leather jacket.
"How is is Master Wayne doing?" He asked.
"Well it took a well but I finally got him to sleep. I believe the fever has left him."
Alfred nodded. "What about you Miss Kyle?"
"I'm a tough girl Alfred. I don't let little things like the common cold render my nightlife. She grabbed her helmet for her motor cycle and headed for the front door. "If Bruce awakes tell him that I said something important to attend."
"I will. Have a good night Miss Kyle."
Selina pulled on her helmet over head and walked down the cement steps that lead to the driveway. She slid her sleek body on the saddle of her bike and fired the engine.
She couldn't help but think what else Vedette Countless was planning to do with the man she loved. "Vedette," She growled in a silent mutter under the helmet. She sped out through the entrance gates and made a right turn to the freeway.
Alfred entered the study and saw that the 38 year old billionaire standing near the window with his arms crossed and lips formed into a frown.
"She left didn't she Alfred?" Bruce rasped with a cough.
"Indeed. Master Wayne. She had important things to address."
"Why am I not surprised?" Bruce grunted as he moved to the piano and pressed the keys, the book self opened revealing a passageway.
Alfred glared at him with disapproval. "And where do you think you're heading?"
Bruce turned around. "She could be walking into a trap."
"With all due respect Master Wayne, you're in no condition to track her down."
Bruce rolled his eyes. "Alfred it's just a common cold." He began to cough again.
The white haired butler shook his head. " Your choices have been your own destruction to your body Master Wayne. For one night will you just stay away from the rooftops and dark alleys. Miss Kyle is a strong woman. She knows how to defend herself."
"No. Alfred I can't lose her. Not like how I lost Rachel." He narrowed his eyes to the picture of Rachel Dawes on the book shelf next to his parents. "I can't lose her..." He trailed off thinking about how he failed to save Rachel.
In some ways he still loved her but he was in love with Selina. For the moment he laid eyes on the young 28 year old woman who bought him out of his cave and shown him the thrills that life had to offer freely.
"I know Master Wayne. Selina is her own woman. She knows the risks."
Bruce still wouldn't listen he slipped away and entered the tunnel that let him to the hidden elevator .
Alfred shook his head. "He never listens."
As Bruce was walked on the platform that lead the massive computer desk. He felt a sharp pain in his wounded leg that he sustained with a leg brace because of no cartilage left in his knee.
"What?" He growled as fell landing on his knees. Tears came out of his eyes. "No this again."
Alfred came pacing after him. "Master Wayne, are you alright sir?"
"I'm fine," Bruce growled with his pride as he tried to stand.
"Oh really well you don't look fine. I'll go get the cane."
"No. I don't need that stupid cane. It makes me feel like an old man." He looked at Alfred. "No offense ."
"None taken." Alfred helped his master up the computer chair. "Stay here. I'll be back with the cane."
"I don't need the cane Alfred," he refused with a grimace.
"Sorry sir, but this is out of your hands."
Bruce lifted his pant leg up and looked at his scarred knee. The knee brace snapped and a bone was popping out. "Great. Nothing lasts." He rubbed his knee cap and winced in pain as Alfred entered his sight holding the black cane in his hands.
Bruce sighed as his butler handed him the cane.
"Stop being a stubborn child Master Wayne and take it."
Bruce glared at Alfred and grasped the cane. "Great Alfred, how is Batman suppose to fight using this cane?"
"Well now you have a reason to stay way from the cape and cowl until Fox can construct new leg brace."
The billionaire turned his attention to the computer screen and looked at the police files.
"Three missing children in the past three days. All the victims are girls. Two turned up dead but the youngest of the group is still missing."
Alfred stood over his shoulder and looked at the child's photo.
"Why do the young always have to endure so much pain?"
Bruce shifted his eyes downward and thought about his childhood. "Evil always goes after the innocent Alfred." He typed in on the keyboard, eyes focused on the screen. "We need to figure out the reason Alfred and the cause."
His hand firmly grasped the cane as he arose and began to ponder. "We know that dead black cats have been found in alleyways with red collars around their necks labeled 'innocence'; what's the connection?"
Alfred shrugged wishing like his master that they had all the answers.
Across town...
Selina Kyle flipped on her goggles as she sat on the saddle of the batpod keeping a sharp eye on a tall dark haired man walking through the glass doors of the Gotham GoldArrow high rise complex that housed some of the wealthiest lawyers in the city.
She'd done her research and found out that one of the victim's stepfather lived on the top floor.
He was owned for illegal royalties that he got from his clients and was also a close business partner to Vedette Countess for the museum and was also in charge of the legal affairs of Blackstone. Selina slid her body off the saddle and moved through the shadows of the alleyway.
Inside his penthouse living room, Cameron Strifer was sitting on his leather couch watching a Gotham Rogues game on the big screen while enjoying the taste of sweet white wine. His partner Eric Bexer stood behind him with arms crossed.
"Vedette said that she disposed of the body." Bexer confirmed. "Got rid of all traces."
Strifer turned his head and looked at his partner. "Vedette is a proper business woman that likes to make deals in cold blood. She will not disappoint."
"What about Bruce Wayne?"
"What about him? Vedette said that she would take care of the billionaire pig just like she took care of the others."
In the shadows of Strifer's office Selina Kyle had her goggles over her eyes and was crouched in front of safe. She used her safe cracking device and waited for the codes on the lock to appear on the tiny screen.
She overheard the conversation of the two men as the safe opened. "Bingo," She purred as her gloved hands opened the door and she gazed at the contents of the safe.
There was a folder inside. She carefully removed the folder and flipped through the documents. She removed a tiny camera and snapped a few pictures. Mostly information about Bruce Wayne and Wayne Enterprises. "You're just full of surprises."
There was sound of movement coming from the halls. Selina quickly placed everything back into the safe and slid into the shadows as a bodyguard entered the room. She moved to the living room and gazed at Strifer. Bexer was out of sight .
She moved closer with her high heels clicking on the floor.
It got his attention. He turned his head and arose as a slender figure emerged from the dim light, her hips swaying and eyes burning.
"Who the hell are you?"
Selina moved closer as he moved to the safe and tried to take out his gun. She lifted her leg and locked his wrist into the heel. She squeezed. "What's wrong big boy, cat got your tongue?" She purred in a spiteful tone.
"What do you want?"
"I'm just curious Strifer. I overheard that your planning to harm the billionaire Bruce Wayne."
"Why would a alluring dame like yourself care for the rich pig?"
Selina licked her crimson lips. "I have my reasons big boy." She removed a pistol from her belt and pointed it at his head. "Now talk."
He looked at the gun then towards Selina with forced bravado. "You wouldn't dare. You don't have the guts."
Selina smiled coyly. "I don't bluff with guns. I'm a classy gal but when certain friends of mine are on somebody's death list, it brings out the cat in me."
"You want to know what Wayne's fate is?" he admonished.
"That would be nice."
"He's a goner. Vedette is making sure of that. He's been poisoned."
"How?" Selina growled showing the anger.
Strifer shook his head in refusal. "That would be telling. I don't to turn against Vedette. She's a woman that you do not want to cross."
Selina placed her gun back into the hostler of her belt and pressed his hand. "I'm a woman that you don't want to cross." She released her grasp and kicked him in the gut.
He coughed and fell to one knee. He looked up a her with contempt. "Bruce Wayne only has a few days left. "
Selina's eyes went wide. "You're lying." She was showing her vulnerability. "He'll live."
"All Vedette has to do is give him one more dose and it's goodbye Bruce Wayne," he mocked.
Selina formed her gloved hands into fists and was ready to strike when three of his bodyguards entered the room guns pointing at her. Selina looked at the window and bolted towards it.
She kicked the glass which broke and dove into the air. She dropped and rolled on the cement roof and ran to the edge was bullets flew after her. She turned her head and glared at the lawyer. "Next time."
She jumped down onto a fire escape and then jumped down few inches until she was on the ground level.
One of the bodyguards looked at Strifer. "Sir, do you want us to go after her?"
Strifter shook his head. "No. She'll cross our path again."
"Why?"
He held out a vial. "Because I have the antidote." He smirked arrogantly as pocketed the vial and watched the Cat retreat out of sight.
Wayne Manor
8:30 A.M.
Selina Kyle arrived at the front doors. She didn't care how early it was in the morning. Bruce was in danger. His life was fading. She had to warn him about Vedette. She knocked on the door.
"Come on Alfred," she whispered impatiently.
The door unlocked and opened.
She peered at Alfred Pennyworth standing in the early dawn's light. He looked surprised to see her this early. "Miss Kyle?"
"Sorry to come so early but this is urgent where is Bruce?"
Alfred lowered his head. Selina's face became anxious.
"Alfred where is he?" She asked with panic in her voice.
"Upstairs," he said solemnly.
Selina raced up the stairs in haste. She ran to the master bedroom and saw Bruce sitting on the edge of the bed looking into the empty space showing his despair.
"Handsome," she purred despite the unease in her voice.
Bruce turned his head and looked at her. "Selina," His voice sounded hoarse. She moved closer and saw the cane resting beside his left leg.
"Bruce what happened?"
He looked at his cane. "My leg brace broke. Without it I can't walk without the support of the cane."
Selina knelt down in front of him and looked up at this face. He was slowly dying.
"Oh handsome," she reached out to touch his face. He grimaced at her tone.
"I don't want any pity Selina. Especially not from you." He sighed and lifted his cane him his right side leaned on the cane as he moved to the window. Selina looked at the man she was in love with. He was acting like an old man.
She stood up and looked down at the cane.
"I'm no good to you Selina. You deserve better." He turned and looked into her brown eyes. "You're young and have a whole life to experience." He placed his hand on her cheek. "I'm old and have no life left."
"Bruce, don't say that. You're only 38 years old. You're not an old man."
"Than how come I feel like one?" He growled feeling dizzy.
Selina sighed. "There's something I need to tell you but knowing your attitude you won't listen but I'm still going to spill."
"Alright spill it then?"
"The reason why you're like this is because Vedette has been poisoning your body Bruce. You only have a few days left."
Bruce's dark hazel eyes became cross. "Selina I know that you're jealous of Vedette but she's a good woman."
Her eyes darkened with scorn. As much as she loved this man she often forgot how stubborn and ignorant he could be.
"I'm not jealous," she snapped. "She's a witch. Why can't you see? Unless you really are as blind as a bat." She retorted. Bruce said nothing but stared at her with an unflinching look that said nothing she'd said had stuck.
She left the bedroom and headed down the stairs. "Good bye Dark Knight." She raced down the stairs and stood before Alfred.
"Miss Kyle?"
Selina looked up at the upper level. "Don't say I didn't warn him Alfred." She headed out the front door. Alfred followed.
"Miss Kyle wait, before you zoom off with anger at least tell me what's going on?"
Selina calmed her nerves and breathed slowly as tears threatened to spill. "Bruce is dying Alfred."
"What?" Alfred's expression turned very grim. "You mean..."
"It's the witch. She's poisoned him. He's only got a few days."
"Vedette Countess?"
Selina nodded. "My advice: keep the stuck -up billionaire far away from the witch while I try and figure things out." She slid her body on her bikes saddle and pulled on her helmet. "Let me know if she comes over?"
"Don't worry. You'll be the first one I'll call."
He nods as Selina starts up her bike and drives off away from the manor leaving him to ponder just how he could manage to keep a determined witch away from here.
Downtown Gotham - Business District
Vedette Countess was in the back seat of her Buick Escalade wearing a pair of sunglasses over her head as the Joker sat next to her, his hair combed back and wearing a different emblem of clothing. A fancy suit.
"I hope you understand that in order for our plan work we need to create some chaos." She handed him a vial. "This will liven up the afternoon."
The Joker smiled as he drained the vial. His appearance changed; his scars melted away into his flesh and his green hair became darker. In a few minutes he was whole different kind of man. Vedette handed him her compact mirror.
He looked at his reflection and laughed. "Now that's what I call an extreme makeover."
"You're name is Jack Blackstone. Nephew of William Blackstone and rightful heir of his inheritance. All you have to do is sign your name on the dotted line." She opened her briefcase and handed him an automatic pistol. "In blood."
He laughed. "I love your taste my sweet." He couldn't help but smash his lips onto hers and then opened the door. "There's more to come after I have a few shots."
Vedette grinned wickedly as he closed the door. She looked at her driver.
"Where to next?" He asked.
"Wayne Manor. I have to give Bruce Wayne one last kiss." She dabbed on her lipstick as her ice green eyes watched Jack entered through the buildings doors. "You know what they say..." She rubbed her lips together, already feeling Wayne's life-force draining beneath her touch.
"A kiss can be deadly," she grinned ominously.
Gotham National History Museum
Selina Kyle, dressed in a sleek black dress wearing a hat that covered the top half of her face, entered the swinging doors of the museum. She passed the gift shop and moved through the crowd.
Her brown eyes were focused on the Egyptian Exhibit down the narrow hall.
Silently she moved past the glass cases and gazed at the black Baset statue that was near the far right corner of the roof. She looked at the sleek statue that had Ruby eyes. The twin of the statue Bruce accidentally broke .
Selina's eyes shifted to the exit that lead to Blackstones's office. She slipped through the shadows of the hall and used one of her lock picks that was hidden in her handbag.
Carefully she picked the locked door knob and opened the door. "What are you hiding," her voice muttered as she entered the dark room.
On the desk was a folder with Blackstones journal wide open. Selina moved to the desk and sat down in the leather chair, she rested her legs on the edge of the desk and began to scan through the documents in the folder.
"This is interesting," She said to herself looking at photos of Bruce Wayne walking out of Wayne Enterprises heading for his parked Lamborghini. There was a red circle around his black and white face and the word: change.
She folded the piece of paper and placed it into her handbag. Her attention turned to the movement in the hall. She had to act fast and bolted to the door. She closed the door and continued down the hallway keeping her head down as two security guards passed her.
Selina looked at their uniforms as they made her stop in front of Vedette's office.
"You're not suppose be down here lady," The older grey haired man said looking directly at Selina who gave him an innocent look. "Care to explain what you were doing?"
She fluttered her eyes. "Look I was trying to look for the woman's bathroom and it seems I got lost. Maybe you can point me to the exit?" She looked at the gun in his hostler. "I'm late for something very important,"
He looked at her and smiled. "Of course. The exit."
Selina grabbed his arm and twisted it, earning a painful yell from the guard. The other came after her as she side kicked his gut then struck him at the back of the head with a spin kick, grounding him.
"Sorry boys. But I'm a woman that likes to do things by herself."
The guard nursing his twisted arm, removed his gun and aimed at Selina but she was quicker and spun backward in time to kick the gun out of his hand then bombarded him with a series of shuffling kicks before finishing him with a spinning chop across the face, sending him hurtling against the wall.
She removed both of their guns and kicked one of them down the hall. She crouch down and peered into one of their eyes. "Now tell me where is your boss?"
"Miss Countess is not here. She's gone to see Wayne."
Selina clenched her jaws tightly and then quickly stood up. She ran down the hall and through the back door outside. She hopped onto her Augusta MV and dialed Bruce's number her mobile. The ringing made her all the more impatient.
"Come on, handsome pick up," she said frantically.
Wayne Manor
Bruce Wayne sat in the upper level dining room looking at the light rain run down the window as he tried to ease the sharp pain in his right leg. Alfred entered the room with a tray of chicken noodle soup and French bread in his hands.
He looked at his gloomy master and released a sigh. "Brooding again, Master Wayne?"
Bruce slowly turned and looked at his butler and then he looked down at his cane. "I thought I would never have to use this thing again Alfred." He said in with despair.
"Looks like I second guessed myself thinking that I could still fight the way I used to when I was younger." He began to cough.
"Miss Kyle called for you. She left a message stating that she's on her way."
The weathered down billionaire sighed. "I'm not in the mood for her company Alfred."
"When are you ever?" Alfred teased trying to be serious with the comment.
Bruce shot him an intense glare.
Before Alfred could retort the doorbell rang. "There's your lady Master Wayne." Alfred moved out of the room as Bruce just sat there near the bookshelf wallowing in his thoughts.
Alfred walked down the stairs, for some reason he felt cold as he moved to the front door opened it. "Miss Kyle..." His pale blue eyes widened as they met Vedette Countess'.
"Miss Countess. I'm afraid Master Wayne is not here at the moment," he bluffed hoping his blank expression was more convincing than his excuse. Vedette turned her head and looked at the parked Lamborghini in the driveway. She smirked with amusement.
"It sure looks like he is old man," she insisted. "Mind if I come on? I won't be saying long. I just have to tell your master something."
Alfred stood his ground. "I'm afraid you'll have to make it another time."
The witch by now had enough of this charade. She smacked her lips together with an impatient look then looked at her driver. "Deal with this old man."
The driver moved to the door way and grabbed Alfred's neck and began to squeeze. Alfred struggled against his grip but the driver overpowered him with a choke hold.
"But him in the wine cellar," she ordered.
"Master Wayne!" Alfred called out hoping that Bruce would snap out of his depression and be alerted of the situation. Vedette chuckled sarcastically.
"What's wrong old man, trying to protect the billionaire prince? This will be the day that you failed to save his life." She moved up the stairs and headed to the dining room.
"Master Wayne!" he choked out.
The driver pressed a pressure point into Alfred's neck and knocked him out. Vedette entered the white painted room and looked at the sickly billionaire, staring out the window blankly, his weight supported by a cane. She suppressed a victorious smile as she approached.
"Hello handsome," she purred mocking Selina's voice.
Bruce turned around with confusion. "Vedette, what are you doing here?"
She moved in closer and took off her black overcoat which fell onto the wooden floor. "Oh I just had to come and see you Bruce. I need to tell you something." She looked at his cane, feigning surprise. "What happened?"
"I had too much wine and fell down the stairs." Bruce replied with a bit of charm and a fake smirk. He walked over to her with the cane is his right hand. She leaned her chest into his broad chest and placed her hands on his cheeks.
Bruce wasn't sure what it was, but her embrace brought no comfort, not like he had with Selina, nevertheless he placed an uncomfortable hand behind her back.
"What is it you want to tell me?"
"Have you ever tasted death?" Vedette asked drawing her lips closer to his.
Outside in the driveway, Selina slid her body off the sports bike and entered the opened front door. She knew that Vedette was there because of the SUV parked outside. She raced down the hallway. "Alfred," she called. "Bruce?"
The driver emerged from the basement downstairs with a snake grin on his face. She pounced on him, knocking him to the floor and wrapped her leg around his neck holding him down.
"Where is Alfred Pennyworth?" She hissed.
The driver was losing oxygen. "Down there." He pointed to the basement. Selina got off of his chest and ran down the basement stairs. "Alfred?" She yelled. "Alfred?" She heard the sound of groaning near the wine cellar.
"Miss Kyle?" he raspy voice called with relief.
Selina moved to the direction of the voice and saw Alfred was tied up with wires to a chair. She quickly untied him. "Are you alright?"
"D-Don't worry about me. Vedette is upstairs with Master... Wayne," he barely managed his words, still weak from his attack.
Selina's brown eyes widened. "No," she raced up the stairs, jumped over Vedette's driver and headed to the second floor.
Bruce wrapped his arms around Vedette.
"Kiss me Bruce and I will give you a taste of freedom that you so carve." Bruce leaned his head forward and pressed his lips against hers.
Selina entered the room. "Witch!" She growled body ready to strike. "Get away from him!"
Vedette pulled away and smirked at Selina. "Miss Kyle, come to say your last good bye to your lover?"
Selina looked at Bruce who looked shaken and pale. Her eyes were fueled with rage. "What did you do to him?"
Vedette faced her with a mock-innocent look. "Why I gave him a kiss. A harmless little kiss. Oh wait maybe not harmless." She pushed Bruce down to the floor with a thud. His cane fell beside him.
Bruce was gasping as he stared up at Vedette with betrayed eyes. "Vedette why?" He could feel his insides burning.
Vedette bent down and squeezed his cheeks with her polished nails. "Because I'm not what you think I am Bruce. I'm vile, vindictive and cruel and I enjoy it. Just as I love seeing the weak suffer for their sins." She turned and looked at Selina. "You can't save him Miss Kyle. He only as three hours to live."
"There's always a catch with you witch." Selina replied.
"Clever little thing isn't she Bruce," she mocked.
Bruce looked at Selina with a look expressing just how guilty he felt for not listening to her. Vedette chuckled.
"Yes. There is always a catch with me. I like playing the game of chance. Life and death. I'll let you play my game Miss Kyle. You have two hours to find the antidote and save Bruce. If you fail than you will spend the rest of your days putting roses on his grave."
Selina was shaking in anger.
Vedette arose as she watched the young dark brunette kneel beside Bruce.
"Don't waste any time. Unless he means little to you." She disappeared out of the room and rushed down the stairs, out the front door where her driver was waiting.
"Home," she commanded as she slid into the backseat of the SUV and closed the door. "Let the games begin," she laughed.
Inside the manor Selina was trying to help Bruce on his feet.
"Selina," he slurred. "I'm sorry that I didn't listen to you. You were trying to warn me." His body began to jerk violently.
She arose with his arm around her shoulder, doing her best to control her emotions. "Hold on handsome."
Bruce pulled away and fell back on the floor at the edge of the bed. He felt drained and almost paralyzed. Kissing Vedette was just as pleasant as being stabbed. He would be of no use to Selina in this condition. "No. Selina. There is not much time."
"Yes. I can still save you."
He sat back against the bed as Selina knelt beside him. He grasped her arm with a dazed look and pulled off his Rolex. "Use this to determine how much time you have."
Alfred entered the room and saw both of them on the floor. "Master Wayne,"
Selina turned her head and looked at Alfred with a torn look. "He's dying Alfred. But I'm going to save him."
Alfred had tears in his eyes despite the strong composure he tried to present. Looking at his master all he was reminded with was his own failures to protect and guide him. He looked at Selina with a stoic expression that would appease even Batman. He cleared his throat.
"How?" He said feeling the pain of his heartbreaking as he looked at his dying master whose skin was pale as a ghost. Fire and contempt returned to Selina's face.
"I'm going to beat that witch at her own game," she growled and raced out of the room. "She won't win," she yelled heading down the stairs while Alfred knelt down beside Bruce who seemed to be drifting away.
Inside Stifter Law and Claims building, Jack was sitting on the receptionist desk waving his gun in the air with a sick grin. His dark eyes gazed at the lovely receptionist shaking in her chair as the nose of his gun touched her cheek.
"What do you want?" she asked, trembling. All around the room, the other employees and clients were shaking with fear ever since this lunatic arrived and held up the entire building, demanding their compliance.
They all sat on their knees, hands behind their heads while the gunman decided to toy with one of the receptionists.
Jack merely smiled at her question. "A contract written in blood," his dark eyes glinted with malice.
She gulped down while looking at the two lifeless bodies of the security guards beside the desk.
"Not theirs," he chuckled eerily as his fingers rested on the trigger. His eyes savored everything from the look of fear in her eyes to the way her body shook under his gaze. He smiled evilly. "Yours."
Her eyes widened as he pulled the trigger and he looked at the smear of blood dripping on the wall. Everyone in the room started panicking from their position, most crying.
Jack released a satisfied sigh then stood up on the desk and kicked off the books and documents with glee as he did a little dance, and hummed, "Tonight. Tonight. It all began tonight. I saw you and the world went away..." He continued, gun waving in the air with each movement as his frightened audience shook beneath him.
Eric Bexer entered the lobby through the elevators and saw a dark haired man standing on the receptionist's desk waving his gun into the air as he sang. "Tonight. Tonight. Won't be just any night. Tonight there will be no morning star..." The clients were on the ground, hands covering the top of their hands.
Once Jack felt satisfied with himself he turned back to his audience with a smile.
"Everyone should start writing their wills out!" he blared.
Bexer dialed his cell phone. "Cameron. We've got a problem," he said as watched the gunman address his audience.
Wayne Manor
Bruce Wayne sat in the master bedroom looking at the news footage on his laptop from the Gotham News website. It showed the security video footage within the Strifer Law and Claims building.
His dark hazel green eyes peered at the figure dancing on the desks while waving a gun with a gleeful smile on his smooth face. It was all too familiar to Bruce.
"It can't be..." he barely managed to whisper.
His speech had slurred considerably since Vedette had attacked him this afternoon and since then he had a hard time doing even the most trivial of things for himself.
He glanced at his bloated hands that were once rugged and strong and represented a lifetime of hard work and fortitude. They were now swollen to the point he could barely work the keyboard on his laptop.
Touching his face he knew it had fared no better. With his attention returned to the dancing gunman on the security footage, Bruce narrowed his eyes at the unscarred face sporting that familiar smile.
He looked towards the red stain on the wall behind the desk and the number of bodies on the ground with remorse on his pale face. His remorse turned to self-loathing as he reprimanded himself for being so careless and ignorant.
If he hadn't, he would be there saving these people who needed him instead of withering away into death and despair. He clenched his jaws and closed his eyes from the taunting figure on the screen.
The fire he used to feel when provoked with anger was now extinguished with an icy touch of dark magic that slowly seemed to be consuming him from the inside and out. The heavy robe and the blankets surrounding him were of no help to his cold and pale skin he knew. He glanced up as Alfred entered and sat beside him.
Alfred handed him a cup of warm tea. "Careful sir," he said calmly. Bruce reached out with shaky hands and managed to palm the warm cup in his large hands. The warm temperature caused his cold hands to drip and he felt the cup shake in his weak grasp.
Deftly he brought it to his lips and grimaced as most of the liquid came down his chin as the cup spilled away.
"Master Wayne, take little sips. It will help..." he placated, a concerned look on his weary face. He hated seeing his master like this, even worse he felt frustrated with himself for not being able to help him.
Bruce looked at his faithful butler with a faint look. "I never thought it would end like this old friend." He spoke as his eyes began to fill with tears while he looked at his alarm clock.
"She's running out of time," his body began to shake as blood began to leak out his mouth.
Alfred suppressed an emotional look as he wiped the blood off of Bruce's lips with a towel. He needed to be strong for both of them right now. He was no good to his master as a babbling mess.
"Fight sir. Fight for your life," he grasped the billionaire's hand and firmly squeezed his hand. "I'm not giving up. You shouldn't either."
Bruce lowered his head.
The old butler walked over to the dresser and lifted up the empty cowl. "Gotham needs both Bruce Wayne and the Batman." He moved to the bed and placed it beside his dying master. "This city needs you. Don't lose hope."
Bruce looked back up at the security footage of the gunman on the screen and hardened his eyes into a glare.