Bruce Wayne sits at the Bat-Computer, meticulously going through files and reports of the day. Many of his Justice League colleagues had been in contact lately, giving their condolences. Diana had actually stopped by and insisted she take him to dinner.
"Coffee, Master Bruce?"
Thanks, Alfred", he replied. Thank goodness for Alfred. The old butler had been his rock since the murder of his parents. Plus, the former SAS and MI6 agent was still formidable despite his age. "Gotham has been quiet for days."
"Perhaps the city is mourning alongside the Batman, sir?"
"Perhaps", Bruce scoffed solemnly. "But I get the feeling it's just the calm before the..."
An alarm blared!
"Proximity alert!", Bruce growled, pulling his cowl back on. "Aircraft approaching the Batcave!"
The advanced, stealth VTOL jet entered the waterfall entrance without hesitation, as if the pilot knew exactly where it was! It slowed to a stop and landed just beyond the Batmobile. Bruce knew that design and grumbled when the loading ramp lowered and an equally familiar figure stepped into view.
"Carmen", he grunted. "It's too soon for your yearly mischief, and it's NOT a good time for a visit."
"Charming as always", Carmen smirked. "And my condolences for your loss. Todd may have been an obnoxious snot, but he was a good kid. But this isn't a social or business call; it's personal. My Board Committee has staged a coup and taken over VILE."
"And you want ME to help you get it back?', Bruce postulated. "I'd rather take them all down, you included. If you cooperate, you'll get a lighter sentence, maybe even immunity."
"No thank you, Bruce. I can handle that part myself", Carmen said firmly.
"Then why are you here?"
"To ask you to protect that which is most precious to me", Carmen smiled, then turned toward her jet. "You can come out, Dear."
Batman arched an eyebrow as a girl of about 16 or 17 came out. She looked for all the world like a teenaged version of Carmen. She stopped beside Carmen, looking intently at Batman.
"Bruce, this is Avalon Monalisa Sandiego. Our daughter."
"You expect me to believe this?" Bruce asked looking between the teen and her mother.
Who's to say it wasn't a clone that stood before him.
"I assure you she's yours," Carmen reached into her coat, "It says so right here," she passed him a folder that contained a birth certificate and DNA match papers.
Slowly, a memory long-forgotten bubbled to the surface as Batman recalled a night in which a striking dark-haired woman appeared at a charity gala. She turned many heads including his own but Bruce had his own reasons for flirting with 'Isabelle'. Carmen knew Batman, not Bruce Wayne. His intent had been to figure out what she was after.
But...there had been a few too many glasses of wine between the two of them.
The rest came in bits and pieces but he remembered waking up alone, stumbling his way through the manor, down to the Batcave where a note had been left on the computer:
Looks like I win this year, Batman or should I say Bruce?
The Dark Knight was slowly realizing it wasn't his secret identity Carmen had stolen.
"I thought you were taller," Avalon stated.
"Please," Carmen said softly, "They'll kill her if she's found, you are the only one who can protect her now"
"Alright"
Carmen turned to Avalon, "I need you to stay out of sight for me, I'll get this sorted out, I promise,"
"Mom..." Avalon's voice cracked.
"Don't cry, it'll all be okay," Carmen pulled the trembling teen into a hug, "I'll sort this out then we'll go to all the theme parks"
"All?" Avalon looked at her mother, tears slipping down her cheeks.
"Every single one," Carmen wiped her daughter's tears away, "Mind your father for me,"
"I make no promises"
"That's my girl"
…...
After Carmen left, Alfred took Avalon upstairs while Bruce remained in the cave.
"This will be your room," Alfred opened the door to one of the scantly used but spotlessly clean guest rooms.
Done in neutral tones with dark floors it was a stark contrast to the room Avalon was used to but she remained silent still reeling from the days' events.
"Your bathroom is through there, that door there leads to a game room and you have this for your entertainment," Alfred turned on the TV which he turned off after a few seconds.
Avalon nodded setting her bags on the bed, "Thank you, Alfred,"
"If you'll excuse me..."
"Um," Avalon said quietly, sitting beside her bags, "May I have a glass of milk? Please?"
"Yes, I'll be right back"
…...
After being left alone with her glass of milk Avalon couldn't help but shake as she opened her bag, her mother was always prepared, how she was prepared for just about every situation eluded the teen but she turned her attention to the bag her mother had packed with care inside she found her clothes rolled up tight alongside her sketchbook, pens, and school gear. In one pocket she found an mp3 player, in another, a new copy of Matilda was waiting.
Pushing the first bag aside, Avalon opened the one her mother had handed her shortly after their escape.
"Wow," she gasped.
Inside this bag was a black and red version of her mother's coat, a red scarf, red gloves, and matching hat completed the look while a multitude of gadgets lined the pockets.
Mom thinks of everything.
Mouth dropping into a frown, Avalon moved her bags aside before burrowing under the covers, grabbing the remote she channel surfed eventually landing on a late-night showing of The Wizard Of Oz. With a long sigh, she settled down to watch the movie she'd seen hundreds of times before.
It was, after all, her mother's favorite film.
…...
Bruce had pulled off the cowl, still sitting in front of the gigantic Bat-Computer he watched a video of one of Carmen's flawless escapes. With a smirk and a tip of her iconic hat, she backflipped off of the statue of Liberty, eluding the clutches of the Acme Detectives on her trail.
All these years, all this time, he'd never entertained the idea that Carmen might have had a child despite the rumor,
looking back it made sense. Carmen tended to disappear from the public eye several times a year, never long enough to be forgotten about but just long enough for the public to ask that question. Where On Earth is Carmen Sandiego? Bruce was only now realizing she disappeared around the same times every year, dates slightly staggered as not to draw attention to the pattern.
Her child.
His child.
How had he not seen it?
Why hadn't he considered it?
What now?
…...
"Another one?" I hear you asking to which I say you can blame my writing mentor DRAGONDAVE45 except don't because he will turn your flames back on you.
Well, this might sit here a long while but at least it won't bother me.
Review!