Bruce: Chapter 9

"I had a pleasant time today Dick, we should do this again. Next time we'll actually ride about the city more and hopefully not come home with another chore for Alfred haha!" It was truth; Bruce had fun for the first time since returning to Gotham.

Dick looked up at him with a smile and replied, "That would be fun." There is light in this one, his heart is bright. Unlike mine when I had my parents taken from me.

Alfred led the boy into the house with his new pet hawk in hand while Bruce limped to the back of the castle. He opened the hand-carved, cherry wood door into the garden behind the castle. While most castles' gardens ran rampant with weeds or milkweed or some other invading flora, Alfred tended the garden with an incredibly fine eye for detail. The flowers were all arranged in a rich canvas of colors and beauty with tall groves of ferns and thickets of other odd looking fauna providing a dense green backdrop. The flowers and herbs Bruce needed for his sleeping poisons and smoke bombs lay hidden amongst the beautiful flora. It was in this small, exotic forest Bruce found the distinct shades of brown and light gray that was Lucius Fox.

Lucius was wearing only gloves and trousers, as he had been hard at work nearly day and night for the past few days. Sweat condensing on his bare skin, light gray hair sprouting from his chest. He noticed Bruce approaching and gave his standard smile and greeting, "Well good day Ser, and how have you been faring on this lovely afternoon?"

"Well enough, Dick found a hawk he means to keep and train he says," Bruce said as they began walking to the back of the garden.

"Ha! Oh that boy has really caused quite the stir here it seems. Speaking of birds, one just flew in from King's Landing. It would appear old and cold Ned Stark has accepted the role of King Robert's Hand. They're to begin their ride South by week's end."

This confused Bruce. Ned hated leaving Winterfell almost as much as he despised politics. He would never leave his home…unless his friend was in danger. Bruce shared his fears with Lucius, "I believe Jon Arryn was killed, poisoned most likely. A man does not catch an illness like that and succumb to it in a few days even if he was a century on this earth. Ned must fear for Robert's life greatly if he is willing to ride to that rat's nest of a capital to assure the King's safety."

"I suppose you're right, seems one lord's always trying to kill another. I always imagined hiring an assassin was an odd request for a man to make, to have that weight on his soul," Lucius replied as they left the garden and set out to the cliff overlooking the sea below.

"Another man's life is a heavy burden indeed, but speaking of odd requests, how is the one I asked of you fairing?" Bruce did not want to think of the souls weighing down on his soul any more than he had to.

"Ah that, yes now that we're away from any unwanted ears I suppose I can speak freely of it. It's progressing, if not slowly. There's a lot of stone to cut through and even with the smaller explosive powders I do use I have to be wary of using too much, lest someone in the castle hear and their curiosity or suspicion arise." They both stood looking out at the waves crashing into the rocky shore hundreds of feet below. Bruce remembered how often he would stand in this very same spot as a boy and contemplate throwing himself off.

"I will dismiss everyone save for Alfred on the morrow, for the week. I'll say I need some time alone. I will have Alfred or myself take the boy out during the day for you to do the greater portion of your work. Will that be sufficient?" Bruce wanted this request completed, the sooner the better.

Lucius was tasked with carving a tunnel out of the black-stoned wall of the cave to connect with a secret entrance from Bruce's father's study. That way Bruce's arms could get a reprieve from constantly having to lower himself by rope into the cave's northern entrance near the waterfall. It would also make the cave more readily available. Bruce planned to blow a hole through the wall behind one of the large, oak book shelves with a staircase leading down into the cave.

"That'll work just fine Bruce, it will still take near a month to finish though. Servants may question why they hear digging and the sound of metal ringing against stone from the locked study though." Lucius always planned several steps ahead in any project he took on, something Bruce admired in the old Summer Islander.

Bruce turned to return to the castle, "I will speak with Alfred to see how he'll feel having no help for a month, I doubt his response will be overjoyed though."

"Ha! No I suppose not, but he'll understand the importance of the issue I imagine."

Bruce smiled, "Yes that's one thing Alfred always is, understanding." They were interrupted as a guardsman ran to meet them on their walk back to the castle from the cliff's edge. He was panting but managed to speak, "My lord, there is a man at the gate, he says-"

The guard was cut off as a loud shout roared from behind him, "I said that I'm the damn Red Viper of Dorne and if I wish to speak with Lord Wayne then I shall!"

Prince Oberyn Martell traipsed through the ankle-high grass up to where Lucius and Bruce stood just a hundred paces from the back of the castle and less than that from the cliff's face. He had a wry grin on his face and the wind buffeted his hair and crimson traveler's cloak as if he stood upon a battlefield.

Lucius raised a hand to stop the guard before waving it to signal him to leave. Lucius gave Oberyn a shallow bow before turning back to Bruce. "I believe Alfred had something for me to attend to." The Summer Islander left their company and entered the castle through the oak doors at its rear.

"Prince Oberyn, to what pleasure am I granted your company once more?"

Oberyn laughed, "You may play a lord as it fancies you Bruce, but a shadowcat that paints itself golden does not suddenly change into a lion. Just as a warrior cannot turn himself into a crippled lord, as dedicated and thorough his attempt may be."

Bruce's jaw dropped slightly, "I'm afraid I-"

Oberyn raised his hand and interrupted, "If you proceed to lie to me again Lord Wayne. You'll be slowly and painfully bleeding your way to an early grave by nightfall. Now tell me, Dark Knight, do you think you can take the famed Red Viper?"

Bruce smiled, "How long have you known?"

Oberyn laughed strongly at the comment, "My boy, I've known since I first laid eyes on you. I'm a warrior Bruce, sizing up other warriors is what I do."

"Is that why you came to Gotham? To oust me? To compare me to other warriors you have fought? Do you intend to fight me Prince Oberyn?"

Oberyn laughed once more, "No, no boy. Fear not, I do not intend you any harm, nor to let your secret loose upon the tongues of the city folk. I had not heard of the Batman until I was only two day's ride from the city, I came originally for another matter. Although, as this city has proved quite often…there is always more to be found in this city than one would presume."

"I am afraid I do not understand your meaning Ser."

Oberyn reached behind his back and pulled a leather flask from his belt. He tossed it to Bruce and smiled, "We never did have that drink of my marvelous wine my lord. Go on, drink, drink. I am sure you have heard of the horrors that befell my kin when the armies of the wolf, stag, and lion sacked King's Landing all of those years ago to stop the Mad King's reign. She was found dead in her bed, her baby found upon the floor with its head crushed in, and her daughter Rhaenys slain as well. Lord Tywin sent his dog, the Mountain, on my sister. He was only to kill the heirs, but Clegane decided to force himself on my sister, rape her before bringing her life to a violent end. He killed my kin, my dearest sister, and for that I promise you…He will have the most horrible of ends in this life that when death finally comes he will beg for its sweet touch as a whore begs for a lord's fat coin purse."

As Bruce took a sip of the wine, admittedly loving its sweet nectar-like taste, Oberyn grew closer and sterner. "That night he killed my sister and her suckling babe, there was another. Ser Amory Loch dragged Rhaenys from her hiding place beneath Elia's bed and then stabbed her. He drove his blade into her more than fifty times. She was but a girl of four, and that horrid little beast felt the need to kill her fifty times, but he was not alone. Loch stabbed her, but it was another that killed her. Her throat was slit, so deeply that her spine was barely intact. This other man decided to end Rhaenys' life out of pity for her, but he took it all the same. Amory had not had his fill though, and proceeded to stab her the remaining number of times until the count lay above fifty. This relates to you however, because I hear your persona of the night has attracted a certain amount of attention."

Bruce choked on the wine as the unexpected words. He wiped his mouth with his sleeve. "What attention would you be speaking of?"

Oberyn's smile was gone. He grew even closer to Bruce and hissed, "Don't lie to me Ser, I have heard the tales of the street's filth. My men come back to me once the sun had set and tell me that the dreaded Half-Mask comes for you. He was there, that night my sister was killed. While the Mountain raped my sister, this masked stranger of yours aided Amory Loch in killing Rhaenys. One of my sister's personal guards was still clinging to life when he was found. Ranting a tale of a man with a mask half shrouded in darkness, the other as pure a hue of orange as the sun itself. He went on and on about how this man killed a score of thirty guards with a great sword in but one hand, and how he moved with such ferocity that he near pissed himself upon seeing him. They wrote these words off as the ramblings of a mad man near death, but I always believed them to be true. This Half-Mask of yours killed my niece, helped clear the way for the Mountain to kill and defile my sister. When he comes for your head, you will capture him and hold him for my return."

Bruce handed the Dornish prince back his flask. "And if I don't my prince? I am sure you're well aware that I do not kill, why would I hold a man for you to do so."

"Surely you can understand the thirst for vengeance. How it drives you mad, how it boils your blood even years after as if your body ran on dragon's fire. How the only way you can sleep at night is if you dream of stabbing the one responsible for your aching through the head until you can drift off into slumber with a smile on your face. The way your soul itself aches to send that of another's off to the Stranger to burn for eternity after being judged for their sins."

Bruce's gaze dropped to the ground, watching the grass rustle in the wind. "I know these feelings all too well. My parents' killers were faceless, I never saw their faces before it happened. I only saw two of their faces when they were already corpses. The last one's face eludes me still, and that is more maddening than my thirst for vengeance. I will make no promises to you Oberyn, but if I can capture the Half-Mask…he is yours."

Prince Oberyn smiled and clasped Bruce' shoulder in a leather gloved hand. "Thank you Bruce, I will not forget this kindness. If you have need of anything, simply send my brother a raven in Dorne. He will reach me and I will ride here with all of the speed the gods grant me. Alas, I must make leave of your city now. I hope you find your kin's killer, and force him to atone for his sins. As I hope to do one day for my own kin."

"I understand how you feel, truly I do, but it is not vengeance I want upon my parents' killer. I want justice."

Oberyn smiled before patting Bruce's shoulder one last time and turning to leave. As he walked off he shouted over his shoulder, "I shall tell my daughters and people of the shadow of the Batman! How he is a man as terrifying as the night, plunging into the darkest corners of this city, but always with eyes as white and blinding as those of the Father himself! To light the way for his justice! Ha!"

Alfred: Chapter 8

Nightwing screeched and the sound bounced from stone to stone down the hall until it found a home in Alfred's ears giving him a splitting head ache. "I'm so very glad the boy found a friend Master Bruce but does the blasted thing have to live down the hall from me?" They were sitting in Thomas Wayne's study, down the hall from Alfred's chambers and even further so from Dick's, but the hawk still sounded too close for the sake of Alfred's ears.

Bruce laughed, "Oh Alfred it's not so horrible, Dick took the bird out to the gardens all day letting it jump about the plants. It gave you an easier day did it not?"

Alfred looked unamused, "It would have had you not sent the other servants in our service away for a month." Following his talk with Lucius last night Bruce told Alfred that they would need an empty castle for the next few weeks so they could finish their hidden pathway to the cave Bruce had become so fond of.

"You know why we had to do that Alfred. With me spending more time as Batman and mysteriously disappearing, the less eyes and ears around to witness the better. Maybe we should think of keeping this a permanent change, you'd sure be doing your gold's worth," Bruce jested.

"Oh you are a riot Ser, and while we are at it why don't we just let the spiders and dust claim the whole castle? And let the horses, garden, and even you take care of yourselves while I sit on my ass and read my books all day." Alfred could have taken care of the castle himself if absolutely necessary, and he did see why it could be necessary with Bruce becoming Batman more often. It doesn't mean I have the desire to clean the whole bloody place myself.

"Oh Alfred don't be so modest. With you on your ass all day how will I be able to sit on mine?" Bruce smirked, and Alfred came close to giving him a well-deserved smack to the back of the head.

"I would suggest finding a magical chair with legs that could move about freely Ser."
Bruce laughed some more, "Ahhh come now don't be so sour my friend. You always did say you wanted me to have a lady come visit for dinner and now you're getting your wish! Granted it is simply for the sake information, and not courting her."

Now it was Alfred's turn to smirk. "Ser, I wish many things for you in your life, and I think you are a right fool if you think tonight is only for gathering information."

Bruce stood up from the chair Alfred had found him bloodying that fateful evening a fortnight ago to look out the window. "Selina is the woman I fought that night you found me half-dead lying in that chair, she was but a whore then. However, the last two times I've seen her she's been dressed in some of the finest dresses and jewels I've seen. I would bet my fortune that she's this Catwoman, and the woman I saved my first night as Batman. I need to find out more about her to see if she has any knowledge of connections to Falcone. She steals the valuables but she doesn't sell them, so she'll have a black market merchant to get her gold off the books. She also does not appear to be much of a group player, so I doubt she's involved with any of the other thieving brotherhoods around the city."

Yet the man thinks he doesn't know enough of her? "Master Bruce, you know her name, her upbringing, where she lives, what she did for a living and what she does now, I think you know more than enough. You could have simply slipped into her chambers as Batman and questioned her then. Do you think she will give you any more information as Bruce Wayne than Batman?"

Bruce looked back to Alfred. "Yes, because Batman she fears even though she would never admit it, and respects him as well. Bruce Wayne on the other hand? He is but another wealthy noble for her to seduce and play like a harp. She'll sup with me, maybe even sleep with me if necessary, and then while I'm asleep she will steel a vase or gem or necklace and be gone back into the night. It's quite a remarkable strategy actually, it would work flawlessly on me were I another, less mindful lord. Do you plan to try and set me up with her Alfred?"

And there it is, the silent touch of admiration and awe in his voice. Alfred should not be surprised, he was sure this Selina Kyle was a very empowered and determined woman. If she was even half the woman Alfred imagined she was he was surprised Bruce was not calling on her every night. Then Alfred remembered Bruce's story of Talia Al Ghul, and how that story unfortunately ended. He must always has to go for the dangerous ones doesn't he.

"Master Bruce, if I could I would set you up with a goat if it would make you stop living this life of self-imposed solitude and return to the world," Alfred replied curtly.

Bruce walked over to Alfred plainly, since the door was closed and locked, and lay a hand on his shoulder with a wry grin. "Don't fret Alfred, I'm not alone. I have you."

He smacked Bruce in the back of the head, making the man who had been stabbed, cut, and beaten hundreds of times wince in pain. It gave a special kind of joy to Alfred. He then gave his master a forgiving smile. "Yes Ser, you do."

Selina: Chapter 8

The giant oak doors opened as Selina was guided into the castle. "Welcome Lady Kyle, I'm Lord Wayne's head servant Alfred Pennyworth and I will guide you to where you will be supping with Master Bruce this evening."

Well he's a charming old badger. Selina was impressed with how beautiful the inside of the castle was despite how dark and foreboding its outer appearance was. There was a black stone floor with dark gray walls and ceilings, beautiful golden hanging chandeliers with burning candles and a wide marble staircase leading up to the upper floors. I wonder how large the grand feasting hall is.

The servant led her up ttwo sets of stairs to a smaller chamber on some higher floor. As she was guided into the room she took notice of a bed with red silken sheets and a small wooden table with three candles and plates set up on it. She turned to the servant, "Uhh, where is the feasting ha-"

Selina was cut off by a voice from the other side of the door. "I figured you would prefer if we got right to the point of the evening, as opposed to mincing words."

Bruce Wayne slowly limped out from behind the door wearing a black doublet with his golden bat on his breast. He looked handsome as much as Selina hated to admit it.

"Ah being ever the gentleman I see. Why run up the stairs after supper and risk breaking an ankle when we can just take a few paces and be in bed with our clothes off conveniently," Selina dryly stated.

"Thank you Alfred, that will be all for now," Bruce said with a smile as he hobbled over to Selina's seat. "My lady?"

Selina walked over and sat down as Bruce pushed her chair in behind her. Then he sat down across from her and took her plate. He took two cooked filets of cod and some potatoes and other vegetables from a smaller side table and filled both their plates.

"I heard you liked fish," Bruce said with an unreadable smiling face. Does this bastard…?

Before she could wonder anymore if he knew who she truly was, Bruce took out a vase filled with wine and poured each of them a glass.

"Fifty years old from the gardens of Highgarden, one of my parents' favorites," the rich lord flaunted to her before taking a drink.

Selina lifted the glass to her lips and drank, mmm well I'll give this to Wayne, he knows good wine. It tasted of the perfect mix of sweet and tangy, and danced on her tongue. She cut into the cod and took a few bites before looking up to her host. He was staring at her, his eyes unwavering as they gazed into hers. "Hmm, Bruce, what is it exactly that you do as Lord of Gotham, since your return?"

He chuckled, "Ah, well my lady I tend to keep to myself. Alfred handles any of the city folks' complaints or requests, Dick stays in his room or explores the ground as if it were the unchartered land beyond the Wall. While I sleep, drink, and fuck my way to serenity."

Noble indeed. "Where is it that you went during your dozen or so year departure then?"

The young lord smiled. "Why Selina, where do you think I learned so many of my skills?"

Selina's eyebrow peaked in curiosity, "And what skills would those be ser?" This could prove interesting.

"I learned how to out-match any man, even King Robert himself in drinking. How to beat a man at dice without fault from smugglers of the Jade Sea, but most importantly to pleasure a woman from the pleasure barges of Slaver's Bay."

Hmph, walled up more than the far North, yet as see-through as any other man. "Now Bruce, what was this of you wanting to get to the point of the evening? And…oh what were your words? 'Not mince words' was it?"

Bruce chuckled, "Well let us be honest with each other Selina. I am but a cripple, surely no joy in bed for a woman as fine as yourself. You on the other hand are a beautiful, young, and above all devious woman who is accustomed to getting what you want."

Selina smiled, "You are correct thus far Bruce." This lord may be a cripple but his wits are higher than most men's dream theirs can be.

"You're here to steal from me yes? A necklace or some jeweled trophy or statue, small to be sure. That way you can run away with great haste if necessary. I've heard tales of such items…disappearing, after lords have had you in their bed for a night. How else could you afford such lovely dressings," Bruce's smile was genuine, but his eyes were doing one thing and one thing only. Stripping me down. Not in the way most men would however. Most men would see her and picture how luscious she would look without her clothes. As Bruce dissected her however, he was taking her apart to display who she was as a person before him. Bastard.

She took a few bites of her dinner before looking back up to him. "Let us say you are right, what then?"

Two can play at this game, either he wants me to fuck him and then let me take something in turn, or thinks I genuinely like him. Either way he is fool all the same.

"Then I would say the vase behind me would fetch a handsome price in gold, twenty pieces if I am not mistaken. Or you could take that sapphire out of that statue over to my right, but it might take more strength than you could muster to free it unfortunately," he said never dropping his smile. Or he could give a third path, he truly is unlike any man I've met. Shame.

Selina stood before seductively and slowly walking over to behind where Bruce stood and picked up the vase to inspect it. It was golden, with designs of dragons and chimeras and other fantastical beasts carved into its side. It reflected the candlelight beautifully.

"It is not a fake I assure you. You'll see the crafter's insignia on the bottom of it." Selina turned the object to check and sure enough it was there.

She smirked, "Well thank you for your time Bruce but I think I'll be taking my leave now. I've come down with a horrible cough. Cough. See?" She raised her hand to her mouth and gave a feigned cough as she proceeded towards the door.

"Ah, not a problem my lady. Alfred! Would you kindly escort our guest back to the gates? She has come down ill unfortunately," Bruce called to his servant.

A moment later, Alfred rounded the corner and stepped into the room. "Right away Ser."

Selina was confused. "Y-You're going to let me just get away with stealing this?"

Bruce stood and limped over to her before taking her hand and kissing her knuckles once again. "No my lady. What is the only way to take the fun out of thieving for a thief? Giving it away. Enjoy the present Selina. I enjoyed our evening together, however brief it was."

As the servant guided her out with her new beautiful vase in hand, she could only think one thing. Bastard.