Bruce: Chapter 17

She came in through the window, a purse of coins in one hand and her whip in the other. Bruce couldn't help but admire how quickly and lightly she moved on her feet. The fact that her boots had three inch heels made the feat even more impressive. No, she's a criminal, I have a mission, nothing can become of it.

It took her a few moments to realize she wasn't alone. She turned to the corner where Bruce stood quietly, "Dropped by to check in on me? Or are you planning on pricking me with that needle again and gifting me with a few hours of sleep?"

I deserve that. "No, you are safe from unconsciousness, although I had hoped you would wait at least a few more weeks before returning to your life of crime."

She smirked, "and how else is a former whore supposed to earn a living if she can't fuck her way through gold anymore?"

Bruce had no response to that. Street whores were rarely even literate, let alone smart enough to outwit nobles and thieve from them. "I have heard baking is a fine way to earn an honest living."

Selina laughed, "The man covering his face and hiding his identity wishes to lecture me about an honest life? Tell me what it is you do day in and day out when you aren't donning that pointed eared helmet? Or do you sleep in that as well. Ha, I suppose you wouldn't tell me regardless."

She removed her mask, letting her brown hair fall to her shoulders before shaking her head to untangle it. Her eyes reflected the moonlight beautifully, almost as if they were truly did belong to a cat, and not a woman. Bruce stopped himself from his gazing and looked around the room. Selina took notice and smirked mockingly.

"I hide who I am to protect those I care about, not to evade punishment for crimes so I can feel free to commit as many as I wish," he stated.

"You have my thanks for saving me from Lord Tywin, but that doesn't give you the right nor do I care to listen to you try and lecture me. If that is all you came to do, the window's right there. I trust you can find your way out with the ease you found your way in." She turned her back to him and grabbed some small bits of chicken and tossed it in a few bowls scattered around the floor. Her cats flooded to the little tin bowls and hungrily began feeding.

Bruce looked to the floor. "The city is still dangerous even with Lord Tywin gone. Joker is still out there somewhere, and I need to find him. I came to ask that should you hear anything from any of your sellers for your stolen items, let me know."

Selina turned back around, her jacket was unbuttoned, her breasts and skin exposed. Bruce quickly looked to the ceiling to avoid staring at the unexpected sight. "Ha, fearless in the face of murderous thugs and mad clowns but shy as a boy before a nude woman. You are a strange man, and as to your request, I have no way to contact you."

Bruce reached behind him to his belt and unhooked the small bundle. He held it out for her, not looking as she did. She unfolded it, looking at the yellow cloth with black detailed trim. "A flag?"

"Hang it outside your window should you learn anything, I will come back here to check as often as I can." She won't want to, but she'll say yes.

"And why would I say yes to this? I find it hard to see a way that this benefits me," she replied as she stripped herself of her leather leggings and boots. She was fully naked now, Bruce could see the pale white of her skin in the moonlight in his peripherals.

"Because as much as you want to only look out for yourself…you do want to help somehow, and this is your way how. You have connections that I don't, and I have great want of them. If you would like, I can pay you for your services." Now to see if she'll take the bait…

"So instead of any old noble's whore, now I'll be just yours? I think I'm beginning to see your grand plan unfold, ser." Or not… Bruce was weary that she would take it this way, he probably should have counted on it in hindsight. She's too smart for her own good to be sure.

"No, it is for information, not whoring. I am well aware you gave that life up."

Selina slipped a nightdress over her bare skin and stepped directly in front of Bruce. She traced two fingers up his stomach, over his chest plate and stopped directly in the center of the bat symbol across his chest. "It must get lonely in your bed at night, wishing someone was there to warm it for you. Or do you hang from the roof of a cave with your cape wrapped around you as if it were wings?"

Bruce said nothing, only kept staring forward into her eyes. She continued, "Your armor feels cold. Does it reflect the man underneath I wonder? Are you cold underneath all of this metal and leather? Or is there nothing left under this armor, is the reason the man is cold is because he is dead to the world?"

Bruce turned from her and took a few paces to the window. He turned his head to speak over his shoulder, "It does not matter, do you accept my offer?"

She remained quiet for a minute, before finally responding, "I will do it. Ser Gordon paid me a visit and said he needs to speak with you as well…it sounded urgent…" Her voice trailed off and grew quiet. I've hurt her, but there's nothing I can do. Perhaps in another life something could have grown between us, but now my only goal is to protect this city…not find a woman to spend my life with.

"I will find him, thank you Selina," he brought his leg up and rested a boot on the window before diving out into the night. Selina was left standing there hugging herself, surrounded by her cats and silk night dress. Whether she watched Bruce as he ran along the rooftops or not, Bruce did not know, but some small, hidden part of him wished she did.

James: Chapter 14

He stood out looking across the bay once more, as he had every night for a few hours since speaking with Selina Kyle five days ago. Maybe she's not better able at reaching him than I am… After sitting in a wooden chair for near three hours, James stood up and turned to go back into his home. Batman stood between him and the doorway.

"So you did get my message, I'm glad lady Kyle can be trusted with that much. I saw a whip in her chambers, I cannot be certain but I have heard this Catwoman character runs around with such an item," James said trying to start a conversation after a few moments of silence.

"I'm not here to discuss Selina Kyle, I'm here because you said you needed to speak with me urgently." Something has him rigid…Joker most likely.

"You recall the chests filled with Joker's so-called poison gas, yes? Well my men loaded them up onto a ship the next day and sailed off. I instructed them to sail out however far they could get in a week, dump the chests, and sail back. Well, when they returned a fortnight ago, I received some distressing news. One of my men fumbled, and let go of one of his ends of a chest. The man on the other end tried to keep it balanced but failed, and the chest fell to the ship deck and blew open. There were no glass vials or pots or even poisonous gas. When the chest hit the deck, severed heads rolled out, an eerie smile on each and every one of them."

Batman looked to the ground in confusion, he had clearly not been expecting that news. "You checked the other chests and found the same result I assume. Do you have any idea of the owners of the heads?"

Cheerful as always. "We know some, not others. There were thirty heads in total, eight belonged to men of mine. Others we assume were Lord Tywin's men, one however was more rotten than the others. That one, belonged to Devan Falcone, Carmine Falcone's nephew. Since Falcone has no sons, he cared for Devan as if he were his own. It seems Joker wishes to send a message to every organization in Gotham whether on the right side of the law or wrong that he is here to stay."

May the Seven help us, James silently prayed to himself. James grew increasingly worried with each passing day. First Lord Tywin stormed in with a small army at his back to take control of the city, then Joker kills his army and sends him running with his tail between his legs. Now Joker kills the largest crime leader's nephew and Tywin sends two questionable men to carry on his work in his absence. This will be the hardest part to tell him…

Before James could continue Batman spoke, "Joker is trying to rattle Falcone's cage to provoke him out of hiding. Falcone is Joker's main target, not your men or the city folk or even me. With Falcone still standing, Joker will always have to struggle for control of the city's crime. With Falcone dead he can set himself atop the throne and rule over the smugglers, rapers, killers and others unquestioned. Tell me about the men Lord Tywin sent last week."

So he does know, "Just a few dozen armed men, nothing in comparison to the force Lord Tywin arrived with. There were two distinct ones among the crowd if those are the ones in which you're inquiring about. Hugo Strange was the first I met. He seems smart and calm enough, he brought some of Lord Tywin's demands, as they should be called. Hugo is to hold up in Arkham Castle, turn it into a special kind of jail. One for the more…unhinged criminals of the city."

Batman cut him off, "And Joker and I are to be the first prisoners, am I correct?"

James rubbed his chin, feeling the small, sharp tips of hair brush against his finger tips from having not shaved in a few days. He sighed, "Yes, our Lord of Lannister has declared that you aided the Joker in trying to kill him, and succeeding in killing his men. He demands you arrested for your crimes and that my men pursue you in full or else the entire strength of Lannister's throne will come crashing down on our city. I-"

Batman interrupted once more, "Do it."

James was taken aback, his jaw dropped and he stared at Batman with a shocked expression chiseled into his face. "But you did nothing wrong. You saved us!"

"And I will continue to do so, but I cannot let Lannister destroy this city. You know this is our only option. We are in this together, even if I must be on the other side of the law."

James shoulders dropped, his eyes looking to the ground in anguish. He had felt such a victor when he watched Lord Tywin ride off from his city, but even from Casterly Rock the old lord could still control this city with an iron grip. It made feel James feel even smaller of a man for thinking he had won.

"They'll hunt you," was all James could reply with.

Batman stepped closer, "You'll hunt me. You'll condemn me, set the dogs on me, because that is what needs to happen."

He was no more than four paces from James now. "But why? You are innocent! You are the one helping this city! That is the truth of it, not these shit coated words Lord Tywin deems fit to cast out!"

"Sometimes the truth isn't good enough, sometimes, people deserve more. Sometimes, people deserve to have their faith rewarded."

James stared into the masked stranger's daunting eyes, "This isn't our faith being rewarded, its punishment for trying to hold on to it. To hope that our city isn't lost to crime and corruption, and now Lord Tywin tries to take that hope from us by stomping out criminals' reign only to force his own on us."

Batman took another step closer, James felt like a child in his presence. "Hope is not gone, we have beaten Tywin once, we can do it again. The city will be free of Tywin's grip and Falcone's," Batman stated with a level of certainty James wished he had.

Batman turned to leave, but James spoke up to stop him. "And if the city isn't? If you or I fail?"

Batman turned back to face James. "If I fail, I will be dead."

James stood silently for a moment before remembering he had one last thing to tell him. "There was another man. His name was Edward Nigma. Curious man, he has an affinity for puzzles. Says he's going to be the one to bring you down, and figure out who you truly are."

Batman did not turn back this time, only saying, "He is welcome to try."

Alfred: Chapter 14

"Ugh, Robert Baratheon, brothers Stannis and Renly, married to Cersei Lannister, children Joffrey, Tommen, and Myrcella. Alfie, can we just move on to sparring yet? I have yet to see why I must even study these boring families. On the road I could have cared less who sat on that throne in King's Landing. It could have been a eunuch for all I cared!"

Be wary of eunuchs Master Richard, sometimes it is those with nothing between their legs that are most dangerous. Alfred had heard stories of examples of such dangerous beings, chiefly Lord Varys and Cersei Lannister. Neither may have cocks but both have more claws tangled throughout King's Landing than the king himself.

"It is important to know those in power in Westoros. With how Master Bruce and the Joker overwhelmingly upset Lord Tywin, very soon we could have an army of stags or lions at our gate," Alfred chose to reply with.

Dick sighed once more, "Which is precisely why I need to know how to fight. I cannot defeat them by telling them their family lineage until their ears fall from their skulls. I need to master fighting, dodging, countering!"

The boy jumped up onto the desk in a swift summersault, swiping his escrima sticks as he flipped. He raised them up and settled his body into a fighting stance, "Prepare yourself for defeat Alfie!"

Alfred smirked and took up the metal staff to his left. "Very well Master Richard, but if I come out the victor we will continue our studies without complaint."

Dick laughed, "Ha! And if I win?"

"If you win Master Richard, then the world would have come to an end and you will be its harbinger."

Dick leapt forward and slid between Alfred's legs. Alfred turned to face him slowly as to give the boy a slight advantage. Dick pulled his right arm back and began his attack. Right swing, left, left, right, cross-chop, step to the right, upper cut, Alfred thought to himself a moment before the boy followed suit. Alfred had grown very well practiced in predicting an attacker's movements by the subtle flinches and tremors given away a fraction of a second before they moved. A skill the young master would need to learn no doubt.

Alfred could have easily stopped the boy mid-jump before he even had begun to fight, but he thought the boy would benefit from practice more so than a quick defeat. As Dick rolled to the side and quickly continued his onslaught Alfred could only marvel at how quickly the boy had learned. Only a month and the boy is already a capable fighter.

The boy was still greatly wanting in knowledge. He knew little of poisons, metals, cultures, languages, politics, how criminals or nobles thought and behaved, but he was skilled in his movement. He flipped and rolled with such great agility that his fighting style was unlike anything Alfred had ever seen. Most soldiers and knights were so heavy with armor that they could barely turn, let alone run. Dick could hit with one stick and before one could blink would be swinging from the opposite side.

After a few minutes of defending, Alfred went on the offensive. He parried one of Dick's downward swings with an upward slash of his staff. He brought it down horizontally on the boy's left side, who managed to duck just in time. Before Dick could counter-attack, Alfred brought the end of the staff back and pulled the boy's legs out from under him. Dick fell to the ground accompanied by two loud twangs as his sticks hit the stone floor of the cave.

Dick propped himself up on an elbow with a smile, "Where were we? Eddard Stark?"

Lucius' loud, raucous laughter erupted from his corner of the cave where he stood at his smith's table. "When you get back to your feet lad come over here. I have somethin' needs attention," he called out.

Dick jumped to his feet and sprinted over to where the Summer Islander stood waiting. "Alright sonny, your dressings are finished. Ready to see what you'll be wearing in your nightly escapades?"

Dick grinned and nodded anxiously. The smith smiled and pulled out his latest creation. Alfred had already seen most of the pieces separately, but seeing them together made him glow in awe. The red leather vest with green spaulders, boots, leggings, and gloves, completed with the yellow cape clinging to the shoulders. Alfred walked over to where they both stood. Dick stripped of his practice breeches and tunic, and took the leather dressings from Lucius' hands with a rather careful amount of haste.

The boy dressed as quickly as his hands and fingers could move, until he was fully clad in the vibrant leather outfit. He wears his brightly colored heart on his clothes, while Bruce wears his darkness on his. Alfred remembered the night a week past when he had asked the boy why he so adamantly refused Bruce's recommendation to wear black and gray to better lay hidden in the night. Dick smiled as he looked into the fire burning in the hearth. "Because I don't want to be Bruce, I don't want to be Batman. Well I do, but not as dark of heart. So I will wear red, green and yellow to remind myself that I am everything that Batman stands for, but I am my own person. I am not a dark person, I want to spread hope, not fear."

Alfred remembered thinking at the time, a lesson young Master Bruce had dire need of in his youth. Dick was strong, not in the same fashion as Bruce had been, but strong all the same. The boys are so different, yet so alike they could be brothers.

Seeing the boy stand there fully clothed in his outfit warmed Alfred's heart. He feared for the boy's life, but he trusted Bruce to not let any mortal harm come to the boy. He will bruise, he will bleed, but he will do more than Bruce has done. He will do more than survive, he will live.

Dick stared at his reflection in the pool of water at the edge of the stone island. He reached a hand back to grab the cape and held it up to his side to better admire it. It was not as long as Bruce's, only reaching to behind his knees as opposed to Batman's which encompassed even the floor around him. Lucius chose this opportune time to speak, "You still need to choose a symbol for me to carve into that blank emblem on your chest."

Dick turned around to face the two older men. "I haven't decided yet, I don't know what to use as my symbol. I cannot run around with a spread robin across my chest as Bruce does a bat. I don't even have a helmet to hide my face with. Ha, some hero I shall make."

Alfred walked over to the boy and laid a hand on his shoulder. "No, you most likely couldn't strap the outline of a robin to your chest, but that does not mean you need forget who you are or where you came from. Nor that you cannot carry your parents' spirits with you across the night. A robin you are, and a robin you shall be. Aegon had Balerion, Lord Stark has his Ice, and Batman shall from this moment on have, Robin."

Dick looked up to Alfred perplexedly, before his face lit up with excitement as he understood Alfred's meaning. "Alfie that is brilliant! I shall bear the spirits of my parents in my title! But that does not remedy my blank emblem."

Dick traced two fingers along the smooth, vacant surface of the metal disc sewn into the breast of his leather suit. Alfred raised a finger to his lip in contemplation, "Hmmm, well Master Richard you need not be as blunt as Master Bruce and the bat across his chest. I believe the letter "R" would suffice. It would remind your enemies that like your symbol, there is more to you that goes unseen by the eye."

Dick grinned, "Yes! Lucius, I desire an R as my symbol! In pale gold surrounded by black, the colors of House Wayne."

Alfred was surprised by the latter part of the request. "Why black and gold Master Richard? Should it not be red on black as are your family's colors?"

Dick stripped off the leather garment and returned it to Lucius' hands. "Because, while the title pays honor to my family and parents' spirits, this place is my home now. I live under the roof of Wayne Castle, so the coloration gives honor to them. My parents' spirits are not the only ones that watch over me now, now the spirits of Bruce's parents and those before them do as well."

Wise words Master Richard, wise words indeed.