Bruce: Chapter 24

Bruce lay quietly and watched as Alfred escorted Arya out of the cave. He did not know whether the girl could be trusted to keep their secret safe, but it was out of his hands now. Too many people know, it will be difficult to keep so many tongues in check.

When they had gone, Bruce turned his head back to face Ned. His eyes appeared more gaunt and tired then they usually did. His expression was strained and his face was still pale, despite some of the color slowly starting to return. He is a man who has seen and experienced more than any father should. May his old gods look over him in recompense.

"What is it you have to say, Ned?"

The man swallowed and rubbed his eyes in exhaustion. "When the bats stormed over us, when you made your escape, I saw something amongst the crowds of screaming smallfolk and fluttering wings. On the far side of the crowd where I stood, I saw a man leave one of the abandoned buildings along the perimeter. He had a dark green traveler's coat, and bright orange hair. I believe him to be this Edward Nigma that plagues Gordon and his City Watch. It seems he expected to not be seen on his exit. Almost as if he were observing the events from the building's roof and decided to depart when he felt it best for his anonymity. I believe he is responsible for kidnapping Arya. I decided to rush back here to tell you. I figured you were wounded and needed aid when I heard that Batman and a brightly colored boy were spotted rushing off with a small girl in tow. My heart felt a rush of relief that it hasn't experienced in years. We need to speak with the men Dick defeated and-"

Bruce raised a hand and cut off the lord midspeech. "We will worry over these matters tomorrow, Ned. I know you wish to bring your daughter's true captors to justice, and I promise you we shall. Now go, be with your daughters, comfort them. Leave the Joker and Nigma to me."

Ned swallowed his words and nodded silently. He quickly strode off, up the pathway to the castle, heeding Bruce's orders. Dick looked on in disbelief, "Well what was easier than I thought it'd be."

Bruce took another bottle of wine from Lucius and yanked the cork off with his mouth. He downed a few gulps and wiped his chin with his wrist. As he turned on his side a tearing pain ripped through his leg from calf to the bottom of his ass. "Ned may be stubborn, determined, and often times seemingly miserable, but he is a father above all. Like a snowbear looking over its cub, you harm one of his children and that's the fastest way to get him off his frozen throne and hunting you down. Although, this Nigma matter is distressing. If he truly is responsible, and not the Joker, then we have an even more menacing threat than the Joker or Tywin Lannister on our hands."

"He's worse than the Joker? How?" Dick puzzled. Bruce could see the confusion in the boy's face. He had acted with such immature boldness in disobeying orders and saving the girl, but there was still a great amount of determination and mature strength shown. But he was still but a boy, seeing and judging matters with an eye of insight and clarity that Bruce had was something Dick had to gain over time.

Bruce took another swig before replying, "Tywin, while tactical and cunning on the battlefield, overextended his reach and tried to contain an unruly fire. Joker simply throws oil on the fire and watches how far it can burn. This Nigma however, if he truly is the one responsible for Arya's kidnapping, then he not only enjoys watching and spreading the fire, but directs it as well. Having the blame fall on Joker for the deed keeps any hint of a scent off of his trail, and he can continue plotting in the daylight while Joker must hide his face in the shadows."

Dick was silent for a while as he thought over Bruce's words. "So the men I fought weren't Joker's men. They were ones Nigma paid to paint their faces and kidnap Arya?"

Bruce nodded, "You said they stood on a roof overlooking the square around the inn. Joker would never be so careless. Nigma most likely planned to give Gordon their location as to arrest them. They might not even know he was the one paying them, further saving his anonymity. I will speak to them tomorrow night. Gordon should let me have at least a few minutes with them."

"We're to be arrested on site, and you aim to go into one of the watch's keeps? Oh and yet you scold me for disobeying orders!" Dick retorted.

Bruce smirked. "I didn't scold you for disobeying my orders. If memory serves true, then I commended you for saving her. But if you go against my orders again you can hang your cape up permanently."

"What of Arya? She knows our secret."

"There's nothing we can do there. Ned will hopefully learn her the importance of our secret and why she must keep it," Bruce replied sternly. Arya finding out about their secret was not overly convenient, but should not prove overly troublesome.

"What if she…wanted to join us?"

Bruce looked to Dick in apprehension. "She won't, and if she even did I would still turn her away. She is the daughter of the Warden of the North, Dick. She will be wed, and have little wolves of her own. She is destined for a brighter and more rewarding life than the paths we have chosen. Her place is in a throne room, not a cave. Now go rest, we have a long week ahead of us."

Dick nodded, although his face showed his wish to argue further. He stood from his chair and followed the path up and out of sight. Once he had left, Lucius returned to Bruce's side with a smile. "You know, you aren't going to be walking right for at least a week. Turns out you may just need that cane of yours, in truth this time," Lucius jested as he broke out into a fit of chuckling.

Bruce looked up from his position on the table and smirked. "Precisely. I never said I was to visit Gordon as Batman. Why Lucius, that would just be foolish."

Richard: Chapter 17

"Bruce wishes to speak with you in his chambers," Dick carefully told Arya as her and her family were breaking their fast. Ned looked up from his plate in concern, Sansa in confusion. Arya looked to her father for approval, to which she was replied with a slow nod and a hug. She followed Dick out of the small feasting hall and up the marble staircase to Bruce's chambers.

Alfred stood in wait and opened the doors for them. He followed them in and closed them behind him, standing with his arms behind his back as an ever-watching observer. Bruce looked in fairer shape than he had last night. He was sitting up in bed against a few feathered downed pillows with a glass of wine in his right hand. His left lay limply at his shoulder, with fresh white bandages wrapping his shoulder and chest. His legs were beneath a silken red sheet but doubtlessly the right one was bandaged heavily. As they entered, Bruce allowed himself a small smile and gestured for them to sit in the two chairs at his right. When they had sat, Bruce took another sip and the smile left his face and was replaced with a solemn thin line.

"Now, of what you saw last night…" he began. Arya leaned forward in her chair quickly and blurted, "I won't tell anyone, I swear."

Bruce nodded, never letting his eyes fall from the girl's. "I know you won't. Our secret is a dangerous and heavy one to bear. It is not just the Joker or Gotham's City Watch that hunt Batman, there are those in Highgarden, Dorne, even King's Landing that would surely wish to see Batman unmasked, and brought before the king's justice."

"That is why my father came here, to see for the king whether Batman, er…you, were a threat," she nodded in agreement.

"Yes, I know. Your father and I have had many conversations during your stay. I have shown him that Batman poses no threat to Westoros or King Robert. Hopefully, his word will be enough to stay the king's involvement in my city. Now Lady Stark, I had not wished for you to have this weight on your shoulders, but your rash decision to remove your blindfold last night has taken the decision from my hands. Your stubbornness will bite you in the ass every time you use it so mindlessly, Arya. In the future, think before you act. To you as well Dick. While you did save our young guest here last night, the night could have gone the other way just as easily. You both could be dead at this moment if you had misstepped or had gotten yourselves captured by the city guard or Lannister men… You both need to think before you act, the both of you. Especially you Dick, if you wish to continue as Robin."

Now Dick was the one to nod in agreement. "I will Bruce, I just needed to make sure she was safe." I still saved her, that is all that matters.

Arya looked from Dick to Alfred, and then settled her gaze on Bruce once more. "I want you to teach me as well," the wolf girl pronounced.

Bruce's brow raised in curiosity, but Dick could tell he was not overly surprised. "She could remain here, and train and spar with me. It would be nice to have a sparring partner my own size," Dick tried to plead.

The lord of bats only shook his head slowly. "No. I am sorry Arya, but I cannot train you. I know your father is having you learn to fight with a blade in King's Landing. That will have to be sufficient for you. You may not be like your sister or any other noble lady when you are fully grown, but your destiny is not in the cave beneath us. Your fate lies in a bright throne room, with the sun on your face and love in your heart. Ours, is risking our lives to defend this city. I did not wish this life for Dick either, but that path was unavoidable it would seem."

"I chose this path, why can't she?" Dick argued. It seemed unfair for Bruce to allow him to choose this fate and yet deny Arya who clearly wished to remain and learn like Dick had. Bruce looked to Dick and his face grew solemn. "Dick, your family is gone from this world, such is mine. Arya still has a loving father, caring mother, a sister and group of troublesome brothers. My apologies, to both of you, but your place is not here Arya."

Arya bit her lip in an attempt to prevent further pleading. "Very well, my lord. Thank you for the kindness and trust you have showed me."

Bruce chuckled, "I believe that is the most lady-like thing you have said in your stay here. You both may go."

As Alfred held the doors open for them to leave he gave a reassuring wink to the two of them. They descended down the stairwell to the first floor. "Well, Bruce may choose not to teach you, but I can attempt to with what time we have left."

Arya's fact lit up. "You'll teach me?"

Dick nodded. "Yes, so long as this time you follow my instructions."

He turned to lead her down the corridor to his chambers when she reached out and touched his shoulder. Dick looked back over his shoulder and saw that her expression had grown troubled. "What is it?"

"Thank you…for saving me last night…" she whispered softly. She probably hasn't said thank you more than a dozen times in her life.

Dick smiled and ruffled her hair like his father used to do. "No problem, my lady. I suppose we should start the lesson immediately so you can learn how to defend yourself, since you are so timid and weak, as ladies are."

Arya's face contorted in anger and she punched him in the shoulder. "I can still take you," she bluntly stated.

Dick smiled and teased, "If it pleases my lady to think so."

James: Chapter 20

James was one of the lucky ones. He had only three scratches on his face, and but one bite on his hand. His armor and the cape he had thrown over his head had given the flying rodents less of a target than the completely unarmored smallfolk that had gathered to watch the spectacle of fire, a stolen wolf girl, and an armored bat. Little birds too apparently. James had heard the tales of the young boy titling himself Robin riding off with the girl while the Lannister soldiers, the city guard, and the crowd of cityfolk, were trapped in the storm of bats.

What James didn't hear, however, was what the Joker's hired thugs had to say. Shortly after the bats had flew off, returning to whatever dark cave they had come from, the Lannister men decided to storm the inn once more in force. All they had found though, were the unconscious bodies of their own men. The remainder had decided to spread out into the surrounding ring of buildings. They had hoped to find the Batman injured and bleeding in some abandoned corner no doubt. What they did find however, was a group of white-faced and equally unconscious criminals on an overlooking rooftop. They had seized them up and dragged them back behind the gates and walls of Arkham Asylum before James could so much as blink. James had sent word to Strange that he wished to speak with his first guests, but had had no response. If this becomes a common occurrence, I may need to visit Hugo myself to let him know this is still MY city. Whenever James thought of the city as his, he would remember that he had begun to share it.

Batman would have been captured last night were it not for him. James could not be certain, for the mysterious stranger always seemed to have a trick in that belt of his to whip out at the last possible moment, but the thought made James feel as if he were contributing more than he feared he actually was. Batman has found and captured Tony Zucco, defeated Deathstroke, saved Lord Tywin, fended off the Joker, and now saved the Stark girl while my men and I cowered beneath a flurry of bats, another of his own tricks I'm sure. Perhaps my usefulness has run its course. The thought bounced around within James' skull frequently. He had fought the city's crime through the Waynes' deaths, their son's fourteen year departure, too many of his men leaving or dying under his command, and his forces dwindling to a mere hundred and fifty-two men to combat thousands of smugglers, rapers, thieves, killers, and worse sorts. Most would see that as a gallant effort and worthy of sitting down and living out the rest of one's life peacefully, but most men were not like James Gordon. I cannot abandon this city, but what do I do for it now? I have five centuries of men sure, but my wife and son have left me, my daughter loathes me, and I'm to hunt and capture the one man I feel I can trust in this city…the only other whose actually helping it back from the brink of darkness. What more can I do? Before James could continue his path of thought, Sarah rapped at the door with tidings of guests.

James walked through the keep's front door as fast as he could, Sarah quick on his heels. He sped down the stone steps and reached their bottom where Tony Zucco once lay unconscious, bound, and crippled. Lord Eddard Stark was helping a crippled Lord Wayne from the carriage's red leather seat to the cobbled street below. When their movements had stopped and Lord Wayne stood on his three legs, two of flesh with one of wood, James bowed his head and torso quickly in respect. "My lords, I pray your forgiveness, I had not expected you. If you had sent word I would have ordered the keep washed and cleaned. Our holding cells are full and the smell is something horrid. I-"

Lord Wayne rose up a hand to silence the rambling knight and chuckled. "Ser Gordon there is no forgiving to be had. We expect to see your keep as it stands, there is no need to polish it. It is a dangerous and sometimes messy duty you and your men, ah my apologies, and women, do each day. Good day, Lady Essen," the lord finished with a smile, acknowledging James' feminine company. Sarah bowed her head and returned his smile. "Good day, my lord. What brings you to us this day?"

James had a sinking feeling in his gut. To criticize and berate us for allowing the Lord Hand's daughter to be kidnapped in the first place, what else? James looked to Lord Eddard to see if he had as pleasant a demeanor as the residing lord. Lord Stark stood as frigid as the Wall, and his eyes were as cold and iced over as its surface. His eyes were baggy and red from being deprived of sleep, but he was not as wintry as he had been at Arkham in Hugo's company. Hopefully the Northern Lord was blessed with more sleep last night with his daughter out of the Joker's hands. James kneeled and looked to the ground before the Lord Hand and began, "My Lord Stark, you have my sincerest apologies for fail-"

Eddard laid a hand on James' shoulder and gripped tight, pulling him up to his feet and looking him in the eye. His eyes were still their icy, pale hue, but a small ray of compassion was seeping through their center now. "There was no failure, Ser Gordon. There is nothing to apologize for. Your men arrived as quickly as they could after Arya was taken. None were present when she was taken. Your men acted quickly and valiantly when you learned of her location, were it not for this vigilante outlaw and his newly dawned lackey, I am sure you would have returned my daughter to me safely. There will be no more talk of it."

James nodded in understanding, but his pride still burned of failure. Batman once more saves my ass, and yet it still is burned. I am slowly running out of skin that has not been maimed, burned, scarred, or dirtied. I fear for what becomes of me when I do run out. "Ser Gordon, we wish to speak with you, in the privacy of your solar if possible," Lord Wayne charmed. James blinked, "Of course my lord, but isn't your shoulder too wounded to traverse stairs? My solar is on the third floor."

James had heard that Lord Wayne had a crossbow bolt pierce his shoulder during the course of Arya's kidnapping. He looked remarkably cheery for a man that had just been shot the afternoon past. He chuckled, "Ser Gordon, you mustn't worry over my health so much. I have a servant to do such a task for me. I was shot in the left shoulder, luckily I hold my cane in the right for I find it works better for it to rest beside my injured leg. Much to the disagreement of the healer-woman that nursed my leg back to health during my time away from the city, I might add." The lord rolled his right shoulder displaying its mobility while his left hung limp at his side. James led them up the stairway and into the keep. Once inside however, they were granted with rather unfavorable company.

"Ah Lord Wayne, and Lord Stark? How the gods smile on me, I had been hoping to meet your acquaintances sooner but I suppose the Batman won't catch himself now will he?" Edward Nigma cried out excitedly as he proceeded down the wooden stairway from the upper floors. While James looked tired and unkempt, Nigma looked perfectly well rested and undoubtedly cheery.

The orange haired pest continued, "Oh Lord Stark I was so worried for your daughter, but luckily she returned unharmed. The gods must be feeling doubly generous this day. And Lord Wayne, I had heard of the injury you received from the simple minded fools that took her, I am pleased to see you are no worse for wear. How does your shoulder fare?"

Nigma's eyes dropped as he looked over his guests. James noticed the man's eyes lingered at Bruce's legs oddly, as if something was awry. He still suspects Wayne of being Batman. James remembered seeing Batman's left leg last night with a bloodied crossbow quarrel jutting out from both sides of it. Lord Wayne's right leg is the crippled one, and now Batman's as well. James had grown less and less concerned of Batman's identity for the past few days. Since he visited the lord in his castle the night of Lord Stark's arrival, and with Batman's actions last night, James had decided his efforts were better spent elsewhere than trying to find the face beneath the pointed helm. If Edward wished to continue hunting the belief of Lord Wayne being Batman he could until it drove him mad, if he so chose. James opted to keep his sanity and attempt to do what he could with what he had, even if the Batman was proving more effective than any of his own efforts.

"Ah, Edward Nigma I presume, the one with all of the riddles beneath that bright orange hair of yours? How goes your hunt for our resident Batman?" Lord Wayne jested.

Nigma chuckled, "My lord you are correct! Would you wish to hear one of my word puzzles?"

Bruce smiled and nodded. Nigma continued, "I cannot be other than what I am, until the man who made me dies. Power and glory will fall to me finally, but only when he last closes his eyes. What am I?"

"Ha! That is quite a mind teaser. Hmm, I'm afraid I have no idea ser, what is the answer?"

Nigma smiled, pleased with himself undoubtedly. "A prince, my lord. I could think of no better riddle to give the Prince of Gotham."

Bruce leaned forward in laughter at the man's response. Edward's face shifted from pleasure with his own ego, to confusion and disdain for what he surely felt was mockery coming from Lord Wayne. The lord righted himself and spoke once more, "Another, another if you would. These are quite interesting."

Edward smiled thinly, James could see contempt burningin his eyes. "If it please you, my lord. I sleep by day, I fly by night, but I have no feathers to aid my flight. I strike with claws and teeth that bite. What am I?"

Bruce raised a single finger to his lips in thought as Lord Eddard looked on unamused. "I know this one. A bat, ser, am I correct?"

Nigma smiled his same arrogant, thin lipped smile and nodded. "A bat you are indeed my lord, well done, but alas I must depart. I must look over the building where the Joker's men were found, see if any stone has yet to be unturned. A good day to you, my lords."

Edward Nigma gave a slight bow and left through the door they had just come through. "A queer little fellow isn't he?" Lord Wayne jested. James nodded and led them up the stairs. Along the way he ran into Harvey Bullock who had just woken from a light nap. "Bullock, stand at my door, no one in or out unless it's my daughter or a man caught on fire." Harvey simply nodded in understanding. Sarah found her way to her own chambers as they passed the second floor, not wanting to intrude on their affairs. Once safely inside James' solar, he offered each lord a seat while he took up the seat at his desk.

The Lord of Gotham rubbed his crippled leg once he was safely seated, and breathed a heavy sigh of relief. "Stairs, a cripple's greatest foe, as it were. Now, Ser Gordon, the reason for our coming. Lord Stark here has brought to my attention that the gold I have been giving is not enough. The size of your guard compared to King's Landing's is laughable, and I plan to remedy that. Tell me the amount of gold you'd need to bring on another thousand or so guards, and it's yours. I know your outer keeps have fallen into poor condition in my absence so let us remedy that shall we? I know a thousand and a half or even two thousand men may not be sufficient but my wealth is not what it once was. When more ships begin to return and my funds of gold are returned to their former mountainous state, I will give you the gold to double to four thousand men."

James sat with his jaw gaping in shock. He was expecting to be verbally beaten for his failings yesterday or for Lord Wayne to retire him from his position as head of the City Watch, but certainly not this. "M-my lord, I'm afraid I don't know what to say."

His lord chuckled and raised a hand. "There is nothing to say, Ser. I'm a criminal myself for letting the state of your guard slip to such meager numbers. Lord Stark has brought the issue to my full attention, as have the happenings of yesterday. With more men, you can sweep more of the city, direct attention to the rest of Gotham, and not just the Narrows and the surrounding streets. My apologies for not righting the wrong sooner."

With two thousand men…I could do so much more. To think, half a year ago I was merely scraping by with just over a hundred men. Now I'll have twenty centuries. "Thank you my lord, my words do not do the act justice. You are most gracious. I, I don't know how to thank you properly."

Bruce laughed, "You do it by keeping my people safe, Ser. Just continue on with your path, your duties, and that is all the thanks I need. Lord Stark?"

Lord Eddard leaned forward, "Ser Gordon, you are a noble man. While I am still unsure as to whether Batman or this new boy wonder are a threat or not, I know Gotham can be trusted in your hands."

James' eyes widened and his jaw managed to find the flexibility to drop even further. "L-lord Stark, I, I don't know what to say."

Eddard smiled, "As Lord Wayne said, you can thank us by continuing to serve this city. While Batman goes outside the law to fight the crime of this city, you do so within the boundaries of the law. That is the harder path, and the more honorable one. Any man can throw the law to the wind, but it takes a man of iron will and stone resolve to heed that wind and follow it like a sail on the sea. When I return to King's Landing I'll ask King Robert if any gold can be spared to your cause. The sooner we get you more men, the better."

It all felt like a dream to James, that, or when he got so drunk he could barely stand in his youth. The two lords had come and went, with their tidings of promises of gold and commending for honorably fulfilling his duties. They had not stayed long, once they had finished praising James they asked of what became of the thugs from last night to which James regretfully replied that they were in Strange's care. Then they said their goodbyes and had departed as quickly as they had arrived. James took notice that there were none of Lord Wayne's personal guard escorting them after the events of yesterday. Perhaps they do not fear the city as much as they should, but then again, visitors never truly do.