Chapter Two: The Big Blue Mystery

VI
The Morning After

The following morning, Bruce was surprised to hear the doorbell as he finished eating the three-course breakfast Alfred had prepared. He wondered why security hadn't alerted them of a visitor. Perhaps a visitor for Alfred?...

"Master Dick! What a pleasant surprise. Welcome home, sir!" Alfred's voice carried clearly from the front foyer. It was almost as much of a shock to Bruce to hear Alfred's excited voice raised so audibly as it was that his ward had returned unexpectedly home.

Bruce had not expected to see Captain Dick Grayson for at least another month. He was disappointed when Dick couldn't get leave to attend his awards ceremony the previous evening, although in retrospect, it was probably for the best. He had spent half the night preparing his public relations team for the media fiasco the morning would bring. Bruce still felt a little bruised and tired, but he also felt more alive than he had in months.

As he entered the Wayne family breakfast nook, Richard Grayson looked every inch an accomplished man in his Air Force uniform. Tall, confident, fit and one of the best young pilots in the forces today. Bruce was not surprised. The former Flying Grayson had no fear, a sharp mind and the amazing reflexes required for the amazing flying machines of today.

"Captain, this is a surprise! Have you had breakfast?" inquired Bruce with a smile to his ward.

"I would love breakfast! Sorry Bruce, hope you don't mind the surprise. Sorry I missed your award last night, but I was hoping to make it in time for the wedding. Is Barbara still asleep in the master bedroom or did she sneak out already? I was hoping to congratulate her. You're quite a catch, you know." Dick always had a mischievous streak. The army hadn't taken that out of him.

It was Alfred who came to the rescue. "Mr. Wayne was a complete gentleman last night, Captain Grayson. A demanding and protective boss, to be sure, but Miss Gordon was driven directly home with no impropriety between herself and Mr. Wayne." Perhaps it was Bruce's imagination, but he almost heard a tinge of regret in Alfred's voice.

"Alfred, Dick knows that. He's only teasing." Bruce had not turned on the television or screens yet this morning. He wanted a peaceful breakfast before he had to bear witness to Gotham's rumor mill. He reminded himself to give Barbara a call to see how she was coping.

"Have you seen the morning news, yet?" asked Dick with feigned concern, trying his best to hide a cat-who-ate-the-canary grin.

"...Oracle, show headlines, today." Bruce watched as a halo-screen popped into view in front of him as Alfred headed into the kitchen to prepare Dick's breakfast.

'The Key To The City and Barbara Gordon's Heart. Experts Predict June Wedding'

'Wayne Saves Mayor! Police Commissioner Loses Daughter… To Love!'

'Wayne Takes Out Nigma But Barbara Gordon Takes Home The Prize'

'Wayne Steals The Show… And Commissioner's Daughter'

'Barbara Eileen Wayne!'

Bruce held his brow in disbelief. It was almost too much to bare. The carefully prepared statements that Wayne Communications had provided Gotham's media outlets appeared as dreary, castoff footnotes to sensational journalism run amok. He would have to personally make a public statement today to set the record straight. He considered the headlines had the Mayor been internally shattered by the vortex cannon and felt relieved… somewhat.

"I'll make a statement today to head this... spectacle off. I hate for Barbara to be caught up in this as some gold digger. So what really brings you back home, Dick? Surely not trash journalism."

"No, you're right, Bruce. I'm here on behalf of the military. It's the situation in Kahndaq. Very classified."

"As one of the military's primary weapons suppliers, I do have access to certain classified information." Bruce didn't want to tell his ward about Oracle's true intelligence capabilities. He could easily be indicted for that on multiple violations.

"Yes sir. We have confirmed that Kahndaq has successfully imported or developed a nuclear weapon. We would like to go in and disable it."

"Isn't that what Big Blue's for?" inquired Wayne, closing the headlines that floated above the breakfast table.

"This is the confidential part, Bruce. Big Blue is… AWOL."

"Whatever details you can provide, please. I'll do all in my power to help." This was disturbing.

"He was sent out on an internal investigation to Connecticut four days ago. All contact abruptly ceased. The president's been very hush-hush about it."

"And Vice President Luthor's position?..."

"He was the main proponent for sending Big Blue into Kahndaq for disarmament. That's common knowledge. From what I hear, he had nothing to do with the 'Connecticut Incident', as we're calling it. He's been harping on the Kahndaqi situation for weeks, trying to stir up support for intervention."

"I wouldn't count him out yet, Dick. Ah, there's Alfred with your coffee and toast. I'll leave you to it, Dick. I've got to get dressed and do a quick web cast. If you weren't too busy today, maybe you could check in on Barbara... She's quite a catch, you know?"

Author's Challenge - Hint #1: 50 FanFic points are still up for grabs if anyone can guess the identity of the bride of Bruce Wayne!

Here's a hint: Many characters in my story are a little older than normal continuity. For example, Captain Richard Grayson is 24-years-old, Barbara Gordon is 25-years-old. Only one more chapter before the big reveal!