Sorry, screwed up the chapters hope i fixed it!
Making the Best of It
Chapter 6
Gotham- Across the rooftops
A figure ran across the rooftops of the dark city. Panting with every stride. He knew he shouldn't have done it, but it had to be done. The guy deserved it.
He had it coming for years. So, he did it. He shot the Penguin, even though as word quickly spread of the act, he would be coming after him with a vengeance.
He knew he shouldn't do it, but he was greatly tempted. The figure knew once he did, he would appear out of nowhere like always and lay the beatdown.
Damn it, he did it anyway.
He looked over his shoulder and saw nothing. Normally, that would make any average person relax. But the figure wasn't an average person. He was taught by the best to do extraordinary things.
He looked back to his front, just as a black fist bashed into the left side of his face, shattering the left side of his red helmet, "Hoooood!" Batman screamed ferociously.
He knew it.
He shouldn't have looked back, he thought as the blow knocked him to the floor, wincing in pain.
Batman grabbed the fallen man and pulled him up by his jacket, glaring down at him, "I told you, I would let you be the outlaw Gotham needed, so long as you didn't kill. I almost started to believe we mended our relationship, but no, you had to kill it like you killed the Penguin" he went on rage building.
Red Hood only at him with narrowed eyes. Lectures. Like always.
Hood headbutted his former mentor in the face, subsequently freeing him from his fellow vigilante's iron grasp.
Batman stumbled backwards a few steps before recovering. His visage fierce, his teeth bared.
Red pulled his pistol out and pointed it at Batman, only for his mentor's swift reflexes to kick in, grasping the younger man's wrist and twisted it until the end of the magazine was pointed at its wielder's face.
A touch of the older man's other hand and the magazine shot out hitting the helmet clad man right in the face. He stumbled to the rough ground losing his grip on his weapon.
His mentor was on him in an instant, grabbing at Red's shirt and tore the red bat from the younger man's chest exposing the kevlar underneath.
His other unoccupied hand whacked Red in his exposed face.
A cry spilled from his throat as he fell down once more. Bruce isn't holding out on him. You would think he was fighting Bane.
Say what you will about Jason Todd, The Red Hood, but he's no one's punching bag.
He pulled out his other Beretta from his left side only for Batman to grab his wrist and broke it like a twig, resulting in a painful scream. The gun fell to the ground with a clank.
Red clenched his teeth, shoving the pain away, delivered a hard-right jab to Batman's face stunning him which left him open for a knee to the gut.
The dark-clad man doubled over from the blow, the sight of him in withering in pain brought a satisfied smile to the younger man's face.
A hard back of the head headbutt quickly removed that smile.
Hood's head flew backwards as Batman returned the favor by sending a sharp kick to the man's abdomen.
Red groaned, jaw throbbing as he fell once more and saw his discarded weapon a foot away from him. He scrambled to it reaching out with his uninjured arm.
He turned his body at the waist once he got his gun and pointed it at his enemy, but a dark boot kicked it right out of his hand putting that plan in a grave. A fuming Batman grabbed his son by the throat and hoisted him up, his feet dangling a little above the ground.
He hit Hood in the face with a left cross with so much power behind it he shattered the rest of the helmet to pieces. However, Batman was still on him like a vicious animal, far too furious to let up that easily.
Four body blows which resulted in two cracked ribs.
A black eye.
Fractured collarbone.
A dislocated shoulder.
The other shoulder broken.
The older man pummeled his son into submission. All the anger, all the frustrations from over the years just came pouring out. Mostly from the past few months, came bursting to the surface like a volcano erupting.
A dark hand gripped the beaten man, whom dangled limply, "Somedays I wish you never came back from the dead. At least then I wouldn't have to see this spiteful little creature you've become."
Jason could only groan, semiconscious, barely able to even hear his mentor's words. His body bloody and broken.
Just as Batman was about to end this, a red arrow was shot out of nowhere piercing the ground and released a pink smoke cloud.
Batman dropped Jason ceremonially, whom released a groan as he plopped to the ground. The dark clad man inhaled some before he could protect himself.
He quickly began dizzy, unconsciously swaying in place. Vision blurry as it soon became difficult to stay conscious. He tried to will himself to stay awake, but the drug was too strong. Even for him.
The effect of the drug overcame him, and he collapsed unconscious.
He awoke half an hour later to see Jason gone. He narrowed his white eyes as he caught a glimpse of a red arrow.
He plucked it from the ground and examined.
Took him half a second to realize who it belonged to. "Harper" he growled. He tossed the arrow and started to walk away.
Not how he imagined it, but it worked out for him in the end.
Jason's gone. Far from Gotham by now. The boy clearly got the message.
Never come to Gotham again.
If Jason wasn't smart enough to understand the consequences for coming back, well, he'll be here to get the message across again.
Batcave
Batman returned to his dark sanctuary an hour after his run-in with Jason. Too angry to continue patrol properly as well as his body compromised by the gas, he was exposed to, he decided it was best to call it a night. The fact that it was only two in the morning put him in an even sourer mood. A whole night's patrol ruined.
Reports came in that the Penguin's still alive but in a medically induced coma to help him through healing process due to his brain having swollen heavily.
The dark-clad man marched to the training area to work out his frustrations and anger from tonight and other things that plagued him. He removed his cowl that rested against his back.
As he reached the training area, he activated the training dummies and immediately got to making himself feel better.
After destroying eight training dummies and bloodying his knuckles he left to get cleaned up in the locker room showers.
But before he could he heard a disapproving clearing of a throat; the individual piercing glare stabbed the man's back.
Bruce growled in his throat, "Yes, Alfred?" he turned to the older gentleman to see his disapproving gaze.
The younger man matched the gaze with a burning glare.
The butler scoffed at his surrogate son in disappointment and disapproval of how he has handled the situation.
"I see you've finished your little tantrum" his words icily stabbed the man like razor blades, glancing at the wrecked dummies.
The dark-haired man doesn't let his surrogate father's words get to him.
Not in the mood however, "What?" he snapped.
"Master Todd, sir" the aging man answered.
Bruce inhaled and exhaled deeply attempting to relax. A dejected expression on his face as his blue eyes fell to the floor. "He almost murdered the Penguin, Alfred."
The middle-aged man nodded solemnly, "I know he did, sir. But he's your son" he reasoned.
"He tried to murder someone, Alfred" he defended his stance. "I am tired of giving him chances. Being the only one who's trying to maintain our relationship" he said temper flaring. "No more. He went too far this time" he finished and walked to the showers leaving Alfred alone shaking his head at the retreating man. A daughter of the Wayne family will soon be arriving in this house. What kind of family will she be a part of when members of this family are being banished?
Wayne Manor
A new day rose over Gotham, completely unaware of the changes that have occurred within Gotham's most infamous family.
Bruce woke up in the late morning, dressed to go golfing with the mayor today. A scowl firmly on his face, a result of both last night's 'family meeting' as well as having to golf with a corrupt official just to keep up appearances. Frankly, he feels like he needs a shower after being in the same room with Mayor Hady.
He walked past the living room and in his peripheral he caught the sight of a tall person with long dark hair.
Slightly, curious about what the woman in the manor is up to, he walked back into the room she resided in.
There the pregnant woman, dressed in grey shorts and a maroon tee-shirt concealing her ever growing belly. She sat on the large antique couch with a bowl of strawberries next to her with a very large book, that almost appeared like a photo album.
His eyes narrowed as he caught a glimpse of other papers. He leaned over the couch, "What are you up to?" he startled the woman making her jump in her seat.
She looked over her shoulder causing some of her inky locks to drag over her shoulder. She breathed a sigh of relief when she realized it was Bruce talking to her.
Slightly embarrassed at getting caught, she gave a laugh, picking up the album from her lap and showed it to the man.
"I started making a baby book. I heard some mothers' make them for their children" the raven-haired woman explained what she was making. She smiled brightly, "I wanted one for our daughter too. Outline her life and show it to her when she's older."
The man took the album from her and immediately recognized how heavy it was. She must've gotten the extra-large one. What was she going to do? Outline every day of their child's life?
He … suddenly didn't find that so bad. If every day of their daughter's life was outlined in this book, he wouldn't feel so bad if he ever missed something important in her life. But he would still hate himself if he did.
He started to go through it and saw a photograph of a positive pregnancy test and on the next page a picture of Diana's bloodwork from that other clinic she went to before she told about the baby. He then saw the first sonogram when the two of them first went to Leslie's clinic. He turned the next page and was presented with the second sonogram with the title above, "It's a girl!" as he looked through the book his features slowly cooled from disgruntled to relaxed.
A small smile slowly appeared on his face. He looked back to Diana, whom had a nervous smile on her face, anxiously awaiting the man's thoughts on the baby book.
"I think it's a great idea, Diana" he encouraged.
She beamed taking the book back, "Thank you." She noticed his attire, Golfing?" she quirked an eyebrow.
"With the mayor. Trying to keep up appearances as well as trying to build some bridges that could be useful in the future" the dark-haired man explained.
"Have fun" she uttered eating a few strawberries not even considering offering him any. Her hormones obviously making her crave food.
Bruce left her after that in the direction of the kitchen for some coffee.
With each stride he felt… better about what occurred with Jason and his anger dissipated for the moment. He felt like a weight was lifted from him. A sense of warmth inside. He found it… odd.
Was this what impending fatherhood felt like?
Golf Course
Early afternoon tee off with the mayor. With this blistering heat in mid-June. Welcome to hell.
That's how Bruce Wayne felt as he watched Sebastian Hady miss his second swing.
The man was all red and sweaty in the summer heat. Flustered by his missed swings he threw his golf club away in frustration. He yelled and stomped his feet like a small child.
You could make a political cartoon about this man. Corrupt to the core. The reason Gotham is in the state it has been in for years.
As well as Hady trying to block Wayne Enterprises New Gotham Plan to rebuild Gotham's under privileged neighborhoods didn't make Bruce any less endearing to the older man.
Panting Hady relaxed and got another club from his caddie. "I'll tell you Wayne this course has to be cursed or just a lousy place" he said testing the club before finally sending the ball packing.
"Had it occurred to you, that you're just a lousy golfer" the younger man deadpanned.
Hady gave Bruce a wicked look as he waited for the rich man to take his turn. The dark-haired man set his ball down on the tee. He swung and knocked it farther than Hady had. The ball landed ten feet away from the first hole.
Hady glared and cursed, all the while Bruce managed to smirk at Hady's displeasure.
After a few more holes Hady starts to talk business. "You know Wayne, your little renovation project isn't going so well" he stated with a laugh.
"Must be because you're constantly getting in the way of the project" Bruce said irritated by arrogant man.
"Yes, well, that's because you are making me look incompetent" Hady replied heatedly. "Making me look like I'm not doing much for the city."
"You're not."
The mayor sneered at Bruce, "You little…"
"You know the best thing about mayor's Hady?" Bruce asked, "They can only serve two terms. And you just got reelected" he smirked.
The older man glared at him. Silently stewing in anger. The audacity at this rich pretty boy.
A thought suddenly entered Hady's mind as Bruce took a stance to hit the ball.
"Are you really in any position to judge me? According to what the gossip columns are saying about your baby momma?" Hady spoke with a sickening smirk on his face hoping to rub Wayne's face in the dirt. Hiring his new baby momma to run his family's charity. Well, that just looks like someone's paying someone off for pain and suffering.
The older man's question made Bruce miss his shot as his eyes widened at the question and hit nothing but air. He turned back to Hady with a dark look in his eyes. If that parasite dared to drag Diana into something, he will be very sorry.
"I mean, how many illegitimate children does this make?" Bruce can hear the arrogant smirk in his words.
"A man in your influential position sure can party. Did you pay her off by getting her that position in your charity? I can't blame you for wanting a good time with her. I've seen her. She is…spectacular" Hady stated wolfishly.
Bruce's face turned even and took his club and walked back to his golf cart along with his caddie.
Curious, Hady yelled, "Where you are going?"
The dark-haired man sat in the driver seat of the cart, his expression neutral, "I suddenly feel ill" his disdain for the mayor of Gotham overcoming him. He no longer could stand the man's presence. "Enjoy the course" he parted ways with the other man and drove off.
Wayne Enterprises-Wayne Foundation Offices
The new Wayne Foundation building will take another six months to be completely reconstructed. So, Diana and the Wayne Foundation will have to tough it out here in Wayne Tower for a little while longer.
The Amazon dressed in a navy skirt and a maroon sleeveless blouse; her navy blazer draped on the back of her chair. Her hair in the traditional bun as well as a pair of new glasses on her face. Matching heels covered her feet, although with her feet starting to swell, heels were becoming a luxury that would soon be lost. Her clothing barely contained her enlarged abdomen, already a few weeks into her second trimester. She sat at a table with the board of the foundation having a meeting about the museum fundraiser next month.
She felt a chill on her exposed skin as the air conditioner was blasting in the conference room. The city is experiencing a hot summer.
Out of the corner of her blue eyes she saw Regina still giving her the stink eye. The raven-haired woman mentally rolled her eyes. She was dead tired of Regina acting like this, she knew that Bruce skipped over Regina for head of the Foundation by putting her in charge and she truly felt bad about it, until she was fed up with Regina's behavior and simply ignored her.
"So, we are all set for the museum benefit in July?" a board member asked another.
"Everything looks good. The museum curator says the new wing will be finished in time for the benefit" another member replied.
"Great!" Diana exclaimed with a smile. She had her heart set of the benefit for the last week because ancient Greek artifacts were going to be part of the new wing and the Amazon couldn't wait to examine them. She looked around the conference room, "I appreciate everyone's help in making this happen."
"It's our pleasure, Miss Prince. I'm sure we all think this is a great thing to do. A new wing for the Gotham Museum as well as half of the donations to go to the Martha Wayne Children's Hospital "one member spoke up.
Most of the board liked Diana and her ideas on how best to use the Wayne Foundation to help people in Gotham. Though at first some were a little wary of the pregnant woman because of the rumors around how she got her position as well as apparently being Bruce Wayne's baby momma. However, not just there. Diana has been discussing expanding worldwide. Working with other charity foundations to help people around the world.
Even Regina, whom disliked Diana with a passion, had to admit it was a fantastic idea.
Diana glanced at her watch and noted the time. "Well since it's almost one, how about we break for lunch and come back in an hour?" she asked the board. Seeing many nod their heads, the meeting ended.
All but Diana remained behind. She released a breath and leaned back in her chair. Exhaustion hitting her hard. The pregnancy taking a heavy toll on her. But she wouldn't trade this for anything. Helping people was in her blood. She liked her job. It was a nice change from punching people. Her heart swelled when she felt her daughter move inside her for the first time back at the clinic.
And she couldn't wait for all her child's other firsts.
Batcave
Batman returned home after a long night of patrol, surprisingly with Robin in tow. Things had been quite tense between them lately, not that either of them had been talkative to each other.
Father and son have been at odds with one another. Damian believing his father's way of battling crime is ineffective. And Bruce fearing that his son is losing his way. Going too far in the ways of fighting the disease that is crime.
That deep down his son is more a Demon than a Bat.
The man wondered if he was failing his boy in some way.
He knew he wasn't the most emotional man and he's aware that is solely his fault. But the man has had a rough few months, you can't blame him for not wanting to be close to people for a while.
He was worried that Damian was feeling replaced with Diana living here and the baby coming soon. But that's not what's happening. Damian is his son and will always be a part of this family. Now if only he could tell him that.
Although, Bruce hasn't exactly been a people person lately. The smallest thing has been setting him off, not with Diana though, she's been great. A calming presence in the manor. It's everyone else or more truthfully, it's him.
He's… he doesn't even know where the hell he is. Since everything with Selina and Diana and the baby things have been chaotic.
Time seems to have infected his metaphorical wounds and he's lashing out keeping others at a distance.
Damian being one of them.
The dark-haired man hasn't really sat down with the teenager and had a good discussion about these changes in the Wayne household and that's his fault.
He's lost one son, he refused to lose another.
Out of the corner of his eyes, he saw the short teenager beating up some practice dummies, clad in his Robin uniform.
The grimace evident on his mask-less face expressed that he had some aggression to work out.
When the teenager roundhouse kicked a dummy's head off, Bruce saw that a conversation was sorely needed.
"Damian" Bruce called out in his baritone voice. His tone clearly displeased by the destruction of the training dummies.
The son gave his father a pointed look not particularly happy with his father's tone, although that's not the only thing he's displeased about regarding his father.
"We should talk" the man said to his son, his tone even.
"About what?" Damian responded with arrogant defiance.
"About this… distance between us" he clarified.
Damian clicked his teeth in his usual way, "Tt."
"Damian" the man removed his cowl, he sounded almost supplicated, yet still had its authoritative tone. "I know we haven't been getting along lately and there is fault on both sides, but I don't want to lose you too. Not after Jason."
"I am far ahead of Todd. But I am not going to change my view of what should be done against criminals and fall in line with yours" Damian argued, the son of the bat never ashamed of his hubris.
The teenager found fault in his fathers' code. It was flawed. It allowed criminals to come back onto the streets. And who gets hurt by these animals? Innocent people, who have done nothing wrong and are simply trying to live their life's.
Well no more. They want to act like animals they will be treated like animals. They will be secured in a private prison manned solely by him, at least they won't be able to bribe anyone to help escape. They deserve to be caged like beasts.
"I'm not asking you to" Bruce tried to placate. "But you can't do what you've been doing to criminals without expecting them to become more vicious" he lectured adamantly.
Not liking where his father was going, Damian started to become defiant, "Why do you even care? Isn't protecting innocent people what we're about? How all this "he waved his hand towards the entirety of the batcave, "is about stopping criminals from hurting people?" he yelled, genuinely confused by his fathers' problem with what he's doing.
"There is room for compassion."
"Not for the depraved!"
The conversation reached a stalemate. They were silent. Both quickly realizing that further discussions on this topic will be pointless. Both are highly stubborn and will not change their opinions on the matter.
Damian instead goes for the jugular, "Why do you even care about this? Aren't you too busy with the new family member coming soon?" he scoffed in a snide way. Like this family wasn't big enough as it is.
The man mentally rolled his eyes, so we're going to address this then, he mentally thought to himself.
"Damian, you are acting like a toddler, where your parents just brought home the new baby and you are feeling threatened by their presence and are acting out" Bruce explained, his tone making the teenager appear and feel childish.
Damian's green eyes glared at his father heatedly. He grit his teeth silently fuming by his father's conclusion. "Isn't there enough kids in this family? Don't you have enough?!" he bellowed.
"Diana and the baby weren't planned" the billionaire tried to appease the thirteen-year old. "I discussed this with you and the family months ago."
"I don't like it!"
"Enough!" Bruce roared; his teeth bared. Patience gone. The muscles in his hands tighten as his fingers appear claw-like. "This ridiculous feeling of insecurity comes from childish emotions. You are not a child. Diana and the baby are here to stay. You are my son and I love you. You will stop this behavior and start acting like the responsible young man I know you are" he finished taking deep breathes.
Damian was struck dumb by his father. He felt half his age under his scrutinizing glare.
Silently, Bruce pointed to upstairs, wordlessly instructing the boy to go to his room.
Surprisingly, Damian obeyed and walked to the batcave entrance, shoulders hanging low.
He paused as his father's voice entered his ears, "I don't expect you to fall in love with Diana, but you will show her the same respect she shows you" he instructed and warned his son. "Don't think I haven't noticed."
The boy wordlessly nodded and walked upstairs to the manor.
Bruce sighed; his head fell downward. That could have gone better, he thought to himself.
Father and son haven't spoken since. Or seen one another since then.
I have a plan. Don't worry!