Prologue 1-3:
Gotham City , Year 2010
"I'm glad you've chosen to start your business here in Gotham City, Mr. Kimeris." A realtor said with a grin on his face. This had to be his biggest deal yet. An European Multi-Millionaire starting a business here in Gotham City would have everyone talking. Mysk Kimeris, his customer, was a tall European Man with short Dark Gray Hair, Gold eyes and a small Goatee. The Business Suit he wore looked far more expensive than he saw sold in Gotham. Though… he had to admit, in certain lights, Mysk Kimeris looked similar to Bruce Wayne…maybe same ancestry?
"Gotham City has its charms." Mysk Kimeris, or Myskia Cimerius said as he shook the realtor's hand. It didn't take him long to establish himself in the human world and build a reputable business. After all, as Bruce, he maintained the purity of Wayne Enterprises fairly well and with vetted devils working underneath him to maintain that front of a business until he can "replace" his other self, it would have to do. "Tell me, I haven't had a chance to look at Gotham's Itinerary. Do you know of any profitable gatherings happening in the next few weeks?"
"The Wayne Foundation is holding its annual Charity Drive for Gotham General at the end of the week. That would be a good place to meet other affluent people such as yourself." The man said with a grin. He was then surprised when Mysk reached into his pocket and pulled out his wallet. He then produced the largest sum of cash he had ever seen pulled out of a wallet. "Mr. Kimeris-"
"Take it, please, as a thank you for your generous information." The man took the money. Words of thanks were exchanged before the man left the room. Mysk sighed before dimming the lights in his new office and sitting down behind his desk. He silently thought to himself before she spoke. "You're far too young to be pulling that trick on me."
"I didn't think I needed too." A gruff voice came from the shadows. Mysk looked up to see Batman, his younger self. "I got your message."
"As you should. Only you, I and Alfred know of that." Mysk told Batman with another tired sigh.
"So you are me then. How?" Batman needed to know. How did he die, how did he reincarnate.
"Darkseid. It's an unavoidable death. It needs to happen." The Dark Knight grimaced. It meant that he had to use his contingency for New Gods on Darkseid.
"Anyone else know?"
"Only Doctor Fate. He's been my lifeline to the nexus ever since."
Silence fell between the two Batmen. The Human Batman stared into the eyes of the Devil Batman and saw something he didn't think was possible. "You're happy."
"I ran into a rather stubborn woman who refused my refusals. Very persuasive." Mysk said with a wry smile.
"Will anything change for the mission?"
"None. In fact, with what we will and do know, the mission just got harder. But since when has that stopped us?"
Batman said nothing as he disappeared quietly in the shadows. Mysk let out a chuckle. "Get going Bruce, we got work to do." Mysk waited a moment before standing up to go see Serafall. "I don't ever remember being that green."
Gotham Jewel Hotel, three days later
Mysk watched silently amused as his other dealt with women who were clearly vying for the Wayne wealth. It was odd to see it from an outside perspective but he figured he'd have to make some public showing. Approaching Bruce, he spoke just loud enough to be heard in the immediate area.
"Bruce Wayne. I wondered when I would get to meet you." He announced.
"Please excuse me ladies." Bruce said to the women quietly before addressing Musk. It was silently weird to see another version of himself. Then again, what he had seen, this was mildly normal. "I'm afraid we haven't met, Mister…"
"Mysk Kimeris. I recently opened up a business here in Gotham. We specialize in technology that may help the future be a little bit better." Which was true. Using modern technology alongside research provided by Ajuka and Azazel, they were secretly bringing magical technology and healing to the new century. Their current project was a cure to the Sleeping Disease that plagued the Three Factions.
Both men shook hands. "You'd have to excuse me if I'm a little skeptical. I feel like I've heard that from many other businessmen."
"Do not fret, Mister Wayne. I did my research before choosing a location optimal for my business. With Star Labs located in both Metropolis and Central City, I figured I could build a business here in Gotham. Besides, I would not have to worry about a buyout from you."
"Judging by that response, you've met Lex Luthor?"
"Not in person, no, but his reputation precedes him."
"This is the first time I've seen Bruce Wayne without a woman or two attached to his arm." Both men glanced at the owner of the voice.
Wearing a sleek black dress that accentuated her curves, with a slit going up the side that was almost lewd for words and black heels, Selina Kyle struck every hot-blooded male stupid with her grace.
"More like I saved him from a fate worse than death." Mysk replied before Introducing himself. "Head of the Kimeris Research Group, Mysk Kimeris."
"Selina Kyle. Do you mind if I steal Bruce for a moment?"
"I do not mind, Miss Kyle. Bruce, enjoy the rest of the night." Mysk teased before leaving the two.
"He's certainly interesting." Selina commented quietly as they moved over to the bar.
"He's actually clean. From what I can tell he's been doing everything by the book." Bruce commented just as quietly.
"Is that an actual endorsement from Bruce Wayne or the other guy?" She asked. After all, she knew his secret as much as he knew hers.
"Both."
Luckily due to some impressive spell work, the Charity Drive wasn't attacked. Meanwhile the criminal underworld was confused as to why they forgot their own plans for that night.
Meikaitsuki, Underworld - Six Months Later
Myskia walked down the Kyoto inspired streets of Meikaitsuki, the center that was originally the Nekoshou Village. Stopping Bael and his friends from slaughtering the Nekoshou caused an upsurge in the population and even so peace between The Devils and the Youkai Faction. The Village had seen growth and soon became a little slice of Japan in the Underworld. Though it wasn't a total victory; Kuroka was still wanted for the murder of her Master and the Gremory Clan swooped in and adopted little Shirone for their heiress, Rias.
Bruce had met Rias before as being connected (read: held hostage by) to Serafall meant that he got to know Sirzechs, Grayfia, their son, and Rias by proxy. Rias was rather enamored by his knowledge of Japanese culture and before she and Serafall's little sister, Soma, was given territory in the real world, anyone could find her geeking out in Meikaitsuki. He wondered if she qualified as what the Titans called a "weeb"?
His thoughts however were interrupted when he bumped into someone. Looking down at the person he knocked over lost in thought, he paused in temporary shock.
"Selina?" Looking up at him with verifiable cat ears was Selina Kyle. He offered his hand to the literal Cat Woman.
"Mysk Kimeris? What are you doing in the underworld?" She questioned taking his hand, confused. As far as she knew, Mysk Kimeris was an up and coming business man back in Gotham, one that surprisingly Bruce Wayne endorsed.
"I'm a Devil." He announced dryly. "Lord Myskia Cimerius at your service Ms. Kyle."
Her eyes widened. One of the Seventy-two Pillars was casually working as a businessman in Gotham? And Bruce was endorsing him.. "Does Bruce know? Did he sign a contract with you?"
Myskia internally winced. This was not a contingency he was prepared for. Nevertheless, he knew he could trust Selina. "That's something I'm willing to discuss in private Ms. Kyle. Would you come with me to my mansion?"
"You're not going to reincarnate me are you?" She questioned warily.
"Not unless you ask." A teleportation rune flared and transported them into his private office in Meikaitsuki.
"You have an office here too?" She asked curiously as she looked around. Given her occupation on the surface, she was used to magic and other modes of transportation.
"Just a place to meet with others in a neutral setting. I also invested in this city." Myskia explained as he moved over to his desk and sat in the chair. Selina sat in the rather comfortable chair across from him.
"Spill. Did Bruce take on a contract with you?" She questioned again.
"You…might not believe this Selina but I am Bruce." He announced.
"W-What? You're lying. I saw you shake hands with Bruce months ago-"
"At the Charity Drive for Gotham General. Yes we both remember that." Myskia completed for her. "The truth of the matter is that in less than five months, the Bruce Wayne you know is going to die, killed by Darkseid and his soul is going to be launched forty years into the past and revived as me."
Selina stared at the devil for a long time before slumping back in the chair. She could see it in his eyes. No matter what disguise he might've taken when he wasn't Batman, she could always tell it's him by his eyes. Those who truly didn't know him simply didn't know what to look for.
"Oh my God. It really is you, isn't it Bruce?" She saw the forced wince from uttering the G word and silently apologized. "I can always tell when it's you, cowl or not."
"You always knew me well, Selina." She flushed at how warm his words sounded, and how her own instincts were screaming at her to mate with him. "Though.. I didn't know you were a Nekoshou."
"My mother, Maria, was a Nekoshou. After my parents died, I saved my sister from her abusive husband and brought her here among my people." She then paused.. "That was you that night, wasn't it? The man who took out Lord Bael and his cronies."
"I knew someone was there that night but I didn't think it was you."
"I was looking for my cousin Kuroka to get her to explain what happened when I stumbled onto Lord Bael's camp. That's when I saw you spring into action…" she paused before groaning, covering her face as she blushed.
"What?" Myskia looked confused.
"I based part of my Catwoman persona after you. You were…well you and I were younger at the time. I saw how cool and stealthy you were."
Myskia stared at her for a moment before letting out a hearty laugh. That cinched it for Selina. She knew what Bruce sounded like when he truly laughed. It was warm, infectious, showing a part of the man that nobody understood.
Bruce Wayne was damaged. The death of his parents left the scar that never healed. What he did to fill that void was to keep others from feeling the same way as he did when he lost his parents. And over the years, he allowed so many people in his life into that void and the closer to his heart, the more you really understood the man behind the cowl.
Bruce Wayne was just as much of a mask as Batman was. But when you hear Bruce laugh, and really laugh from the bottom of his heart, you could always hear the man, the truth of who he was. This was what Selina could hear and that's what really attracted her to him.
Myskia was surprised when Selina suddenly pounced him from over his desk. Luckily his chair was magically reinforced. "Selina?"
"Bruce. Batman. Mysk. Lord Myskia. I do not care what you call yourself. What I do care about is the fact that you will be giving me kittens." She told him with no room for arguments. "I don't care if you're seeing someone else either. I know how Devils are and you should know how Nekoshou are."
"If he's going to be giving people kids, I do want a few." Myskia wasn't a religious man (being a devil really prevented that) but he was praying to someone that Serafall didn't kill Selina.
A short while later, he wished someone had killed him. They bonded, bonded, over him. They kept comparing notes and now Serafall knew that he was someone else. And despite that, they both agreed to share him.
"I think father and I always knew but just accepted it." Serafall said, seeing the look in his eyes. "Remember, we both knew Lord Cimerius before that overdone chicken fried him and his peerage. He was intelligent to be sure, but he was like every other devil; prideful, too prideful in fact. At first we thought that the attack humbled you, but the shift in personality was too great for us to ignore. So we kept quiet and watched what you would do." Seeing that she had both Myskia and Selina's attention she continued.
"Instead of acting like the Lord of the past, you quickly got your affairs in order, advocated non-devil rights, challenged the way all the Pure-Bloods thought with empirical data and unflinching logic. It was your words and actions that showed Grigori and Heaven that not all Devils were like the original Four and that paved the way for the peace talks last month."
"That sounds like him alright. I haven't seen anyone win a war of words against the man known as the "world's greatest detective"." Selina chimed in.
"Well.. growing up with Alfred meant I had to articulate my words and back them up with sources." Myskia commented.
Gotham City, Wayne Manor, D-Day
Alfred Pennyworth sat quietly in a chair, nursing a bottle of wine. He had seen the date of his young charge, his son. As much as they kept appearances as Butler and Master, they knew their dynamic was of Father and Son. Alfred raised Bruce in place of his mother and father and he was proud of the man he became. Now.. now he'd have to bury said son. The last of the Waynes.
"We always knew it would happen, Bruce.. but I didn't expect it to hurt as much as it does." He murmured to himself. That's when he heard a voice he didn't think he'd hear again.
"Going forty years without your excellent tea was painful, Alfred."
"Master Bruce?!" Alfred sat up shocked.
"It's me, Alfred. It's.. been a long time from my perspective. Then again, from your perspective, you just saw me die." Bruce Wayne stepped out of the shadows. Though his eyes were a different color, Alfred knew his young charge anywhere. Though he needed to be sure..
"The Password." Alfred said with a firm tone.
"Nine-One-Nine-Three-Nine." Bruce replied with an equally firm tone. Alfred shot up out of the chair, wine spilling on the floor. The older man approached Bruce, placing his hands on his shoulder.
"My word.. it really is you.. but how.."
"You might want to sit down for this, Alfred. It's.. a long story."
PWI: don't you just love stable time loops? In any case everything came full circle. Bruce knew he was going to die in Part 1 because he told himself. Selina and her sister Magdalene are both Nekoshou and they're elder cousins of Kuroka and Shirone. Bruce accidentally inspired Selina to take up the Mantle pf Catwoman with his stealth. And Serafall and Bered knew something was different with Myskia but never called him out on it.
Next Chapter: Mustering of the Bat Peerage