Chapter 16: A Dinner Encounter
Bruce turns to Alfred behind him frustrated and unsure what to do.
"I can't let him do it Alfred. I can't let him make mistakes." Bruce said.
"Young men with a vengeance fury always need guidance. Perhaps you should concentrate on the life you choose for him or yourself." Alfred said.
"And how do I do what? What kind of life can I give him?" Bruce asked.
"Your father asked me the same question the night you were born. He feared he would fail on giving you a life you deserve. That's even what I promised him and your mother…after they were killed." Alfred said.
"So you're saying my father wouldn't want me to be Batman? He's the reason I became Batman." Bruce said.
"And Master Grayson's reasons are the same. But takes it by his own cause." Alfred said.
Bruce went back I'm his thoughts.
We cut to GCPD the next day where Bullock storms his way through a hall with a newspaper in grip. He was furious.
He pries open the door of Gordon's office catching him off guard.
Bullock slams the newspaper on the desk reading.
*Batman and Two-Face blow construction site causing Mayhem*
"Are you happy now Commish?! Your pet bat blows up a construction site off the center of city while Dent is flipping over left and right! Now you got a choice! Either you and I take this bastard down or I do it myself!" Bullock said angrily.
"You'll do no such thing! As long I am Commissioner it stays fitted! Besides Batman gave us the leads on Riddler. We're a step forward on finally closing this case." Gordon said.
"Wake up and smell the smoke will you?! That Bat-Freak is just as responsible for these disasters as this Riddle guy is!" Bullock said angrily.
Gordon stands up seriously.
"You listen to me, my young friend. You want to try and get him then you do it yourself. But I doubt you'll catch him. We already tried when he first showed up but he's a ghost Only chance you got is a miracle Harvey." Gordon said.
"No, we have a chance, you just won't take it. I don't care if he's part of a rival gang or government agency, this Batman shit ends now!" Bullock said angrily.
Bullock storms out of the office slamming the door with Gordon sighing sitting back down gazing at a picture of a redhead teenage girl on his desk.
"I just hope when my time comes this city isn't any danger to you." Gordon said.
The questions surrounding this girl in the picture and Gordon's connection with her is later to be answered.
Cutting again to that evening Bruce and Chase attend dinner at Wayne Plaza Hotel.
Owned and funded by the cooperates of Wayne Enterprises.
Bruce held out a seat for Chase.
And she sat down.
"Bruce Wayne, owner of the finest hotel in Gotham. Home to the finest Cafe." Chase said.
"It's where my parents went on their first date." Bruce said.
"And history repeats itself." Chase said.
"More like starting over after the Circus." Bruce said.
"Even so I couldn't be more impressed. Even the staff at Plaza hotel in New York can't afford reservations here." Chase said.
"It's part of my family's legacy." Bruce said.
"Either way I didn't know if this was part of our session or just an accession." Chase said.
"Bit of both really. Let's just say...something from last year...is coming back to haunt me." Bruce said.
"I'm guessing an ex-girlfriend?" Chase asked.
"Something like that. What complicates it more...is she knows about the things I don't share with the world." Bruce said.
"I deal with things like this all the time, Bruce. Psychology is my bread and butter." Chase said.
"Did you even have patients with secret lives?" Bruce asked.
"You're not a kingpin are you?" Chase asked.
Both Bruce and Chase laugh the way she teased him but were interrupted by a familiar voice.
"You don't know the half of it, Doctor." a voice came.
Bruce turns.
And to his and Chase's surprise.
Selina approaches them with a smirk and evil in her eyes.
"Selina." Bruce mouthed.
"Hello there Ms. Uh…" Chase said.
"Vicki Vale." Selina said.
Bruce frowned using her name.
"Oh yeah, you're the reporter from the Globe." Chase said.
"Photojournalist." Bruce and Selina both said.
Bruce and Selina look at each other awkwardly and Chase grows curious.
"Bruce this wouldn't happen to be who you were talking about?" Chase asked.
"Unfortunately." Bruce said.
"You were talking about me? I'm touched." Selina said.
Selina just invited herself to sit with them, making Bruce more uncomfortable and Chase curious.
"So Ms. Vale, you have a reservation here?" Chase asked.
"Better. I'm staying here." Selina said.
"Can imagine why." Bruce said.
"Bruce and I were just talking about difficulties you two...might have had..." Chase said.
"Wonder if that's all he told you." Selina said.
Bruce got serious.
"But never too late for closure." Selina said.
"My thoughts exactly." Chase said.
Bruce's expression gets lower but Chase's cell goes off in her purse.
"Shit...I have to take this. I'll be right back." Chase said.
Chase left the table Bruce and Selina made direct eye contact.
"Alone at last." Selina said.
"What'd you doing here, Selina?" Bruce asked.
"I'm just as surprised to see you as you are. Even though it's your Plaza I was here for the safe. And here you are pushing your therapist girlfriend on the swingset." Selina said.
"No games, Selina." Bruce said.
"Do I look like I'm playing a game?" Selina asked.
Bruce didn't had time to answer that when commotion took place at the entrance.
Goons came crashing in lead by...the Riddler.
To Be Continued…